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Scenic riverway · 2026-27
Ozark National Scenic Riverways hunting guide
What the managing agency publishes about this national scenic riverway across Shannon County and 3 other counties, in one page.
Photo: Chris M Morris (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Parking, trailheads and gates near Ozark National Scenic Riverways
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Jerktail LandingBoat ramp · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Jerktail LandingBoat ramp · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Broadfoot Horse Trail Staging AreaParking · 3.4 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.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways: acres, manager and game
The record gives Ozark National Scenic Riverways 80,546 acres in Shannon, Carter and 2 other counties. National Park Service oversees it.
From the agency record (National Park Service); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Ozark National Scenic Riverways
More federal ground beside Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Ozark National Scenic Riverways borders other federal hunting land, Mark Twain National Forest.
Neighbors of Ozark National Scenic Riverways on the map
Count on Angeline Conservation Area as the first fallback, 8.9 mi west of Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
| Public land | Type | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angeline CA | Conservation area | 39,603 | Shannon | 8.9 mi | west |
| Rocky Creek CA | Conservation area | 42,184 | Shannon | 9.2 mi | south |
| Sunklands CA | Conservation area | 40,383 | Shannon, Texas | 12 mi | west |
| Logan Creek CA | Conservation area | 13,170 | Reynolds, Shannon | 13 mi | east |
| Current River CA | Conservation area | 29,371 | Carter, Reynolds | 16 mi | east |
| Peck Ranch CA | Conservation area | 29,567 | Carter, Shannon | 16 mi | southeast |
| Cedar Grove CA | Conservation area | 880 | Dent | 19 mi | northwest |
| Salem Ranger District | Ranger district | 195,986 | Reynolds, Dent | 22 mi | north |
Points: NPS Land Resources Division boundary (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside) of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Ground rules for Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Hunting is permitted in most of Ozark National Scenic Riverways under Missouri and federal rules.
- Closed to regular hunting and trapping: Alley Spring, Big Spring and Round Spring (former state park boundaries) and within 300 yards of any developed area (buildings, administrative compounds, camping areas, roads, hiking trails, public use facilities).
- Feral swine hunting prohibited on fee-owned lands except deer/turkey permit holders hunting in compliance.
Sources: record. Checked October 29, 2026.
Calendar of hunts for Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Ozark National Scenic Riverways gets 39 dated rows once the Shannon County calendar is trimmed to the open seasons in its county.
| 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 2 | Bear zone 2 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Elk | Archery portion | Elk zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Elk | Firearms portion | Elk zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 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 | |
| Pheasant | Youth pheasant | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Pheasant | 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 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock season | Statewide | Oct 18, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| Coyote | Coyote hunting | Statewide | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Groundhog | Groundhog | Statewide | May 11, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| Bullfrogs and green frogs | Frogging | Statewide | Jun 30, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunt and trap, early | Statewide | Aug 1, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | |
| Rails | Rail season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Crow | Crow season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Mar 3, 2027 | |
| Badger and foxes | Hunting and trapping | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting and trapping | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunt and trap, main | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
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.
Managed deer hunts on Ozark National Scenic Riverways
The 2026-27 managed deer hunt list gives Ozark National Scenic Riverways 2 hunts and 20 drawn spots. MDC groups them as youth (1) and people with disabilities (1). MDC took applications through Jul 31, 2026; results go out from mid-August.
| Hunt | Kind | Dates | Hunters drawn | Limit | Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 117 | Youth – Firearms | Dec. 5–6 | 10 | D | Dec. 4 |
| – | People with Disabilities – Firearms | Oct. 31–Nov. 1 | 10 | B | Oct. 30 |
MDC Managed Deer Hunts List 2026-2027; checked October 29, 2026.
Which county rules govern Ozark National Scenic Riverways
| Rule | Shannon County | Carter County | Dent County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 2 deer | 1 deer | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open | Closed | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | Mandatory | Mandatory | No |
| Feed and mineral ban | Yes | No | Yes |
| Share the Harvest CWD test | Required | No | Required |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open | Open | Open |
| Dogs, November portion | No squirrel, rabbit dogs | No squirrel, rabbit dogs | No squirrel, rabbit dogs |
| Elk county | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bear zone | Zone 2 | Zone 2 | Zone 2 |
| Duck zone | South | South / Middle | Middle / South |
Missouri sets deer rules county by county, so Ozark National Scenic Riverways follows Shannon County: up to 2 antlerless deer on firearms permits. Shannon County opens for both antlerless portions this year. Opening-weekend deer from Shannon County (Nov. 14-15) must be sampled for CWD. Shannon County is one of 85 counties with the year-round feed and mineral ban. Bear Management Zone 2 covers Shannon County: 750 permits and a 22-bear quota for Oct. 17-30. Elk country: Shannon County is in the elk zone with Carter, Reynolds and Shannon rules. Squirrel and rabbit dogs are off limits in Shannon County during the November portion. MDC retired the CWD portion, its management zone and the antler-point restriction for 2026. The table splits the rules by county for Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
- Eminence Elementary School, 17794 Hwy. 106 , Eminence
- Timber Volunteer Fire Department Shed , 39245 Hwy. 19, Timber
- MDC Twin Pines Conservation Education Center, 20086 Hwy. 60, Winona
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways town and service list
Eminence lies closest, about 6.5 mi as the crow flies. Winona counts 988 residents, more than any other town listed. Need MDC staff? Eminence Office in Eminence is 5.7 mi out.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eminence | Shannon | 531 | 6.5 mi | south |
| Bunker | Dent | 297 | 16 mi | north |
| Winona | Shannon | 988 | 16 mi | south |
| Summersville | Texas | 470 | 19 mi | west |
| Birch Tree | Shannon | 562 | 19 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.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways: deer, turkey and CWD by year
County figures, the smallest unit MDC publishes.
The county total for 2025 was 3,030 deer (1,388 antlered bucks), the closest MDC figure for Ozark National Scenic Riverways. 135 public-land birds out of 237 in spring 2026, Shannon County. 1 positive deer in Shannon County in the sample years shown.
| Permit year | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,388 | 279 | 1,363 | 3,030 |
| 2024 | 875 | 199 | 995 | 2,069 |
| 2023 | 1,530 | 358 | 2,258 | 4,146 |
| 2022 | 1,295 | 351 | 1,576 | 3,222 |
| 2021 | 1,615 | 280 | 1,467 | 3,362 |
| 2020 | 1,510 | 324 | 1,409 | 3,243 |
| Year | Spring harvest | Public land share | Youth weekend | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 237 | 135 | 26 | – | – |
| 2025 | 451 | 297 | 33 | 17 | 5 |
| 2024 | 347 | 193 | 17 | 10 | 2 |
| 2023 | 383 | 273 | 17 | 48 | 22 |
| 2022 | 218 | – | 17 | 12 | 7 |
| 2021 | 318 | – | 29 | 13 | 14 |
| Season | Tested | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 444 | 1 |
| 2024 | 363 | 0 |
| 2023 | 158 | 0 |
| 2022 | 55 | 0 |
| 2021 | 62 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the event calendar nearby
About 10 straight-line miles out from the area there is 1 upcoming event.
Coming up
| Held on | Event | Mi | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 5–6, 2026 | Ozark National Scenic Riverways (Big Spring Area) Youth Managed Deer Hunt 2026 · youth managed deer hunt | On site | Event details | Source |
First and last shooting light in Ozark National Scenic Riverways
The times below start from the MDC Jefferson City table and subtract 3 minutes for Ozark National Scenic Riverways, as the booklet directs.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear, elk | Ducks, doves, geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:35 a.m. | 7:36 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 8:06 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:47 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:02 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:39 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:47 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:22 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:22 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:09 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 Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Ozark National Scenic Riverways hunters: public range and clubs
From Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Bay Creek Branch Shooting Range (Angeline Conservation Area) is the nearest MDC or other public range (2 miles).
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways questions with sourced answers
Is Ozark National Scenic Riverways open for hunting this season?
Most of the riverways are open; the three spring areas and 300-yard buffers are closed.
What is the antlerless limit for Ozark National Scenic Riverways?
Shannon County sets a firearms antlerless fill limit of 2, and its antlerless portions are open.
Does the feed ban cover Ozark National Scenic Riverways?
For Shannon County, sampling is required on Nov. 14-15 and the feed ban applies.
Which bear permits work at Ozark National Scenic Riverways?
The county is BMZ 2; bear is not listed for the area.
Is duck hunting allowed on Ozark National Scenic Riverways?
Yes: statewide rules, South Zone season dates.
Does MDC hold a drawing for Ozark National Scenic Riverways?
MDC lists 2 managed hunts here; the July 1-31 application window decides who goes.
How long is the legal day at Ozark National Scenic Riverways in mid-November?
From 6:17 a.m. until 5:23 p.m. on Nov. 14, by the MDC table with the longitude correction.
Closest public alternatives to Ozark National Scenic Riverways?
The three nearest: Angeline Conservation Area (8.9 mi), Rocky Creek Conservation Area (9.2 mi) and Sunklands Conservation Area (12 mi).
Where do I buy gas near Ozark National Scenic Riverways?
About 6.5 mi to Eminence.
How large an area is Ozark National Scenic Riverways?
Roughly 80,546 acres, looked after by National Park Service.
Is elk hunting open near Ozark National Scenic Riverways?
Drawn hunters may hunt elk here in October and December.
What paperwork covers a hunt at Ozark National Scenic Riverways?
Buy the matching Missouri permit (Missouri calls them permits); waterfowl also need the federal duck stamp.
Leaving for Ozark National Scenic Riverways?
Missouri sells permits, not licenses: buy the right one before you hunt Ozark National Scenic Riverways, 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: National Park Service Digital Image Archives (Public domain); Chris M Morris (CC BY 2.0); Gyrfalk (CC BY-SA 4.0).