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Norfork Lake Management Lands hunting in Missouri
Public hunting ground in Ozark County (4,861 acres), with the county deer rules that apply there.
Photo: David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Norfork Lake Management Lands
Norfork Lake Management Lands, the essentials
Its acreage is 4,861, inside Ozark County. Line up the 2 MDC-managed Corps lake lands in Ozark County by acres and Norfork Lake Management Lands comes 2nd. Corps-owned, MDC-managed: a habitat agreement puts Norfork Lake Management Lands under MDC rules (Bryant Creek district).
MDC also notes fishing (white bass, walleye/sauger, sunfish, suckers) at Norfork Lake Management Lands.
Habitat notes from the source: This area is owned by the US Army Corps of Engineers and managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) through a long term habitat lease. The reservoir itself is fed largely by Bryant Creek and the North Fork of the White River with both joining at the confluence just above the Hwy 160 bridge in Tecumseh. Many other feeder streams feed into the lake as well including Cane Creek, Lick Creek, Liner Creek, Bridges Creek, among others. The Norfork fishery is managed jointly by biologists from MDC and Arkansas Game and Fish. The terrestrial habitat in Missouri is managed by MDC biologists for small game, deer, and turkey using native grass plantings and annual grain plots interspersed among the forests and old fields that make up the areas along the lake.
Game listed: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove, Quail, Waterfowl.
- White-tailed Deer
- Black Bear
- Wild Turkey
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Fox Squirrel
- Mourning Dove
- Northern Bobwhite Quail
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Norfork Lake Management Lands
Lake records tied to Norfork Lake Management Lands
Related records for Norfork Lake Management Lands: the Corps lake and its other MDC-managed units.
| Record | Kind | Acreage | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfork Lake (Corps) | Corps lake | – | Ozark |
lands.json related records (MDC atlas and Corps Lakes Gateway); checked October 29, 2026.
Norfork Lake Management Lands and nearby public land, mapped
8 other public places sit inside a 45-mile circle around Norfork Lake Management Lands; together they add 8,737 acres, and Norfork Lake (Corps) is nearest.
| Area | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norfork Lake (Corps) | Corps lake | – | Ozark | 0.4 mi | west |
| Tecumseh Towersite | Towersite | 40 | Ozark | 4.3 mi | northeast |
| Patrick Bridge Access | Public access area | 171 | Ozark | 7.3 mi | northeast |
| Timber Knob Towersite | Towersite | 40 | Ozark | 11 mi | west |
| Caney Mountain CA | Conservation area | 7,899 | Ozark | 13 mi | northwest |
| Archie and Gracie Vanderhoef Memorial State Forest | State forest | 140 | Howell | 22 mi | east |
| Tingler Prairie CA | Conservation area | 240 | Howell | 23 mi | east |
| Richard Massengill CA | Conservation area | 207 | Douglas | 24 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 Norfork Lake Management Lands
MDC area rules for Norfork Lake Management Lands, 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 | – |
| Mourning Dove | Statewide methods | – |
| Ducks | Open Hunting | Nontoxic shot |
For deer, Norfork Lake Management Lands is open to archery and firearms, and antlerless permits may be used. Turkey methods on Norfork Lake Management Lands: archery and firearms. Norfork Lake Management Lands allows black bear by archery and firearms during the October season, permit holders only. The FDT area table lists Norfork Lake Management Lands with code A (antlerless permits allowed). Deer and turkey may be hunted only on MDC areas that appear in the booklet table; Norfork Lake Management Lands 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.
Norfork Lake Management Lands season calendar
County dates from Ozark County that fit Norfork Lake Management Lands, 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 1 | Bear zone 1 | 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 | |
| Doves | Dove season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | South Zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 1 | South Zone | Nov 26, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 2 | South Zone | Dec 7, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Early Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | Statewide | Nov 11, 2026 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Conservation order | Statewide | Feb 7, 2027 | Apr 30, 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.
Duck season on Norfork Lake Management Lands
Ducks and geese on Norfork Lake Management Lands fall under open hunting rules. Duck dates for Norfork Lake Management Lands follow the South Zone (from the 2021-2025 zone layer; the new 2026-2030 line text may differ near the edge). Ducks, geese and coots may be shot only with nontoxic shot.
| Zone season | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Youth waterfowl days | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 |
| Ducks, split 1 | Nov 26, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 |
| Ducks, split 2 | Dec 7, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest, managed areas; area page; checked October 29, 2026.
Deer rules that reach Norfork Lake Management Lands
| Rule | Ozark 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 | Zone 1 |
| Duck zone | South |
Norfork Lake Management Lands takes its deer rules from Ozark County, where the firearms antlerless fill limit is 4. Antlerless portions run here in October and December. Ozark County falls under the CWD feed and mineral ban. BMZ 1 reaches Ozark County; the zone has 1,000 permits and closes early if 30 bears are taken. For 2026 MDC dropped the CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point restriction.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Norfork Lake Management Lands: towns and supplies
Gainesville is 9.2 mi from Norfork Lake Management Lands, the nearest town on this site. Route from the area page: Norfork Lake is about 20 miles SW of West Plains and 9 miles SE of Gainesville, and can be reached from Route O, Route T, or Highway 160. Drive 11 mi to Caney Mountain Conservation Area Field Office in Gainesville for the nearest MDC counter.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | Ozark | 778 | 9.2 mi | northwest |
| Pontiac | Ozark | – | 18 mi | west |
| South Fork | Howell | – | 19 mi | east |
| Sundown | Ozark | – | 20 mi | west |
| Wasola | Ozark | – | 23 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 Norfork Lake Management Lands
These are county numbers.
In 2025, 2,819 deer were Telechecked in Ozark County, 1,163 of them does. Ozark County turkey hunters took 260 birds in spring 2026; 42 came off public land. The MDC dashboard lists 1 CWD positive in Ozark County across the years in the table.
| Year | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,457 | 199 | 1,163 | 2,819 |
| 2024 | 1,227 | 231 | 1,175 | 2,633 |
| 2023 | 1,538 | 241 | 1,478 | 3,257 |
| 2022 | 1,172 | 243 | 1,058 | 2,473 |
| 2021 | 1,336 | 247 | 1,145 | 2,728 |
| 2020 | 1,242 | 223 | 1,147 | 2,612 |
| Year | Spring total | On public land | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 260 | 42 | 38 | – | – |
| 2025 | 344 | 65 | 32 | 5 | 8 |
| 2024 | 287 | 55 | 29 | 9 | 4 |
| 2023 | 265 | 44 | 13 | 9 | 6 |
| 2022 | 167 | – | 20 | 1 | 9 |
| 2021 | 195 | – | 23 | 3 | 9 |
| Sample year | CWD samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 43 | 0 |
| 2025 | 96 | 1 |
| 2024 | 170 | 0 |
| 2023 | 111 | 0 |
| 2022 | 580 | 0 |
| 2021 | 682 | 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 Norfork Lake Management Lands
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 | 6:39 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 8:10 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:51 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:06 a.m. | 6:52 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 6:52 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:43 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:51 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:26 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:26 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:13 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.
Norfork Lake Management Lands in pictures
Norfork Lake Management Lands hunters: public range and clubs
From Norfork Lake Management Lands, 12 miles separates hunters from Caney Mountain 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.
Norfork Lake Management Lands, quick questions
Is there other public land around Norfork Lake Management Lands?
Try Norfork Lake (Corps) (0.4 mi), Tecumseh Towersite (4.3 mi) and Patrick Bridge Access (7.3 mi).
When does legal light start and end at Norfork Lake Management Lands?
Deer hunters get 6:20 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. on Nov. 14; sunset is 4:56 p.m..
How large an area is Norfork Lake Management Lands?
Missouri Department of Conservation runs the ground (4,861 acres).
Which town sits closest to Norfork Lake Management Lands?
Gainesville lies 9.2 mi away.
What should I buy before a Norfork Lake Management Lands hunt?
Missouri hunting permits for each species; there is no separate area permit for most MDC land.
Can hunters camp on Norfork Lake Management Lands?
Camping is not listed; hours 4 a.m. to 10 p.m..
What are the deer hunting methods at Norfork Lake Management Lands?
Deer may be taken by archery and firearms. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Is hunting legal on Norfork Lake Management Lands?
Yes. The area page names deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, dove, quail and waterfowl.
Do I need a CWD sample for deer from Norfork Lake Management Lands?
Sampling is voluntary here; feeding and minerals are banned all year.
How many does may be taken around Norfork Lake Management Lands?
Ozark County: firearms antlerless limit 4, antlerless portions open.
Does a bear zone include Norfork Lake Management Lands?
Only with a Zone 1 permit from the drawing; season Oct. 17-30.
Turkey hunting at Norfork Lake Management Lands: what is allowed?
MDC allows archery and firearms. Fall firearms turkey runs Oct. 1-31.
Is there a draw for ducks at Norfork Lake Management Lands?
Open hunting; zone: South Zone.
Norfork Lake Management Lands 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: David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0); David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0); Gary Leavens (CC BY-SA 2.0).