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Conservation area · 2026-27
Poosey Conservation Area hunting guide
What MDC publishes about this conservation area in Grundy County and 1 neighboring county, in one page.
Photo: MoBikeFed (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Poosey Conservation Area
Poosey Conservation Area: acres, manager and game
The record gives Poosey Conservation Area 5,863 acres in Grundy and Livingston counties. Within Grundy County it stands alone among conservation areas. It belongs to the Lower Grand management district, MDC Northwest Region.
Other uses MDC lists for Poosey Conservation Area: shooting range (rifle or pistol), trails (biking, horseback, hiking), camping (designated camping sites), dog training, fishing (walleye/sauger, sunfish, catfish, crappie) and tours.
From the MDC area description: Poosey Conservation Area is in northwest Livingston County, six miles southeast of Jamesport, nine miles northeast of Lock Springs, 12 miles southwest of Trenton and 13 miles northwest of Chillicothe. The Conservation Department purchased the original 814-acre tract for Poosey Conservation Area in 1979 from Robert Daugherty. Additional purchases have increased the area to its current size. The area contains unique fern-draped rock bluffs, heavily timbered hills of oak and hickory, rolling grass expanses, and a variety of wildlife. The foliage provides brilliant and showy fall colors. This portion of the Grand River Valley was one of the last parts of Missouri yielded by the American Indians. In 1833, the last remnants of the Shawnee tribe left the area, opening the area to settlement by people of European extraction, who came here via Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. The settlers, who preferred forested tracts to open prairies, were attracted by plentiful natural supplies of food, fuel, water, and building materials.
Game species: Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove, Quail.
- White-tailed Deer
- 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 Poosey Conservation Area
Neighbors of Poosey Conservation Area on the map
Count on Punkin Center Access as the first fallback, 4.2 mi east of Poosey Conservation Area.
| Public land | Type | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punkin Center Access | Public access area | 80 | Livingston | 4.2 mi | east |
| Jamesport Community Lake | Cooperative area | 145 | Daviess | 9.1 mi | northwest |
| Mockingbird Hill Access | Public access area | 80 | Grundy | 11 mi | north |
| Crowder State Park | State park hunt | 1,974 | Grundy | 12 mi | north |
| Holmes Bend Access | Public access area | 76 | Daviess | 12 mi | west |
| Gallatin CA | Conservation area | 670 | Daviess | 13 mi | southwest |
| Home Farm Tract (MRAP) | MRAP tract | 237 | Caldwell | 18 mi | southwest |
| Schieber Farm Tract (MRAP) | MRAP tract | 218 | Daviess | 18 mi | southwest |
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.
Poosey Conservation Area hunting methods
Poosey Conservation Area follows statewide seasons with the area limits shown here.
| Game | Methods | Note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery and firearms | Not allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
| Northern Bobwhite Quail | Statewide methods | – |
| Mourning Dove | Statewide methods | – |
What the Code adds for Poosey Conservation Area
- Unless otherwise posted, bicycles, including electric bicycles as defined in the Missouri Wildlife Code ( Chapter 20- Definitions) , are allowed on roads open to vehicular traffic and service roads (designated in the online conservation atlas). Bicycles must stay on roads open to vehicular traffic or service roads, or on multi-use trails posted as open to bicycles. Bicycle use is not allowed on service roads passing through designated natural areas (designated in the online conservation atlas). Groups of 10 or more people using bicycles on a department area must obtain a special use permit.
- This department area also has multi-use trails open to equestrian use. On multi-use trails designated as open to equestrian use, horses and horseback riding is prohibited during all portions of the firearms deer hunting season and during shooting hours of spring turkey hunting seasons.
- An unstaffed range is located on this department area. Target shooting is not allowed anywhere on this area except for designated shooting range(s).
- Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Ranges may be closed to public use at any time for maintenance or department sponsored events or programs.
MDC allows archery and firearms for deer on Poosey Conservation Area; antlerless permits may not be used. Turkey hunters may use archery and firearms here. Poosey Conservation Area shows code C in the booklet, antlerless permits not allowed. The deer hunting quick view is the list that counts for MDC areas, and Poosey 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 Poosey Conservation Area
Poosey Conservation Area gets 16 dated rows once the Grundy 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 | |
| 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 |
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.
Poosey Conservation Area dove ground
27.0 acres across 8 fields are managed for doves on Poosey Conservation Area (sunflower). Field status: open to all hunters. Dove hunters will find Poosey Conservation Area on the MDC dove area list. Missouri dove dates are Sep 1, 2026 to Nov 29, 2026.
MDC 2026 dove field layer and Dove Management Areas; checked October 29, 2026.
Which county rules govern Poosey Conservation Area
| Rule | Grundy County | Livingston County |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 4 deer | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | No | No |
| Feed and mineral ban | Yes | Yes |
| Share the Harvest CWD test | Required | Required |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open | Open |
| Dogs, November portion | No rule | No rule |
| Elk county | No | No |
| Bear zone | None | None |
| Duck zone | North | North |
Missouri sets deer rules county by county, so Poosey Conservation Area follows Grundy County: up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits. Grundy County opens for both antlerless portions this year. Grundy County is one of 85 counties with the year-round feed and mineral ban. MDC retired the CWD portion, its management zone and the antler-point restriction for 2026. The table splits the rules by county for Poosey Conservation Area.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Poosey Conservation Area town and service list
Jamesport lies closest, about 6.3 mi as the crow flies. Chillicothe counts 9,103 residents, more than any other town listed. How MDC says to drive in: From Chillicothe, take Highway 190 west 5 miles, then Route A north 5 miles. At the Route W junction, continue on Route A west 1 mile to the area entrance. Need MDC staff? Chillicothe Office in Chillicothe is 15 mi out.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamesport | Daviess | 567 | 6.3 mi | northwest |
| Trenton | Grundy | 5,588 | 12 mi | northeast |
| Chillicothe | Livingston | 9,103 | 12 mi | southeast |
| Gallatin | Daviess | 1,852 | 14 mi | west |
| Gilman City | Daviess | 329 | 17 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.
Poosey Conservation Area: deer, turkey and CWD by year
County figures, the smallest unit MDC publishes.
The county total for 2025 was 1,812 deer (828 antlered bucks), the closest MDC figure for Poosey Conservation Area. 10 public-land birds out of 371 in spring 2026, Grundy County. 14 positive deers in Grundy County in the sample years shown; CWD was first found there in 2023-2024.
| Permit year | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 828 | 138 | 846 | 1,812 |
| 2024 | 879 | 139 | 867 | 1,885 |
| 2023 | 949 | 138 | 769 | 1,856 |
| 2022 | 901 | 139 | 803 | 1,843 |
| 2021 | 976 | 129 | 775 | 1,880 |
| 2020 | 931 | 131 | 763 | 1,825 |
| Year | Spring harvest | Public land share | Youth weekend | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 371 | 10 | 29 | – | – |
| 2025 | 375 | 6 | 22 | 3 | 4 |
| 2024 | 378 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 8 |
| 2023 | 322 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 5 |
| 2022 | 313 | – | 12 | 20 | 15 |
| 2021 | 319 | – | 15 | 11 | 15 |
| Season | Tested | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 0 |
| 2025 | 347 | 6 |
| 2024 | 460 | 7 |
| 2023 | 344 | 1 |
| 2022 | 29 | 0 |
| 2021 | 20 | 0 |
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 Poosey Conservation Area
The times below start from the MDC Jefferson City table and add 6 minutes for Poosey Conservation Area, as the booklet directs.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear, elk | Ducks, doves, geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:44 a.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:56 a.m. | 7:23 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:53 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:11 a.m. | 6:57 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 6:57 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:48 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:56 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:31 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:31 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:18 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 Poosey Conservation Area
The shooting range on Poosey Conservation Area
Poosey Conservation Area is one of MDC’s range areas (public, free); shoot targets only at the designated range.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026; target shooting rule from MDC area rule 3 CSR 10-11.150 on the area page.
Poosey Conservation Area questions with sourced answers
How long is the legal day at Poosey 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 Poosey Conservation Area?
The three nearest: Punkin Center Access (4.2 mi), Jamesport Community Lake (9.1 mi) and Mockingbird Hill Access (11 mi).
Where do I buy gas near Poosey Conservation Area?
About 6.3 mi to Jamesport.
How large an area is Poosey Conservation Area?
Roughly 5,863 acres, looked after by Missouri Department of Conservation.
Poosey Conservation Area hours and camping?
Area hours: 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.. MDC lists camping.
What paperwork covers a hunt at Poosey Conservation Area?
Buy the matching Missouri permit (Missouri calls them permits); waterfowl also need the federal duck stamp.
Is Poosey Conservation Area open for hunting this season?
Yes. MDC lists deer, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, dove and quail on Poosey Conservation Area, and it is on the deer list.
Is Poosey Conservation Area archery only for deer?
Plan on archery and firearms. Antlerless permits are not allowed.
What is the antlerless limit for Poosey Conservation Area?
Grundy County sets a firearms antlerless fill limit of 4, and its antlerless portions are open.
Does the feed ban cover Poosey Conservation Area?
For Grundy County, sampling is not required and the feed ban applies.
What turkey rules apply on Poosey Conservation Area?
Turkey methods: archery and firearms. Fall firearms turkey (Oct. 1-31) is open in Grundy County.
Poosey Conservation Area dove fields?
Yes: 8 fields, 27.0 acres in the 2026 layer.
Leaving for Poosey Conservation Area?
Missouri sells permits, not licenses: buy the right one before you hunt Poosey Conservation Area, and wear hunter orange in the firearms portions.
Sources: source · source · source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Jena Fuller (CC BY-SA 2.0); Kansas City District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Public domain); USFWS Mountain-Prairie (Public Domain Mark 1.0).