Home › Missouri › Public land › Long Branch Lake (Corps)
Public ground · Corps lake
Long Branch Lake (Corps of Engineers) hunting in Missouri
Public hunting ground in Macon County (5,000 acres), with the county deer rules that apply there.
Photo: mostateparks (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Long Branch Lake (Corps of Engineers)
Parking, trailheads and gates near Long Branch Lake (Corps of Engineers)
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Bee Trace TrailTrailhead · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Little Chariton Prairie TrailTrailhead · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Long Branch Lake (Corps), the essentials
Its acreage is 5,000, inside Macon County. Long Branch Lake (Corps) is the single Corps of Engineers lake we list in Macon County. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District has charge of it.
The Corps district pages for Long Branch Lake (Corps) could not be read, so open and closed hunting areas, acreage and species are not confirmed here.
Factoid: Long Branch offers abundant hunting and fishing opportunities on 2,400 acres of water and
From the agency record (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Long Branch Lake (Corps of Engineers)
Lake records tied to Long Branch Lake (Corps)
For mapped hunting ground at Long Branch Lake (Corps), use the MDC management lands (2,452 acres) in the table.
| Record | Kind | Acreage | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Branch Lake Management Lands (2,452 acres) | Corps lake land | 2,452 | Macon |
| Long Branch State Park | State park hunt | 1,921 | Macon |
lands.json related records (MDC atlas and Corps Lakes Gateway); checked October 29, 2026.
Long Branch Lake (Corps) and nearby public land, mapped
8 other public places sit inside a 45-mile circle around Long Branch Lake (Corps); together they add 16,719 acres, and Long Branch State Park is nearest.
| Area | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Branch State Park | State park hunt | 1,921 | Macon | 0.9 mi | north |
| Long Branch Lake Management Lands (2,452 acres) | Corps lake land | 2,452 | Macon | 3.9 mi | north |
| Atlanta CA | Conservation area | 2,355 | Macon | 5.4 mi | north |
| Dodd Access | Public access area | 40 | Macon | 9.2 mi | west |
| Redman CA | Conservation area | 120 | Macon | 9.8 mi | northeast |
| Griffiths Memorial CA | Conservation area | 128 | Macon | 12 mi | west |
| Bee Hollow CA | Conservation area | 271 | Macon, Randolph | 13 mi | south |
| Thomas Hill Reservoir CA | Conservation area | 9,431 | Macon, Randolph | 14 mi | southwest |
Points: USACE Reservoirs layer (lake surface polygon, Missouri part) (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Long Branch Lake (Corps) season calendar
County dates from Macon County that fit Long Branch Lake (Corps), matched to the open seasons in its county.
| Species | Portion | Covers | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery, first part | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, early antlerless | Antlerless county | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, early youth | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, November | Statewide | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, second part | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, late youth | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, late antlerless | Antlerless county | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, alternative methods | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 5, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall firearms | Open county | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery, part 2 | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Youth quail | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Quail | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth pheasant | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Pheasant | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock season | Statewide | Oct 18, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 | |
| Doves | Dove season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Regular ducks | North Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Dec 29, 2026 | |
| Early Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | Statewide | Nov 11, 2026 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Conservation order | Statewide | Feb 7, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Coyote hunting | Statewide | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Groundhog | Groundhog | Statewide | May 11, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| Bullfrogs and green frogs | Frogging | Statewide | Jun 30, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunt and trap, early | Statewide | Aug 1, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | |
| Rails | Rail season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Crow | Crow season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Mar 3, 2027 | |
| Badger and foxes | Hunting and trapping | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting and trapping | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunt and trap, main | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
Duck zone rows come from the MDC zone layer; check the digest near a line.
From the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, the 2026-2027 waterfowl digest and the 2026 hunting and trapping summary (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026. All Missouri seasons.
Deer rules that reach Long Branch Lake (Corps)
| Rule | Macon County |
|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | No |
| Feed and mineral ban | Yes |
| Share the Harvest CWD test | Required |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open |
| Dogs, November portion | No rule |
| Elk county | No |
| Bear zone | None |
| Duck zone | North |
Long Branch Lake (Corps) takes its deer rules from Macon County, where the firearms antlerless fill limit is 4. Antlerless portions run here in October and December. Macon County falls under the CWD feed and mineral ban. For 2026 MDC dropped the CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point restriction.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Long Branch Lake (Corps): towns and supplies
Bevier is 4.1 mi from Long Branch Lake (Corps), the nearest town on this site. Macon is the biggest town in that list, 5,509 residents in 2024. Drive 25 mi to Northeast Regional Office in Kirksville for the nearest MDC counter.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bevier | Macon | 630 | 4.1 mi | southwest |
| Macon | Macon | 5,509 | 4.5 mi | southeast |
| Atlanta | Macon | 376 | 7.2 mi | north |
| La Plata | Macon | 1,244 | 16 mi | north |
| Bucklin | Linn | 412 | 20 mi | west |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024); offices and businesses from services.json (MDC offices and business listings, chain stores and permit vendors left out); straight-line miles. Checked October 29, 2026.
County harvest around Long Branch Lake (Corps)
These are county numbers.
In 2025, 4,525 deer were Telechecked in Macon County, 2,026 of them does. Macon County turkey hunters took 979 birds in spring 2026; 86 came off public land. The MDC dashboard lists 54 CWD positives in Macon County across the years in the table, the first in 2011-2012.
| Year | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,135 | 364 | 2,026 | 4,525 |
| 2024 | 2,136 | 348 | 2,005 | 4,489 |
| 2023 | 2,282 | 393 | 2,071 | 4,746 |
| 2022 | 2,321 | 405 | 1,905 | 4,631 |
| 2021 | 2,141 | 311 | 1,646 | 4,098 |
| 2020 | 2,203 | 410 | 1,801 | 4,414 |
| Year | Spring total | On public land | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 979 | 86 | 102 | – | – |
| 2025 | 796 | 78 | 63 | 22 | 24 |
| 2024 | 758 | 67 | 58 | 42 | 19 |
| 2023 | 664 | 77 | 31 | 19 | 30 |
| 2022 | 532 | – | 32 | 22 | 63 |
| 2021 | 503 | – | 31 | 20 | 28 |
| Sample year | CWD samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 11 | 0 |
| 2025 | 219 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1,305 | 22 |
| 2023 | 1,257 | 7 |
| 2022 | 1,417 | 13 |
| 2021 | 1,291 | 10 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Within ten miles of Long Branch Lake (Corps of Engineers), events
Rows marked on site use this ground as the venue; the rest sit within about 10 miles. In all, 2 upcoming events.
Next on the calendar
| When | Listing | Distance | Venue | Tickets or seats | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 3, 2026 | Hunter Education Skills Session · hunter education skills session | 5 | Crossroads Christian Church — Macon | Register | Source |
| Feb 12, 2027 | Tick Ridge NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter dinner | 5 | Hwy 63 S — Macon | Buy tickets | Source |
When legal light starts in Long Branch Lake (Corps)
Deer, bear, elk and fall archery turkey may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks, geese, doves and fall firearms turkey stop at sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:40 a.m. | 7:41 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 8:11 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:41 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:52 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:49 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:07 a.m. | 6:53 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:44 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:52 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:27 a.m. | 4:56 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:27 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:44 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. |
Hours rule and the Jefferson City sunrise and sunset table from the MDC Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest (same table in the Fall Deer and Turkey booklet), adjusted 1 minute per 13.5 miles east or west as MDC directs; checked October 29, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Photo strip for Long Branch Lake (Corps)
Long Branch Lake (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) hunters: public range and clubs
From Long Branch Lake (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), 5 miles separates hunters from Atlanta CA range, the closest public range. Club lanes within 30 miles fill the next cards.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Long Branch Lake (Corps), quick questions
How many does may be taken around Long Branch Lake (Corps)?
Macon County: firearms antlerless limit 4, antlerless portions open.
Is hunting legal on Long Branch Lake (Corps)?
Yes, with district closures; ask the project office for the hunting map.
Is there a draw for ducks at Long Branch Lake (Corps)?
Statewide rules; zone: North Zone.
Do I need a CWD sample for deer from Long Branch Lake (Corps)?
Sampling is voluntary here; feeding and minerals are banned all year.
Is there other public land around Long Branch Lake (Corps)?
Try Long Branch State Park (0.9 mi), Long Branch Lake Management Lands (3.9 mi) and Atlanta Conservation Area (5.4 mi).
When does legal light start and end at Long Branch Lake (Corps)?
Deer hunters get 6:21 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. on Nov. 14; sunset is 4:57 p.m..
How large an area is Long Branch Lake (Corps)?
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District runs the ground (5,000 acres).
Which town sits closest to Long Branch Lake (Corps)?
Bevier lies 4.1 mi away.
What should I buy before a Long Branch Lake (Corps) hunt?
Missouri hunting permits for each species; there is no separate area permit for most MDC land.
Before heading to Long Branch Lake (Corps)
Carry your permit, notch it or the MO Hunting app right away, and Telecheck a deer or turkey by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest.
Sources: source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); David Wilson (CC BY 2.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0).