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Conservation area · Northeast Region
Hunt Neeper Conservation Area
Conservation area in Clark County, 315 acres, MDC Northeast Region.
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Neeper Conservation Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Neeper Conservation Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 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.
About Neeper Conservation Area
At 315 acres, Neeper Conservation Area is part of the public ground of Clark County. Among the 7 conservation areas of Clark County, it sits 6th for acres. The Fabius River district (MDC Northeast Region) handles habitat work on Neeper Conservation Area.
The atlas entry for Neeper Conservation Area also shows camping (open camping – walk-in/float-in/backpack, designated camping sites).
MDC describes the area this way: This 314-acre area is mostly timbered. About 87 acres were recently added to the northeast part of the area. Management of this area includes timber harvest and limited row crops and food plots.
Hunted here: Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Quail.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Neeper Conservation Area
How Neeper Conservation Area may be hunted
Read these before a first trip to Neeper Conservation Area; posted signs still govern.
| Species | Allowed | Permit note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery and firearms | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
| Northern Bobwhite Quail | Statewide methods | – |
The deer rule for Neeper Conservation Area is archery and firearms, and antlerless permits may be used here. The turkey rule on Neeper Conservation Area reads archery and firearms. In the booklet table Neeper Conservation Area carries antlerless code A: antlerless permits allowed. Listed or not matters on MDC ground: Neeper 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 Neeper Conservation Area
| Topic | Clark County |
|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | No |
| 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 | None |
| Duck zone | North |
There are no deer units in Missouri; Clark County is the unit for Neeper Conservation Area, with a firearms antlerless limit of 4. The early (Oct. 9-11) and late (Dec. 5-13) antlerless portions are open in Clark County. No grain, salt or mineral sites in Clark County: the ban runs all year. The CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point restriction were removed for 2026.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Neeper Conservation Area by season
These 15 rows are the 2026-27 seasons that fit Neeper 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 | 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 | |
| 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 |
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 Neeper Conservation Area
Totals are for the whole county.
Clark County gave up 2,750 deer in 2025; the table runs back to 2020. In spring 2026, 401 turkeys were checked in Clark County, 26 of them reported from public land. For CWD, Clark County shows 7 positives over the years listed (first year 2023-2024).
| Season | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | County total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,243 | 233 | 1,274 | 2,750 |
| 2024 | 1,235 | 232 | 1,283 | 2,750 |
| 2023 | 1,278 | 227 | 1,202 | 2,707 |
| 2022 | 1,292 | 192 | 1,141 | 2,625 |
| 2021 | 1,160 | 186 | 913 | 2,259 |
| 2020 | 1,246 | 190 | 1,004 | 2,440 |
| Year | Spring | Public | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 401 | 26 | 56 | – | – |
| 2025 | 366 | 30 | 54 | 3 | 10 |
| 2024 | 367 | 26 | 40 | 4 | 6 |
| 2023 | 331 | 33 | 24 | 2 | 21 |
| 2022 | 305 | – | 36 | 8 | 17 |
| 2021 | 256 | – | 23 | 2 | 21 |
| Year | Samples | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 16 | 0 |
| 2025 | 522 | 2 |
| 2024 | 715 | 4 |
| 2023 | 205 | 1 |
| 2022 | 608 | 0 |
| 2021 | 510 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Neeper Conservation Area: the surrounding public ground
The map pins Neeper Conservation Area with the 8 closest public areas, led by Clark Conservation Area at 8.7 mi.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark CA | Conservation area | 626 | Clark | 8.7 mi | northwest |
| Deer Ridge CA | Conservation area | 7,185 | Lewis | 11 mi | south |
| Fox Valley Lake CA | Conservation area | 2,158 | Clark | 11 mi | north |
| Wyaconda Crossing CA | Conservation area | 148 | Lewis | 12 mi | southeast |
| Rose Pond CA | Conservation area | 382 | Clark | 13 mi | east |
| Ella Ewing Lake CA | Conservation area | 60 | Scotland | 13 mi | west |
| William E. Crawford CA | Conservation area | 88 | Clark | 14 mi | northeast |
| Frost Island CA | Conservation area | 1,233 | Clark | 14 mi | northeast |
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 Neeper Conservation Area
The short run for gas and food is Williamstown, 6.5 mi out. 1,973 people live in Kahoka, the largest town within reach. Driving route: From Kahoka, take Highway 81 south 6 miles, then take gravel road 257west 2 miles to the area. MDC permits and advice: Northeast Regional Office, Kirksville, 45 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williamstown | Lewis | – | 6.5 mi | south |
| Kahoka | Clark | 1,973 | 6.8 mi | north |
| Medill | Clark | – | 7.0 mi | north |
| Wayland | Clark | 417 | 11 mi | northeast |
| St. Francisville | Clark | – | 12 mi | northeast |
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 Neeper Conservation Area
Sunrise in the Bootheel and in the Kansas City area can be 20 minutes apart, so use the adjusted times for Neeper Conservation Area.
| Day | Hunt | Sun up | Sun down | Big game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:36 a.m. | 7:37 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 8:07 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 7:37 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:48 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:03 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:40 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:48 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:23 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:23 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:10 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.
Neeper Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
Deer Ridge CA range (public, free) is 10 miles from Neeper 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 Neeper Conservation Area
Neeper Conservation Area, quick questions
Neeper Conservation Area: open to hunters?
It is open to hunting: deer, turkey, rabbit, squirrel and quail, under statewide seasons and the area rules.
Permits needed for Neeper Conservation Area?
MDC permits by game: Small Game, Archer's, Firearms Any-Deer or Antlerless, Migratory Bird.
Are antlerless portions open near Neeper Conservation Area?
Up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits in Clark County; antlerless portions run in October and December.
Which weapons are legal for deer at Neeper Conservation Area?
Archery and firearms. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Is fall turkey open at Neeper Conservation Area?
Archery and firearms for turkey; the October firearms season is open in the county.
Is there mandatory CWD testing near Neeper Conservation Area?
No mandatory sampling, plus the feed and mineral ban.
Where is the next public ground after Neeper Conservation Area?
Closest public options are Clark Conservation Area (8.7 mi), Deer Ridge Conservation Area (11 mi) and Fox Valley Lake Conservation Area (11 mi).
First and last shooting light at Neeper Conservation Area?
6:18 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. for deer on opening day; ducks end at 4:54 p.m..
How large an area is Neeper Conservation Area?
In charge: Missouri Department of Conservation. Acres: 315.
Town nearest Neeper Conservation Area?
Williamstown, 6.5 mi by straight line.
Open hours at Neeper Conservation Area?
Open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Camping is listed on the area page.
Neeper Conservation Area: confirm these first
Area rules, closures and managed hunt notices on Neeper 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: Jacob Norlund (CC BY 2.0); David Wilson (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).