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Conservation area · 2026-27
Marion Bottoms Conservation Area hunting guide
What MDC publishes about this conservation area in Cole County and 1 neighboring county, in one page.
Photo: Jena Fuller (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Marion Bottoms Conservation Area
Marion Bottoms Conservation Area: acres, manager and game
The record gives Marion Bottoms Conservation Area 2,997 acres in Cole and Moniteau counties. Of 5 conservation areas in Cole County, Marion Bottoms Conservation Area is number 1 by acreage. It belongs to the Bluffs management district, MDC Central Region.
Other uses MDC lists for Marion Bottoms Conservation Area: camping (open camping – walk-in/float-in/backpack, boat-in along missouri river) and fishing (sunfish, catfish, crappie).
From the MDC area description: Marion Bottoms Conservation Area, in Cole County, is located two miles north of Marion, MO on Moniteau Creek road off of Highway 179. The 2,997-acre area was purchased in 1996 and is surrounded by the Missouri River on the north, east, and south boundaries, providing six miles of river frontage. The site was acquired by the Conservation Department in 1996, bought in part with funds provided by the federal government after the 1993 flood to negotiate purchase of flood prone land in order to lessen the chance and severity of future floods. The area includes riparian and successional forests, old fields, marshes, several blue holes, and several hundred acres of wetland that include areas of open water, and seasonally flooded vegetation, and flooded forest. The wetlands, blue holes, and riverine habitats provide valuable habitat for fish, waterfowl, shorebirds, and amphibians. As successional forests, dominated by cottonwood and willow, develop into mature, bottomland forests, habitat for turkey and other small game will increase.
Game species: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Waterfowl.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Marion Bottoms Conservation Area
Neighbors of Marion Bottoms Conservation Area on the map
Count on Marion Bottom Overlook Tract (MRAP) as the first fallback, 1.7 mi northwest of Marion Bottoms Conservation Area.
| Public land | Type | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Bottom Overlook Tract (MRAP) | MRAP tract | 72 | Moniteau, Cole | 1.7 mi | northwest |
| Hart Creek CA | Conservation area | 657 | Boone | 2.5 mi | east |
| Roger V. and Viola Wachal Smith CA (517 acres) | Conservation area | 517 | Cole, Moniteau | 5.2 mi | southwest |
| Church Farm CA | Conservation area | 1,278 | Cole | 5.9 mi | southeast |
| Plowboy Bend CA | Conservation area | 2,617 | Moniteau | 6.2 mi | north |
| Three Creeks CA | Conservation area | 1,711 | Boone | 9.6 mi | northeast |
| Eagle Bluffs CA | Conservation area | 4,429 | Boone | 9.7 mi | north |
| Runge Nature Center | Nature center or range | – | Cole | 12 mi | southeast |
Points: MDC Conservation Area Centroids layer (https://gisblue.mdc.mo.gov/arcgis/rest/services/Discover_Nature/MDC_Administrative_Areas/FeatureServer/4). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Marion Bottoms Conservation Area hunting methods
Marion Bottoms Conservation Area follows statewide seasons with the area limits shown here.
| Game | Methods | Note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery and firearms | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | Nontoxic shot |
| Black Bear | Archery and firearms | Zone permit |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Ducks | Open Hunting | Nontoxic shot |
What the Code adds for Marion Bottoms Conservation Area
- Nontoxic shot is required for all hunting with a shotgun on this area. Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited.
- Equestrian use may be authorized by special use permit.
MDC allows archery and firearms for deer on Marion Bottoms Conservation Area; antlerless permits may be used. Turkey hunters may use archery and firearms here. Bear hunting is listed on Marion Bottoms Conservation Area (archery and firearms) for permit holders in the right management zone. Marion Bottoms Conservation Area shows code A in the booklet, antlerless permits allowed. Every shotgun shell used on Marion Bottoms Conservation Area must be nontoxic. The deer hunting quick view is the list that counts for MDC areas, and Marion Bottoms Conservation Area appears on it.
Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.
Calendar of hunts for Marion Bottoms Conservation Area
Marion Bottoms Conservation Area gets 20 dated rows once the Cole County calendar is trimmed to its game list.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 3 | Bear zone 3 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | Middle Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 1 | Middle Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 2 | Middle Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| 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 |
Rabbits may be hunted sunrise to sunset; trapping seasons are on the species pages.
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.
Waterfowl at Marion Bottoms Conservation Area
MDC lists Marion Bottoms Conservation Area as open waterfowl hunting, with no reservation or draw. Middle Zone dates apply to Marion Bottoms Conservation Area per the 2021-2025 layer; read the digest for the new line wording. No lead shot for ducks, geese or coots.
| Segment | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Youth waterfowl days | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Ducks, split 1 | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
| Ducks, split 2 | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 |
2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest, managed areas; area page; checked October 29, 2026.
Which county rules govern Marion Bottoms Conservation Area
| Rule | Cole County | Moniteau County |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 4 deer | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | No | No |
| Feed and mineral ban | Yes | Yes |
| Share the Harvest CWD test | Required | Required |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open | Open |
| Dogs, November portion | No rule | No rule |
| Elk county | No | No |
| Bear zone | Zone 3 | Zone 3 |
| Duck zone | Middle | Middle |
Missouri sets deer rules county by county, so Marion Bottoms Conservation Area follows Cole County: up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits. Cole County opens for both antlerless portions this year. Cole County is one of 85 counties with the year-round feed and mineral ban. Bear Management Zone 3 covers Cole County: 250 permits and a 8-bear quota for Oct. 17-30. MDC retired the CWD portion, its management zone and the antler-point restriction for 2026. The table splits the rules by county for Marion Bottoms Conservation Area.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Marion Bottoms Conservation Area town and service list
Jamestown lies closest, about 7.1 mi as the crow flies. Ashland counts 5,164 residents, more than any other town listed. How MDC says to drive in: From Marion, take Highway 179 north 3.50 miles, take Moniteau Creek Road (first road north of Moniteau Creek) east to the area. There is currently only one way in and out of the area. Need MDC staff? Commission Headquarters in Jefferson City is 11 mi out.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamestown | Moniteau | 331 | 7.1 mi | northwest |
| St. Martins | Cole | 1,226 | 8.4 mi | south |
| Ashland | Boone | 5,164 | 9.7 mi | northeast |
| California | Moniteau | 4,522 | 12 mi | southwest |
| Prairie Home | Cooper | 266 | 14 mi | northwest |
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.
Marion Bottoms Conservation Area: deer, turkey and CWD by year
County figures, the smallest unit MDC publishes.
The county total for 2025 was 2,029 deer (926 antlered bucks), the closest MDC figure for Marion Bottoms Conservation Area. 24 public-land birds out of 490 in spring 2026, Cole County. 4 positive deers in Cole County in the sample years shown; CWD was first found there in 2014-2015.
| Permit year | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 926 | 212 | 891 | 2,029 |
| 2024 | 866 | 153 | 847 | 1,866 |
| 2023 | 794 | 216 | 1,039 | 2,049 |
| 2022 | 785 | 204 | 951 | 1,940 |
| 2021 | 782 | 212 | 839 | 1,833 |
| 2020 | 670 | 204 | 846 | 1,720 |
| Year | Spring harvest | Public land share | Youth weekend | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 490 | 24 | 77 | – | – |
| 2025 | 584 | 33 | 59 | 23 | 17 |
| 2024 | 504 | 24 | 61 | 38 | 18 |
| 2023 | 458 | 19 | 30 | 51 | 19 |
| 2022 | 392 | – | 37 | 23 | 17 |
| 2021 | 312 | – | 36 | 25 | 26 |
| Season | Tested | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 368 | 3 |
| 2024 | 397 | 1 |
| 2023 | 71 | 0 |
| 2022 | 78 | 0 |
| 2021 | 72 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
First and last shooting light in Marion Bottoms Conservation Area
The times below start from the MDC Jefferson City table and add 1 minute for Marion Bottoms Conservation Area, as the booklet directs.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear, elk | Ducks, doves, geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:38 a.m. | 7:39 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 8:09 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:50 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:05 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 7:21 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:42 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:50 a.m. | 4:56 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:25 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:25 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:12 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.
Missouri scenes for Marion Bottoms Conservation Area
Marion Bottoms Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Marion Bottoms Conservation Area, Scrivner Road CA range is the nearest MDC or other public range (16 miles). Nearby gun clubs fill the other cards.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Marion Bottoms Conservation Area questions with sourced answers
Marion Bottoms Conservation Area hours and camping?
Area hours: 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.. MDC lists camping.
What paperwork covers a hunt at Marion Bottoms Conservation Area?
Buy the matching Missouri permit (Missouri calls them permits); waterfowl also need the federal duck stamp.
Is Marion Bottoms Conservation Area open for hunting this season?
Yes. MDC lists deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit and waterfowl on Marion Bottoms Conservation Area, and it is on the deer list.
Is Marion Bottoms Conservation Area archery only for deer?
Plan on archery and firearms. Antlerless permits are allowed.
What is the antlerless limit for Marion Bottoms Conservation Area?
Cole County sets a firearms antlerless fill limit of 4, and its antlerless portions are open.
Does the feed ban cover Marion Bottoms Conservation Area?
For Cole County, sampling is not required and the feed ban applies.
What turkey rules apply on Marion Bottoms Conservation Area?
Turkey methods: archery and firearms. Fall firearms turkey (Oct. 1-31) is open in Cole County.
Which bear permits work at Marion Bottoms Conservation Area?
The county is BMZ 3; bear is listed for the area.
Is duck hunting allowed on Marion Bottoms Conservation Area?
Yes: open hunting, Middle Zone season dates.
How long is the legal day at Marion Bottoms Conservation Area in mid-November?
From 6:21 a.m. until 5:27 p.m. on Nov. 14, by the MDC table with the longitude correction.
Closest public alternatives to Marion Bottoms Conservation Area?
The three nearest: Marion Bottom Overlook Tract (MRAP) (1.7 mi), Hart Creek Conservation Area (2.5 mi) and Roger V. and Viola Wachal Smith Conservation Area (5.2 mi).
Where do I buy gas near Marion Bottoms Conservation Area?
About 7.1 mi to Jamestown.
How large an area is Marion Bottoms Conservation Area?
Roughly 2,997 acres, looked after by Missouri Department of Conservation.
Leaving for Marion Bottoms Conservation Area?
Missouri sells permits, not licenses: buy the right one before you hunt Marion Bottoms Conservation Area, and wear hunter orange in the firearms portions.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Birding for Climate (Public domain); Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).