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Conservation area · Central Region
Saline Valley Conservation Area, a hunter guide
Conservation area in Miller County, 4,892 acres, MDC Central Region.
Photo: Chris Yunker (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Saline Valley Conservation Area
Saline Valley Conservation Area basics
At 4,892 acres, Saline Valley Conservation Area is part of the public ground of Miller County. Miller County has no second conservation area in the data. The Lake Ozark district (MDC Central Region) handles habitat work on Saline Valley Conservation Area.
The atlas entry for Saline Valley Conservation Area also shows trails (hiking), camping (individual campsites), dog training, fishing (white bass, sunfish, catfish, black bass) and trapping (special use permit).
MDC describes the area this way: The area was established in 1977, with the original purchase of 292 acres by the Conservation Department. Subsequent purchases have increased the size of the area to 4,783 acres. The central corridor to the 4,783-acre Saline (pronounced "suh-lean") Valley Conservation Area may be accessed by driving a short distance north from Tuscumbia on Route 17 and turning west on Saline Road. Visitors can access the headwater side of the area by turning east from Hwy. 54 near Eldon onto Miller County Route M and traveling to the end of the blacktop. Lower Saline Creek and properties adjacent to the Osage River are accessible by boat from the nearby Tuscumbia and Kings Bluff public boat accesses. Saline Valley Conservation Area provides public access to nine miles of bottomland corridor along Saline Creek. Jack Buster Creek, Jim Henry Creek and the Osage River provide an additional six miles of stream corridor access. Natural communities of the area include dry dolomite forest, dolomite glades, bottomland forest and a fen.
Hunted here: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove, Quail.
- 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 Saline Valley Conservation Area
How Saline Valley Conservation Area may be hunted
Read these before a first trip to Saline Valley Conservation Area; posted signs still govern.
| Species | Allowed | Permit 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 | – |
Code rules for Saline Valley Conservation Area
- The use of float tubes is specifically prohibited.
The deer rule for Saline Valley Conservation Area is archery and firearms, and antlerless permits may be used here. The turkey rule on Saline Valley Conservation Area reads archery and firearms. MDC lists black bear on Saline Valley Conservation Area, archery and firearms, for hunters drawn for that zone. In the booklet table Saline Valley Conservation Area carries antlerless code A: antlerless permits allowed. Listed or not matters on MDC ground: Saline Valley 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 Saline Valley Conservation Area
| Topic | Miller 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 3 |
| Duck zone | Middle |
There are no deer units in Missouri; Miller County is the unit for Saline Valley Conservation Area, with a firearms antlerless limit of 4. The early (Oct. 9-11) and late (Dec. 5-13) antlerless portions are open in Miller County. No grain, salt or mineral sites in Miller County: the ban runs all year. For bear, Miller County is in BMZ 3 (250 permits drawn, quota 8). 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.
Saline Valley Conservation Area by season
These 17 rows are the 2026-27 seasons that fit Saline Valley 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 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 3 | Bear zone 3 | 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 |
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 Saline Valley Conservation Area
Totals are for the whole county.
Miller County gave up 2,850 deer in 2025; the table runs back to 2020. In spring 2026, 698 turkeys were checked in Miller County, 37 of them reported from public land. For CWD, Miller County shows 1 positive over the years listed (first year 2024-2025).
| Season | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | County total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,381 | 261 | 1,208 | 2,850 |
| 2024 | 994 | 246 | 1,055 | 2,295 |
| 2023 | 1,254 | 344 | 1,445 | 3,043 |
| 2022 | 1,111 | 322 | 1,266 | 2,699 |
| 2021 | 1,362 | 403 | 1,512 | 3,277 |
| 2020 | 1,157 | 409 | 1,499 | 3,065 |
| Year | Spring | Public | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 698 | 37 | 97 | – | – |
| 2025 | 752 | 34 | 88 | 23 | 15 |
| 2024 | 717 | 38 | 83 | 25 | 9 |
| 2023 | 704 | 42 | 65 | 30 | 21 |
| 2022 | 514 | – | 87 | 30 | 15 |
| 2021 | 607 | – | 73 | 40 | 40 |
| Year | Samples | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 433 | 0 |
| 2024 | 55 | 1 |
| 2023 | 68 | 0 |
| 2022 | 48 | 0 |
| 2021 | 57 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Saline Valley Conservation Area: the surrounding public ground
The map pins Saline Valley Conservation Area with the 8 closest public areas, led by Wilson Camp Access at 10 mi.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson Camp Access | Public access area | 149 | Miller | 10 mi | southeast |
| Rocky Mount Towersite | Towersite | 40 | Miller | 10 mi | west |
| Boeckman Bridge Access | Public access area | 55 | Miller | 12 mi | east |
| Scrivner Road CA | Conservation area | 919 | Cole | 14 mi | north |
| Lake of the Ozarks State Park (21,143 acres) | State park hunt | 21,143 | Camden, Miller | 15 mi | southwest |
| Alice Ahart Mansfield CA | Conservation area | 80 | Camden | 18 mi | southwest |
| Madden Ford Access | Public access area | 164 | Miller | 18 mi | southeast |
| Honey Creek Access | Public access area | 84 | Cole | 18 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 Saline Valley Conservation Area
The short run for gas and food is Tuscumbia, 3.5 mi out. 42,564 people live in Jefferson City, the largest town within reach. Driving route: Saline Valley Conservation Area is 2.3 miles southeast of Eldon on Highway M off of Highway 54. MDC permits and advice: Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City, 24 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscumbia | Miller | 191 | 3.5 mi | south |
| St. Martins | Cole | 1,226 | 22 mi | north |
| Versailles | Morgan | 2,693 | 24 mi | northwest |
| Jefferson City | Cole | 42,564 | 24 mi | northeast |
| California | Moniteau | 4,522 | 25 mi | north |
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 Saline Valley Conservation Area
Sunrise in the Bootheel and in the Kansas City area can be 20 minutes apart, so use the adjusted times for Saline Valley Conservation Area.
| Day | Hunt | Sun up | Sun down | Big game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Saline Valley Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
Scrivner Road CA range (public, free) is 14 miles from Saline Valley 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 Saline Valley Conservation Area
Saline Valley Conservation Area, quick questions
Town nearest Saline Valley Conservation Area?
Tuscumbia, 3.5 mi by straight line.
Where is the next public ground after Saline Valley Conservation Area?
Closest public options are Wilson Camp Access (10 mi), Rocky Mount Towersite (10 mi) and Boeckman Bridge Access (12 mi).
Open hours at Saline Valley Conservation Area?
Open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Camping is listed on the area page.
How large an area is Saline Valley Conservation Area?
In charge: Missouri Department of Conservation. Acres: 4,892.
Saline Valley Conservation Area: open to hunters?
It is open to hunting: deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, dove and quail, under statewide seasons and the area rules.
Permits needed for Saline Valley Conservation Area?
MDC permits by game: Small Game, Archer's, Firearms Any-Deer or Antlerless, Migratory Bird.
Are antlerless portions open near Saline Valley Conservation Area?
Up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits in Miller County; antlerless portions run in October and December.
Which weapons are legal for deer at Saline Valley Conservation Area?
Archery and firearms. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Is fall turkey open at Saline Valley Conservation Area?
Archery and firearms for turkey; the October firearms season is open in the county.
Is there mandatory CWD testing near Saline Valley Conservation Area?
No mandatory sampling, plus the feed and mineral ban.
First and last shooting light at Saline Valley Conservation Area?
6:21 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. for deer on opening day; ducks end at 4:57 p.m..
Can I hunt bear on Saline Valley Conservation Area?
Miller County is in Bear Management Zone 3 (250 permits, quota 8); the area lists bear.
Saline Valley Conservation Area: confirm these first
Area rules, closures and managed hunt notices on Saline Valley 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: ilouque (CC BY 2.0); David Williss (CC BY 2.0); Terry Ross (CC BY-SA 2.0).