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Monkey Mountain Conservation Area hunting in Missouri
Public hunting ground in Andrew County and 1 neighboring county (1,582 acres), with the county deer rules that apply there.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Monkey Mountain Conservation Area
Monkey Mountain Conservation Area, the essentials
Its acreage is 1,582, inside Andrew and Holt counties. Line up the 7 conservation areas in Andrew County by acres and Monkey Mountain Conservation Area comes 3rd. Staff of the MDC Loess Hills district, in the Northwest Region, manage Monkey Mountain Conservation Area.
MDC also notes camping (individual campsites, boat-in along missouri river) and fishing (catfish) at Monkey Mountain Conservation Area.
Habitat notes from the source: Monkey Mountain Conservation Area is in Holt County, northwest of St. Joseph. The Conservation Department purchased this area in 1978 to provide public land for outdoor activities in northwest Missouri. The United States Army Corps of Engineers has purchased an additional 560 acres adjoining MDC's area, as part of the Missouri River Mitigation Project. The mitigation project has been designed to enhance fish and wildlife habitat along the Missouri River. The area is managed through a cooperative effort between the Corps of Engineers and the Missouri Department of Conservation. This area was called "Monkey Mountains," because early settlers deemed the river bluffs too steep for even monkeys to climb. The Lewis and Clark Expedition opened up this portion of the state for settlement, when it passed along the southern portion of the area on July 8, 1804. Settlement began on a large scale in 1836.
Game listed: Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Monkey Mountain Conservation Area
Monkey Mountain Conservation Area and nearby public land, mapped
8 other public places sit inside a 45-mile circle around Monkey Mountain Conservation Area; together they add 9,609 acres, and Honey Creek Conservation Area is nearest.
| Area | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honey Creek CA | Conservation area | 1,448 | Andrew | 3.1 mi | northeast |
| Worthwine Island CA | Conservation area | 585 | Andrew | 5.8 mi | southeast |
| Riverbreaks CA | Conservation area | 2,307 | Holt | 6.2 mi | west |
| Wolf Creek Bend CA | Conservation area | 966 | Holt | 9.7 mi | west |
| Caroline Sheridan Logan Memorial WA | Conservation area | 40 | Buchanan | 9.9 mi | southeast |
| Sunbridge Hills CA | Conservation area | 146 | Buchanan | 10 mi | southeast |
| Arthur DuPree Memorial CA | Conservation area | 236 | Buchanan | 11 mi | southeast |
| Nodaway Valley CA | Conservation area | 3,881 | Andrew, Holt | 13 mi | north |
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.
Area rules at Monkey Mountain Conservation Area
MDC area rules for Monkey Mountain Conservation Area, as published for 2026-27.
| Species | Methods here | Note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery and firearms | Not allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
| Mourning Dove | Statewide methods | – |
For deer, Monkey Mountain Conservation Area is open to archery and firearms, and antlerless permits may not be used. Turkey methods on Monkey Mountain Conservation Area: archery and firearms. Deer and turkey may be hunted only on MDC areas that appear in the booklet table; Monkey Mountain Conservation Area is 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.
Monkey Mountain Conservation Area season calendar
County dates from Andrew County that fit Monkey Mountain Conservation Area, matched to its game list.
| Species | Portion | Covers | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery, first part | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 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, 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 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Doves | Dove season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 |
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.
Drawing hunts at Monkey Mountain Conservation Area for 2026-27
85 hunters were drawn across 2 managed hunts at Monkey Mountain Conservation Area. Hunt types here: archery without atlatl (2). Applications for managed deer hunts closed on Jul 31, 2026; the next round opens next July.
| No. | Type | When | Hunters | Code | Orientation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Archery without Atlatl | Nov. 9–Jan. 15 | 40 | D | Sept. 12 |
| 30 | Archery without Atlatl | Sept. 15–Nov. 8 | 45 | D | Aug. 29 |
MDC Managed Deer Hunts List 2026-2027; checked October 29, 2026.
Deer rules that reach Monkey Mountain Conservation Area
| Rule | Andrew County | Holt County |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 1 deer | 1 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Closed | Closed |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| Feed and mineral ban | No | No |
| Share the Harvest CWD test | No | No |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open | Open |
| Dogs, November portion | No rule | No rule |
| Elk county | No | No |
| Bear zone | None | None |
| Duck zone | North | North |
Monkey Mountain Conservation Area takes its deer rules from Andrew County, where the firearms antlerless fill limit is 1. In Andrew County, the Oct. 9-11 and Dec. 5-13 antlerless portions do not apply. Any deer killed in Andrew County on Nov. 14 or 15 has to be presented at a sampling station; the county has 1 station. For 2026 MDC dropped the CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point restriction. Rules can change at the county line inside Monkey Mountain Conservation Area; the table compares them.
- Andrew County Youth Building and Fairgrounds, 201 S. Banyon St., Savannah
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Monkey Mountain Conservation Area: towns and supplies
Oregon is 8.6 mi from Monkey Mountain Conservation Area, the nearest town on this site. St. Joseph is the biggest town in that list, 71,098 residents in 2024. Route from the area page: From I-29 Exit 67 north of St. Joseph, take Highway 59 west 4 miles, then Route U south 3.50 miles to the area sign, and County Road 325 east for about 1 mile. Drive 12 mi to Nodaway Valley Conservation Area Field Office in Maitland for the nearest MDC counter.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | Holt | 832 | 8.6 mi | northwest |
| Savannah | Andrew | 5,076 | 9.7 mi | east |
| St. Joseph | Buchanan | 71,098 | 15 mi | southeast |
| Mound City | Holt | 1,005 | 19 mi | northwest |
| Maitland | Holt | 280 | 20 mi | north |
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 Monkey Mountain Conservation Area
These are county numbers.
In 2025, 1,065 deer were Telechecked in Andrew County, 343 of them does. Andrew County turkey hunters took 152 birds in spring 2026; 19 came off public land. The MDC dashboard lists 0 CWD positives in Andrew County across the years in the table.
| Year | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 660 | 62 | 343 | 1,065 |
| 2024 | 612 | 64 | 363 | 1,039 |
| 2023 | 676 | 79 | 360 | 1,115 |
| 2022 | 648 | 68 | 375 | 1,091 |
| 2021 | 673 | 68 | 415 | 1,156 |
| 2020 | 628 | 73 | 347 | 1,048 |
| Year | Spring total | On public land | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 152 | 19 | 8 | – | – |
| 2025 | 103 | 9 | 14 | 7 | 3 |
| 2024 | 118 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 1 |
| 2023 | 131 | 14 | 8 | – | 5 |
| 2022 | 113 | – | 5 | – | 4 |
| 2021 | 115 | – | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Sample year | CWD samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 51 | 0 |
| 2024 | 44 | 0 |
| 2023 | 73 | 0 |
| 2022 | 46 | 0 |
| 2021 | 79 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
When legal light starts in Monkey Mountain Conservation Area
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 | 6:49 a.m. | 7:50 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 7:01 a.m. | 7:28 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:16 a.m. | 7:02 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 7:02 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:53 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 7:01 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:36 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:36 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:23 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.
Monkey Mountain Conservation Area in pictures
Monkey Mountain Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Monkey Mountain Conservation Area, 7 miles separates hunters from Riverbreaks 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.
Monkey Mountain Conservation Area, quick questions
Turkey hunting at Monkey Mountain Conservation Area: what is allowed?
MDC allows archery and firearms. Fall firearms turkey runs Oct. 1-31.
Do I need a CWD sample for deer from Monkey Mountain Conservation Area?
Mandatory sampling applies Nov. 14-15; the feed ban does not cover this county.
When does legal light start and end at Monkey Mountain Conservation Area?
Deer hunters get 6:31 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. on Nov. 14; sunset is 5:07 p.m..
Is there a deer drawing for Monkey Mountain Conservation Area?
There are 2 managed hunts with 85 spots in all.
Which town sits closest to Monkey Mountain Conservation Area?
Oregon lies 8.6 mi away.
Is there other public land around Monkey Mountain Conservation Area?
Try Honey Creek Conservation Area (3.1 mi), Worthwine Island Conservation Area (5.8 mi) and Riverbreaks Conservation Area (6.2 mi).
Can hunters camp on Monkey Mountain Conservation Area?
Camping is listed.
How large an area is Monkey Mountain Conservation Area?
Missouri Department of Conservation runs the ground (1,582 acres).
Is hunting legal on Monkey Mountain Conservation Area?
Yes. The area page names deer, turkey, rabbit, squirrel and dove.
What should I buy before a Monkey Mountain Conservation Area hunt?
Missouri hunting permits for each species; there is no separate area permit for most MDC land.
How many does may be taken around Monkey Mountain Conservation Area?
Andrew County: firearms antlerless limit 1, antlerless portions closed.
What are the deer hunting methods at Monkey Mountain Conservation Area?
Deer may be taken by archery and firearms. Antlerless permits are not allowed.
Monkey Mountain Conservation Area final checklist
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 · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Benjamin White (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) (CC BY-SA 2.5); greenebriar (Public domain).