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Conservation area · Southwest Region
Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area, a hunter guide
Conservation area in Cedar County, 270 acres, MDC Southwest Region.
Photo: pfly (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 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.
Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area basics
At 270 acres, Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area is part of the public ground of Cedar County. Among the 5 conservation areas of Cedar County, it sits 3rd for acres. The Osage Plains district (MDC Southwest Region) handles habitat work on Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area.
MDC describes the area this way: Monegaw Prairie is a remnant of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem that once covered more than one-quarter of Missouri. It is also home to plants and animals that are specially adapted for life on the open prairie. Less than one-half of one percent of original prairie remains in Missouri making some of these species increasingly rare. Managers use prescribed burning, haying, and other tools to simulate historic disturbances that maintain healthy grasslands and limit the negative impacts of invasive plants – including trees – which were historically uncommon here. Management priorities include providing nesting and brood-rearing habitat for bobwhite quail and other grassland birds such as Henslow's sparrow and upland sandpiper. Monitoring and management for a number of lesser known species is also important; some which find a home here include: Mead's milkweed, prairie mole crickets, northern crawfish frog, slender glass lizard, grasshopper sparrow, Loggerhead shrike, and Northern harrier.
Hunted here: Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Quail.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area
How Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area may be hunted
Read these before a first trip to Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area; posted signs still govern.
| Species | Allowed | Permit note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery only | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Northern Bobwhite Quail | Statewide methods | – |
MDC allows archery methods only for deer on Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area; antlerless permits may be used. The turkey rule on Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area reads archery and firearms. In the booklet table Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area carries antlerless code A: antlerless permits allowed. Listed or not matters on MDC ground: Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area is on the deer list.
Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.
County deer rules for Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area
| Topic | Cedar County |
|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | Mandatory |
| 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 | Zone 3 |
| Duck zone | South / Middle |
There are no deer units in Missouri; Cedar County is the unit for Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area, with a firearms antlerless limit of 4. The early (Oct. 9-11) and late (Dec. 5-13) antlerless portions are open in Cedar County. Plan a stop at a sampling station if you tag a deer in Cedar County on Nov. 14 or 15. No grain, salt or mineral sites in Cedar County: the ban runs all year. For bear, Cedar County is in BMZ 3 (250 permits drawn, quota 8). The CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point restriction were removed for 2026.
- El Dorado Springs MODOT Facility, 3865 E. Hwy. 54, El Dorado Springs
- Stockton Lake – Crabtree Cove Park, 17630 ECT-1, Stockton
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area by season
These 8 rows are the 2026-27 seasons that fit Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area and its game list.
| Species | Hunt | Scope | First day | Last day | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery, first part | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, second part | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 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 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 |
Gun portions are dropped: deer on Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area are archery only. Youth portions are for hunters 6 to 15 years old.
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.
Harvest numbers near Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area
Totals are for the whole county.
Cedar County gave up 2,334 deer in 2025; the table runs back to 2020. In spring 2026, 632 turkeys were checked in Cedar County, 70 of them reported from public land. For CWD, Cedar County shows 4 positives over the years listed (first year 2017-2018).
| Season | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | County total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,211 | 174 | 949 | 2,334 |
| 2024 | 1,107 | 210 | 874 | 2,191 |
| 2023 | 1,289 | 209 | 1,160 | 2,658 |
| 2022 | 1,318 | 218 | 1,169 | 2,705 |
| 2021 | 1,230 | 170 | 987 | 2,387 |
| 2020 | 1,321 | 228 | 1,106 | 2,655 |
| Year | Spring | Public | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 632 | 70 | 92 | – | – |
| 2025 | 546 | 63 | 60 | 44 | 13 |
| 2024 | 469 | 41 | 64 | 46 | 17 |
| 2023 | 479 | 56 | 28 | 28 | 24 |
| 2022 | 386 | – | 41 | 27 | 26 |
| 2021 | 333 | – | 34 | 23 | 18 |
| Year | Samples | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 | 98 | 0 |
| 2024 | 253 | 1 |
| 2023 | 864 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1,046 | 1 |
| 2021 | 870 | 2 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area: the surrounding public ground
The map pins Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area with the 8 closest public areas, led by Wah'Kon-Tah Prairie at 4.0 mi.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wah'Kon-Tah Prairie | Conservation area | 3,504 | Cedar, St. Clair | 4.0 mi | northwest |
| Linscomb WA | Conservation area | 2,385 | St. Clair | 9.4 mi | north |
| Sky Prairie CA | Conservation area | 200 | Cedar | 11 mi | south |
| Bluff Springs CA | Conservation area | 415 | Cedar | 12 mi | east |
| Blackjack Access | Public access area | 212 | St. Clair | 12 mi | east |
| Schell-Osage CA | Conservation area | 8,635 | St. Clair, Vernon | 12 mi | northwest |
| Taberville Prairie CA | Conservation area | 1,680 | St. Clair | 14 mi | north |
| Birdsong CA | Conservation area | 430 | St. Clair | 14 mi | east |
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.
Who is nearby at Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area
The short run for gas and food is El Dorado Springs, 3.3 mi out. 8,294 people live in Nevada, the largest town within reach. Driving route: From El Dorado Springs, take Highway 54 east 2.5 miles. MDC permits and advice: El Dorado Springs Office, El Dorado Springs, 3.4 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Dorado Springs | Cedar | 3,674 | 3.3 mi | west |
| Stockton | Cedar | 1,841 | 14 mi | southeast |
| Osceola | St. Clair | 979 | 20 mi | northeast |
| Nevada | Vernon | 8,294 | 21 mi | west |
| Sheldon | Vernon | 436 | 23 mi | southwest |
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.
Shooting hours in Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area
Sunrise in the Bootheel and in the Kansas City area can be 20 minutes apart, so use the adjusted times for Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area.
| Day | Hunt | Sun up | Sun down | Big game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:45 a.m. | 7:46 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 8:16 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:57 a.m. | 7:24 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:54 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:24 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:12 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:49 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:57 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:32 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:32 a.m. | 5:19 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:49 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:19 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.
Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
Golden Valley Shooting Range (Truman Reservoir Management Lands, Grand River Bottoms) (public, free) is 35 miles from Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area. Beside it, two gun clubs within 30 miles.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
A visual feel for Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area
Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area, quick questions
Are antlerless portions open near Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area?
Up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits in Cedar County; antlerless portions run in October and December.
Which weapons are legal for deer at Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area?
Archery methods only. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Is fall turkey open at Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area?
Archery and firearms for turkey; the October firearms season is open in the county.
Is there mandatory CWD testing near Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area?
Yes, sampling Nov. 14-15, plus the feed and mineral ban.
First and last shooting light at Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area?
6:27 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. for deer on opening day; ducks end at 5:03 p.m..
Can I hunt bear on Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area?
Cedar County is in Bear Management Zone 3 (250 permits, quota 8); bear is not listed for this area.
Town nearest Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area?
El Dorado Springs, 3.3 mi by straight line.
Where is the next public ground after Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area?
Closest public options are Wah'Kon-Tah Prairie (4.0 mi), Linscomb Wildlife Area (9.4 mi) and Sky Prairie Conservation Area (11 mi).
Open hours at Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area?
Open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.. No camping is listed.
How large an area is Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area?
In charge: Missouri Department of Conservation. Acres: 270.
Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area: open to hunters?
It is open to hunting: deer, turkey, rabbit and quail, under statewide seasons and the area rules.
Permits needed for Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area?
MDC permits by game: Small Game, Archer's, Firearms Any-Deer or Antlerless, Migratory Bird.
Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area: confirm these first
Area rules, closures and managed hunt notices on Monegaw Prairie Conservation Area can change; posted signs and the agency page have the final word.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0); mostateparks (Public Domain Mark 1.0); cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0).