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Conservation area · Southeast Region
Oak Ridge Conservation Area, a hunter guide
Conservation area in Stoddard County, 243 acres, MDC Southeast Region.
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Oak Ridge Conservation Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Oak Ridge Conservation Area
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.6 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.
Oak Ridge Conservation Area basics
At 243 acres, Oak Ridge Conservation Area is part of the public ground of Stoddard County. Among the 5 conservation areas of Stoddard County, it sits 5th for acres. The MS Lowlands West district (MDC Southeast Region) handles habitat work on Oak Ridge Conservation Area.
The atlas entry for Oak Ridge Conservation Area also shows camping (individual campsites) and trapping (special use permit).
MDC describes the area this way: Oak Ridge Conservation Area is in Stoddard County, immediately west of the city limits of Dudley. Old Highway 60 forms the northern boundary of and provides access to this 243-acre area. The conservation area is located on the broad, flat Dudley Ridge, and there is little elevation change. Bottomland hardwood species dominates the forested acreage. The area is one of the few remaining tracts of timber for miles around the town of Dudley. Management of the area is based on the concept of multiple use. During your visit to the area you may view various forest improvement practices designed to improve tree growth, quality, species composition, wildlife habitat, and maintain watershed quality.
Hunted here: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Oak Ridge Conservation Area
How Oak Ridge Conservation Area may be hunted
Read these before a first trip to Oak Ridge Conservation Area; posted signs still govern.
| Species | Allowed | Permit 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 | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
The deer rule for Oak Ridge Conservation Area is archery and firearms, and only archery antlerless permits may be used here. The turkey rule on Oak Ridge Conservation Area reads archery and firearms. MDC lists black bear on Oak Ridge Conservation Area, archery and firearms, for hunters drawn for that zone. Antlerless code B applies to Oak Ridge Conservation Area, so archery antlerless permits only. Listed or not matters on MDC ground: Oak Ridge 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 Oak Ridge Conservation Area
| Topic | Stoddard County |
|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 1 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Closed |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | No |
| Feed and mineral ban | No |
| Share the Harvest CWD test | No |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open |
| Dogs, November portion | No rule |
| Elk county | No |
| Bear zone | Zone 2 |
| Duck zone | Middle / South |
There are no deer units in Missouri; Stoddard County is the unit for Oak Ridge Conservation Area, with a firearms antlerless limit of 1. No antlerless portions here in October or December. For bear, Stoddard County is in BMZ 2 (750 permits drawn, quota 22). 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.
Oak Ridge Conservation Area by season
These 12 rows are the 2026-27 seasons that fit Oak Ridge 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 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 | |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 2 | Bear zone 2 | 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 | |
| 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 Oak Ridge Conservation Area
Totals are for the whole county.
Stoddard County gave up 1,935 deer in 2025; the table runs back to 2020. In spring 2026, 339 turkeys were checked in Stoddard County, 18 of them reported from public land. For CWD, Stoddard County shows 0 positives over the years listed.
| Season | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | County total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 784 | 212 | 939 | 1,935 |
| 2024 | 890 | 210 | 1,017 | 2,117 |
| 2023 | 930 | 215 | 1,013 | 2,158 |
| 2022 | 1,068 | 318 | 1,261 | 2,647 |
| 2021 | 939 | 240 | 971 | 2,150 |
| 2020 | 1,049 | 244 | 989 | 2,282 |
| Year | Spring | Public | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 339 | 18 | 51 | – | – |
| 2025 | 306 | 24 | 35 | 40 | 10 |
| 2024 | 320 | 23 | 34 | 29 | 17 |
| 2023 | 286 | 22 | 26 | 31 | 31 |
| 2022 | 234 | – | 23 | 42 | 27 |
| 2021 | 221 | – | 18 | 21 | 25 |
| Year | Samples | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 44 | 0 |
| 2024 | 95 | 0 |
| 2023 | 78 | 0 |
| 2022 | 44 | 0 |
| 2021 | 59 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Oak Ridge Conservation Area: the surrounding public ground
The map pins Oak Ridge Conservation Area with the 8 closest public areas, led by Otter Slough Conservation Area at 5.3 mi.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otter Slough CA | Conservation area | 4,859 | Butler, Stoddard | 5.3 mi | south |
| Holly Ridge CA | Conservation area | 991 | Stoddard | 12 mi | east |
| Crowleys Ridge CA | Conservation area | 1,878 | Stoddard | 13 mi | northeast |
| Dan River Access | Public access area | 68 | Butler | 14 mi | southwest |
| Mingo NWR | Wildlife refuge | 21,109 | Stoddard, Wayne | 15 mi | north |
| Poplar Bluff CA | Conservation area | 1,107 | Butler | 15 mi | west |
| Stephen J. Sun CA | Conservation area | 485 | Butler | 15 mi | west |
| Aquilla Access | Public access area | 92 | Stoddard | 16 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 Oak Ridge Conservation Area
The short run for gas and food is Fisk, 5.5 mi out. 16,177 people live in Poplar Bluff, the largest town within reach. Driving route: From Dudley, take Old Highway 60 west for 0.9 miles and the area will be on your left. MDC permits and advice: Otter Slough Conservation Area Field Office, Dexter, 4.5 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fisk | Butler | 309 | 5.5 mi | west |
| Puxico | Stoddard | 869 | 12 mi | north |
| Bloomfield | Stoddard | 1,742 | 12 mi | northeast |
| Qulin | Butler | 468 | 15 mi | southwest |
| Poplar Bluff | Butler | 16,177 | 17 mi | west |
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 Oak Ridge Conservation Area
Sunrise in the Bootheel and in the Kansas City area can be 20 minutes apart, so use the adjusted times for Oak Ridge Conservation Area.
| Day | Hunt | Sun up | Sun down | Big game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:29 a.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:41 a.m. | 7:08 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 7:08 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 6:56 a.m. | 6:42 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:42 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:33 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:41 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:16 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:16 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:03 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.
Oak Ridge Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
Holly Ridge Conservation Area Archery Range (public, free) is 11 miles from Oak Ridge 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 Oak Ridge Conservation Area
Oak Ridge Conservation Area, quick questions
Town nearest Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
Fisk, 5.5 mi by straight line.
Where is the next public ground after Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
Closest public options are Otter Slough Conservation Area (5.3 mi), Holly Ridge Conservation Area (12 mi) and Crowleys Ridge Conservation Area (13 mi).
Open hours at Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
Open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Camping is listed on the area page.
How large an area is Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
In charge: Missouri Department of Conservation. Acres: 243.
Oak Ridge Conservation Area: open to hunters?
It is open to hunting: deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit and squirrel, under statewide seasons and the area rules.
Permits needed for Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
MDC permits by game: Small Game, Archer's, Firearms Any-Deer or Antlerless, Migratory Bird.
Are antlerless portions open near Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
Up to 1 antlerless deer on firearms permits in Stoddard County; antlerless portions are closed there.
Which weapons are legal for deer at Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
Archery and firearms. Only archery antlerless permits may be used.
Is fall turkey open at Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
Archery and firearms for turkey; the October firearms season is open in the county.
Is there mandatory CWD testing near Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
No mandatory sampling, and no feed ban.
First and last shooting light at Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
6:12 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. for deer on opening day; ducks end at 4:48 p.m..
Can I hunt bear on Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
Stoddard County is in Bear Management Zone 2 (750 permits, quota 22); the area lists bear.
Oak Ridge Conservation Area: confirm these first
Area rules, closures and managed hunt notices on Oak Ridge 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: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0).