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Mule Shoe Conservation Area hunting in Missouri
Public hunting ground in Camden County and 1 neighboring county (2,829 acres), with the county deer rules that apply there.
Photo: Richard Ricciardi (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Mule Shoe Conservation Area
Mule Shoe Conservation Area, the essentials
Its acreage is 2,829, inside Camden and Hickory counties. Line up the 5 conservation areas in Camden County by acres and Mule Shoe Conservation Area comes 1st. Staff of the MDC North Slope district, in the Southwest Region, manage Mule Shoe Conservation Area.
MDC also notes camping (designated camping sites), fishing (rock bass, sunfish, suckers, catfish) and trapping (special use permit) at Mule Shoe Conservation Area.
Habitat notes from the source: Mule Shoe Conservation Area is located in eastern Hickory County. This 2,829-acre area borders the eastern bank of the Little Niangua River for over one mile. The area contains forestland, bottomland fields, and steep limestone bluffs. Natural communities include dry and dry-mesic chert forest, dolomite glades, a remnant dolomite savanna, and bottomland forests. Approximately 256 acres are pasture fields. This area was acquired to provide upland wildlife habitat for public use and to help protect the aquatic habitat of the Little Niangua River. Hunting is allowed and there are opportunities for wildlife viewing. Camping is allowed only in spots designated on the area map. Campers are limited to 14 consecutive days in a 30-day period. There is a privy located at the designated camping area, but no other facilities are provided. Groups of more than 10 campers need a special use permit.
Game listed: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Quail.
- White-tailed Deer
- Black Bear
- Wild Turkey
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Fox Squirrel
- Northern Bobwhite Quail
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Mule Shoe Conservation Area
Mule Shoe Conservation Area and nearby public land, mapped
8 other public places sit inside a 45-mile circle around Mule Shoe Conservation Area; together they add 15,759 acres, and Quad-E-Wildlife Ranch (MRAP) is nearest.
| Area | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quad-E-Wildlife Ranch (MRAP) | MRAP tract | 957 | Hickory | 4.9 mi | west |
| Burnt Mill Cave CA | Conservation area | 340 | Camden | 6.6 mi | northeast |
| Branch Towersite | Towersite | 40 | Camden | 8.0 mi | southeast |
| Fiery Fork CA | Conservation area | 1,609 | Camden | 9.7 mi | northeast |
| Cross Timbers Access | Public access area | 44 | Hickory | 12 mi | west |
| Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Cross Timbers) | Corps lake land | 4,815 | Hickory | 13 mi | west |
| Larry R. Gale Access | Public access area | 193 | Camden | 14 mi | east |
| Lead Mine CA | Conservation area | 7,761 | Dallas | 14 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.
Area rules at Mule Shoe Conservation Area
MDC area rules for Mule Shoe Conservation Area, as published for 2026-27.
| Species | Methods here | Note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery and firearms | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Black Bear | Archery and firearms | Zone permit |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
| Northern Bobwhite Quail | Statewide methods | – |
For deer, Mule Shoe Conservation Area is open to archery and firearms, and antlerless permits may be used. Turkey methods on Mule Shoe Conservation Area: archery and firearms. Mule Shoe Conservation Area allows black bear by archery and firearms during the October season, permit holders only. The FDT area table lists Mule Shoe Conservation Area with code A (antlerless permits allowed). Deer and turkey may be hunted only on MDC areas that appear in the booklet table; Mule Shoe 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.
Mule Shoe Conservation Area season calendar
County dates from Camden County that fit Mule Shoe 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 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 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 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 Mule Shoe Conservation Area
| Rule | Camden County | Hickory 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 / South |
Mule Shoe Conservation Area takes its deer rules from Camden County, where the firearms antlerless fill limit is 4. Antlerless portions run here in October and December. Camden County falls under the CWD feed and mineral ban. BMZ 3 reaches Camden County; the zone has 250 permits and closes early if 8 bears are taken. For 2026 MDC dropped the CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point restriction. Rules can change at the county line inside Mule Shoe Conservation Area; the table compares them.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Mule Shoe Conservation Area: towns and supplies
Climax Springs is 7.5 mi from Mule Shoe Conservation Area, the nearest town on this site. Camdenton is the biggest town in that list, 4,035 residents in 2024. Route from the area page: In Hickory County take Route F north from Highway 54, then gravel road 96 east to the area. Drive 17 mi to Camdenton Office in Camdenton for the nearest MDC counter.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climax Springs | Camden | – | 7.5 mi | north |
| Urbana | Dallas | 408 | 11 mi | south |
| Hermitage | Hickory | 641 | 14 mi | west |
| Camdenton | Camden | 4,035 | 18 mi | east |
| White Branch | Benton | – | 22 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.
County harvest around Mule Shoe Conservation Area
These are county numbers.
In 2025, 3,714 deer were Telechecked in Camden County, 1,642 of them does. Camden County turkey hunters took 612 birds in spring 2026; 15 came off public land. The MDC dashboard lists 0 CWD positives in Camden County across the years in the table.
| Year | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,777 | 295 | 1,642 | 3,714 |
| 2024 | 1,320 | 346 | 1,297 | 2,963 |
| 2023 | 1,910 | 325 | 1,628 | 3,863 |
| 2022 | 1,399 | 252 | 1,302 | 2,953 |
| 2021 | 1,813 | 363 | 1,481 | 3,657 |
| 2020 | 1,523 | 430 | 1,741 | 3,694 |
| Year | Spring total | On public land | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 612 | 15 | 67 | – | – |
| 2025 | 715 | 23 | 57 | 52 | 24 |
| 2024 | 644 | 24 | 50 | 37 | 14 |
| 2023 | 648 | 38 | 31 | 33 | 25 |
| 2022 | 451 | – | 48 | 14 | 17 |
| 2021 | 547 | – | 48 | 29 | 32 |
| Sample year | CWD samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 0 |
| 2025 | 130 | 0 |
| 2024 | 64 | 0 |
| 2023 | 76 | 0 |
| 2022 | 544 | 0 |
| 2021 | 773 | 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 Mule Shoe 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 | 6:40 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.
Mule Shoe Conservation Area in pictures
Mule Shoe Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Mule Shoe Conservation Area, 15 miles separates hunters from Lead Mine 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.
Mule Shoe Conservation Area, quick questions
Can hunters camp on Mule Shoe Conservation Area?
Camping is listed; hours 4 a.m. to 10 p.m..
How large an area is Mule Shoe Conservation Area?
Missouri Department of Conservation runs the ground (2,829 acres).
Is hunting legal on Mule Shoe Conservation Area?
Yes. The area page names deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit, squirrel and quail.
What should I buy before a Mule Shoe 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 Mule Shoe Conservation Area?
Camden County: firearms antlerless limit 4, antlerless portions open.
What are the deer hunting methods at Mule Shoe Conservation Area?
Deer may be taken by archery and firearms. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Turkey hunting at Mule Shoe 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 Mule Shoe Conservation Area?
Sampling is voluntary here; feeding and minerals are banned all year.
When does legal light start and end at Mule Shoe Conservation Area?
Deer hunters get 6:24 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 14; sunset is 5:00 p.m..
Does a bear zone include Mule Shoe Conservation Area?
Only with a Zone 3 permit from the drawing; season Oct. 17-30.
Which town sits closest to Mule Shoe Conservation Area?
Climax Springs lies 7.5 mi away.
Is there other public land around Mule Shoe Conservation Area?
Try Quad-E-Wildlife Ranch (MRAP) (4.9 mi), Burnt Mill Cave Conservation Area (6.6 mi) and Branch Towersite (8.0 mi).
Mule Shoe 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; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Russ (CC BY 2.0); Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren (CC BY 2.0).