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Conservation area · 2026-27
Pilot Knob Conservation Area hunting guide
What MDC publishes about this conservation area in Stone County, in one page.
Photo: Drew de F Fawkes (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Pilot Knob Conservation Area
Pilot Knob Conservation Area: acres, manager and game
The record gives Pilot Knob Conservation Area 1,360 acres in Stone County. Of 4 conservation areas in Stone County, Pilot Knob Conservation Area is number 1 by acreage. It belongs to the White River management district, MDC Southwest Region.
Other uses MDC lists for Pilot Knob Conservation Area: trails (hiking).
From the MDC area description: Pilot Knob Conservation Area has a 6.6-mile out and back trail (slightly more than three miles one way) that is good for nature-viewing and nature photography. It's a good option for those looking for an off-the-beaten path hike. Hunting is allowed. Habitat consists of large contiguous tracts of woodlands and glades. The term "pilot knob" comes from the use of the tall hilltops in the Ozarks as reference and triangulation points. The tops of these hills were often cleared of all but one tree. This "signal tree" designated the hilltop as a pilot knob. Several pilot knobs existed across southern Missouri in the early 1900s. Pilot Knob Conservation Area contained one of them.
Game species: 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 Pilot Knob Conservation Area
Neighbors of Pilot Knob Conservation Area on the map
Count on Table Rock Lake (Corps) as the first fallback, 6.4 mi northeast of Pilot Knob Conservation Area.
| Public land | Type | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Table Rock Lake (Corps) | Corps lake | – | Stone, Barry | 6.4 mi | northeast |
| John Baumgardt Memorial CA | Conservation area | 503 | Barry | 14 mi | northwest |
| Roaring River CA | Conservation area | 439 | Barry | 16 mi | west |
| Jessie Hollow CA | Conservation area | 120 | Stone | 16 mi | north |
| Hollister Towersite | Towersite | 171 | Taney | 17 mi | east |
| Stubblefield Access | Public access area | 56 | Barry | 20 mi | northwest |
| Boston Ferry CA | Conservation area | 182 | Taney | 22 mi | northeast |
| The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial CA | Conservation area | 362 | Taney | 24 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.
Pilot Knob Conservation Area hunting methods
Pilot Knob Conservation Area follows statewide seasons with the area limits shown here.
| Game | Methods | 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 | – |
MDC allows archery and firearms for deer on Pilot Knob Conservation Area; antlerless permits may be used. Turkey hunters may use archery and firearms here. Bear hunting is listed on Pilot Knob Conservation Area (archery and firearms) for permit holders in the right management zone. Pilot Knob Conservation Area shows code A in the booklet, antlerless permits allowed. The deer hunting quick view is the list that counts for MDC areas, and Pilot Knob Conservation Area appears 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.
Calendar of hunts for Pilot Knob Conservation Area
Pilot Knob Conservation Area gets 14 dated rows once the Stone County calendar is trimmed to its game list.
| 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 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 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 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.
Which county rules govern Pilot Knob Conservation Area
| Rule | Stone 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 |
Missouri sets deer rules county by county, so Pilot Knob Conservation Area follows Stone County: up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits. Stone County opens for both antlerless portions this year. Stone County is one of 85 counties with the year-round feed and mineral ban. Bear Management Zone 1 covers Stone County: 1,000 permits and a 30-bear quota for Oct. 17-30. MDC retired the CWD portion, its management zone and the antler-point restriction for 2026.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Pilot Knob Conservation Area town and service list
Shell Knob lies closest, about 4.5 mi as the crow flies. Indian Point counts 583 residents, more than any other town listed. How MDC says to drive in: From Carr Lane, take Highway 39 north 2.60 miles to parking area on the east, or right side of the road. Need MDC staff? Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Education Center in Branson is 14 mi out.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shell Knob | Barry | – | 4.5 mi | northwest |
| Blue Eye | Stone | 303 | 10 mi | east |
| Eagle Rock | Barry | – | 10 mi | west |
| Branson West | Stone | 495 | 14 mi | northeast |
| Indian Point | Stone | 583 | 14 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.
Pilot Knob Conservation Area: deer, turkey and CWD by year
County figures, the smallest unit MDC publishes.
The county total for 2025 was 2,137 deer (1,130 antlered bucks), the closest MDC figure for Pilot Knob Conservation Area. 35 public-land birds out of 295 in spring 2026, Stone County. 20 positive deers in Stone County in the sample years shown; CWD was first found there in 2018-2019.
| Permit year | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,130 | 170 | 837 | 2,137 |
| 2024 | 894 | 151 | 833 | 1,878 |
| 2023 | 1,187 | 166 | 1,034 | 2,387 |
| 2022 | 997 | 146 | 741 | 1,884 |
| 2021 | 936 | 128 | 744 | 1,808 |
| 2020 | 871 | 141 | 739 | 1,751 |
| Year | Spring harvest | Public land share | Youth weekend | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 295 | 35 | 41 | – | – |
| 2025 | 312 | 30 | 25 | 9 | 9 |
| 2024 | 282 | 32 | 22 | 7 | 11 |
| 2023 | 247 | 38 | 10 | 18 | 15 |
| 2022 | 208 | – | 16 | 15 | 12 |
| 2021 | 204 | – | 27 | 12 | 8 |
| Season | Tested | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 47 | 0 |
| 2024 | 126 | 3 |
| 2023 | 501 | 7 |
| 2022 | 572 | 4 |
| 2021 | 501 | 6 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
First and last shooting light in Pilot Knob Conservation Area
The times below start from the MDC Jefferson City table and add 6 minutes for Pilot Knob Conservation Area, as the booklet directs.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear, elk | Ducks, doves, geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:43 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 8:14 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:55 a.m. | 7:22 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:52 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:10 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:47 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:55 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:30 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:30 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:47 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:17 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 Pilot Knob Conservation Area
Pilot Knob Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Pilot Knob Conservation Area, Drury-Mincy Conservation Area Archery Range is the nearest MDC or other public range (25 miles). Nearby gun clubs fill the other cards.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Pilot Knob Conservation Area questions with sourced answers
Is Pilot Knob Conservation Area open for hunting this season?
Yes. MDC lists deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit and squirrel on Pilot Knob Conservation Area, and it is on the deer list.
Is Pilot Knob Conservation Area archery only for deer?
Plan on archery and firearms. Antlerless permits are allowed.
What is the antlerless limit for Pilot Knob Conservation Area?
Stone County sets a firearms antlerless fill limit of 4, and its antlerless portions are open.
Does the feed ban cover Pilot Knob Conservation Area?
For Stone County, sampling is not required and the feed ban applies.
What turkey rules apply on Pilot Knob Conservation Area?
Turkey methods: archery and firearms. Fall firearms turkey (Oct. 1-31) is open in Stone County.
Which bear permits work at Pilot Knob Conservation Area?
The county is BMZ 1; bear is listed for the area.
How long is the legal day at Pilot Knob Conservation Area in mid-November?
From 6:26 a.m. until 5:32 p.m. on Nov. 14, by the MDC table with the longitude correction.
Closest public alternatives to Pilot Knob Conservation Area?
The three nearest: Table Rock Lake (Corps) (6.4 mi), John Baumgardt Memorial CA (14 mi) and Roaring River Conservation Area (16 mi).
Where do I buy gas near Pilot Knob Conservation Area?
About 4.5 mi to Shell Knob.
How large an area is Pilot Knob Conservation Area?
Roughly 1,360 acres, looked after by Missouri Department of Conservation.
What paperwork covers a hunt at Pilot Knob Conservation Area?
Buy the matching Missouri permit (Missouri calls them permits); waterfowl also need the federal duck stamp.
Leaving for Pilot Knob Conservation Area?
Missouri sells permits, not licenses: buy the right one before you hunt Pilot Knob Conservation Area, 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: Drew de F Fawkes (CC BY 2.0); Victoria – Ozarks Crescent Mural (CC BY 2.0); NPS Photo (Public domain).