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Conservation area · 2026-27
Mora Conservation Area hunting guide
What MDC publishes about this conservation area in Benton County, in one page.
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Mora Conservation Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Mora Conservation Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 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.
Mora Conservation Area: acres, manager and game
The record gives Mora Conservation Area 601 acres in Benton County. Of 6 conservation areas in Benton County, Mora Conservation Area is number 3 by acreage. It belongs to the Lone Buffalo management district, MDC Kansas City Region.
Other uses MDC lists for Mora Conservation Area: fishing (sunfish, catfish, black bass).
From the MDC area description: The original portion of this 601-acre area was acquired by the Conservation Department in 1967. Prior to that purchase this entire area was native prairie, but the landowner plowed it prior to acquisition by the Conservation Department. Additional acres were added in 1997. Early management emphasized small upland game species. Current management efforts are focused on grassland species and their habitat needs. This area has been designated by Audubon Missouri as an Important Bird Area (IBA) . IBAs are sites that have been identified by Audubon as those that are most crucial for bird populations, due to their abundance and/or diversity of birds present. High quality grasslands are important habitat for many species. This area is being managed for grassland diversity that provides habitat for a diverse group of plants and animals. Because less thanone-half of one percentof our original prairie remains, some of these species have become increasingly rare.
Game species: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Dove, Quail.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Mora Conservation Area
Neighbors of Mora Conservation Area on the map
Count on Hi Lonesome Prairie Conservation Area as the first fallback, 2.7 mi south of Mora Conservation Area.
| Public land | Type | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hi Lonesome Prairie CA | Conservation area | 655 | Benton | 2.7 mi | south |
| Paint Brush Prairie CA | Conservation area | 529 | Pettis | 3.5 mi | northwest |
| Ionia Ridge CA | Conservation area | 233 | Benton | 4.0 mi | west |
| Drovers Prairie CA | Conservation area | 80 | Pettis | 4.8 mi | west |
| Friendly Prairie CA | Conservation area | 40 | Pettis | 5.3 mi | northwest |
| Grandfather Prairie CA | Conservation area | 80 | Pettis | 6.3 mi | northwest |
| Kahrs-Boger Park | Conservation area | 108 | Pettis | 6.7 mi | northeast |
| Mount Hulda Towersite | Towersite | 38 | Benton | 11 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.
Mora Conservation Area hunting methods
Mora Conservation Area follows statewide seasons with the area limits shown here.
| Game | Methods | Note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery and firearms | Archery only |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Black Bear | Archery and firearms | Zone permit |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Northern Bobwhite Quail | Statewide methods | – |
| Mourning Dove | Statewide methods | – |
MDC allows archery and firearms for deer on Mora Conservation Area; only archery antlerless permits may be used. Turkey hunters may use archery and firearms here. Bear hunting is listed on Mora Conservation Area (archery and firearms) for permit holders in the right management zone. The FDT area table lists Mora Conservation Area with code B (archery antlerless permits only). The deer hunting quick view is the list that counts for MDC areas, and Mora 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 Mora Conservation Area
Mora Conservation Area gets 16 dated rows once the Benton 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Doves | Dove season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 |
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.
Which county rules govern Mora Conservation Area
| Rule | Benton 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 | Middle |
Missouri sets deer rules county by county, so Mora Conservation Area follows Benton County: up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits. Benton County opens for both antlerless portions this year. Opening-weekend deer from Benton County (Nov. 14-15) must be sampled for CWD. Benton County is one of 85 counties with the year-round feed and mineral ban. Bear Management Zone 3 covers Benton 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.
- MDC Lost Valley Fish Hatchery, 28232 Hatchery Ave., Warsaw
- Cole Camp High School – Football Field Parking Lot, 500 S. Keeney St., Cole Camp
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Mora Conservation Area town and service list
Stover lies closest, about 13 mi as the crow flies. Sedalia counts 22,310 residents, more than any other town listed. How MDC says to drive in: From Cole Camp, take Route U north 4 miles. Need MDC staff? Sedalia Office in Sedalia is 13 mi out.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stover | Morgan | 1,067 | 13 mi | southeast |
| Green Ridge | Pettis | 599 | 13 mi | northwest |
| Sedalia | Pettis | 22,310 | 13 mi | north |
| Otterville | Cooper | 449 | 17 mi | northeast |
| Warsaw | Benton | 2,337 | 20 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.
Mora Conservation Area: deer, turkey and CWD by year
County figures, the smallest unit MDC publishes.
The county total for 2025 was 4,228 deer (1,853 antlered bucks), the closest MDC figure for Mora Conservation Area. 90 public-land birds out of 546 in spring 2026, Benton County. 0 positive deers in Benton County in the sample years shown.
| Permit year | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,853 | 431 | 1,944 | 4,228 |
| 2024 | 1,664 | 365 | 1,886 | 3,915 |
| 2023 | 1,979 | 439 | 2,274 | 4,692 |
| 2022 | 1,729 | 416 | 2,003 | 4,148 |
| 2021 | 2,064 | 501 | 2,234 | 4,799 |
| 2020 | 1,979 | 534 | 2,329 | 4,842 |
| Year | Spring harvest | Public land share | Youth weekend | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 546 | 90 | 69 | – | – |
| 2025 | 611 | 97 | 52 | 28 | 25 |
| 2024 | 498 | 75 | 43 | 15 | 17 |
| 2023 | 547 | 84 | 28 | 29 | 18 |
| 2022 | 390 | – | 33 | 13 | 23 |
| 2021 | 401 | – | 28 | 19 | 22 |
| Season | Tested | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 0 |
| 2025 | 128 | 0 |
| 2024 | 127 | 0 |
| 2023 | 141 | 0 |
| 2022 | 79 | 0 |
| 2021 | 141 | 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 Mora Conservation Area
The times below start from the MDC Jefferson City table and add 4 minutes for Mora Conservation Area, as the booklet directs.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear, elk | Ducks, doves, geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:42 a.m. | 7:43 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 8:13 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:54 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:51 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:21 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:09 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:46 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:54 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:29 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:29 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:16 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 Mora Conservation Area
Mora Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Mora Conservation Area, Marshall Junction CA range is the nearest MDC or other public range (30 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.
Mora Conservation Area questions with sourced answers
Does the feed ban cover Mora Conservation Area?
For Benton County, sampling is required on Nov. 14-15 and the feed ban applies.
What turkey rules apply on Mora Conservation Area?
Turkey methods: archery and firearms. Fall firearms turkey (Oct. 1-31) is open in Benton County.
Which bear permits work at Mora Conservation Area?
The county is BMZ 3; bear is listed for the area.
How long is the legal day at Mora Conservation Area in mid-November?
From 6:24 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 14, by the MDC table with the longitude correction.
Closest public alternatives to Mora Conservation Area?
The three nearest: Hi Lonesome Prairie Conservation Area (2.7 mi), Paint Brush Prairie Conservation Area (3.5 mi) and Ionia Ridge Conservation Area (4.0 mi).
Where do I buy gas near Mora Conservation Area?
About 13 mi to Stover.
How large an area is Mora Conservation Area?
Roughly 601 acres, looked after by Missouri Department of Conservation.
What paperwork covers a hunt at Mora Conservation Area?
Buy the matching Missouri permit (Missouri calls them permits); waterfowl also need the federal duck stamp.
Is Mora Conservation Area open for hunting this season?
Yes. MDC lists deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit, dove and quail on Mora Conservation Area, and it is on the deer list.
Is Mora Conservation Area archery only for deer?
Plan on archery and firearms. Only archery antlerless permits may be used.
What is the antlerless limit for Mora Conservation Area?
Benton County sets a firearms antlerless fill limit of 4, and its antlerless portions are open.
Leaving for Mora Conservation Area?
Missouri sells permits, not licenses: buy the right one before you hunt Mora 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: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Cindy Sue Causey (CC BY 2.0); cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0).