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Conservation area · 2026-27
Shannon Ranch Conservation Area hunting guide
What MDC publishes about this conservation area in Douglas County, in one page.
Photo: David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Shannon Ranch Conservation Area
Shannon Ranch Conservation Area: acres, manager and game
The record gives Shannon Ranch Conservation Area 1,565 acres in Douglas County. Of 3 conservation areas in Douglas County, Shannon Ranch Conservation Area is number 1 by acreage. It belongs to the Bryant Creek management district, MDC Ozark Region.
Other uses MDC lists for Shannon Ranch Conservation Area: camping (individual campsites) and dog training.
From the MDC area description: This 1,565-acre area is named for the family which farmed it for several years prior to ownership by the Department. It is located on Highway 95 about 13 miles south of Mountain Grove in Douglas County. During your visit to Shannon Ranch, you may notice forest management practices designed to improve tree growth, quality, and variety. Native tree species, such as oaks, hickories, shortleaf pine and cedar, grow abundantly here. Various methods are used to manage the forests, including timber stand improvement (TSI), tree planting, and the harvesting of trees. These practices will improve forest health, wildlife habitat, and help maintain watershed quality as well. Foresters survey the size, age, and condition of the trees and balance management to support both forest health and wildlife habitat needs. When a tree is removed, more sunlight reaches the young herbaceous growth on the forest floor, creating new structure and improving wildlife habitat.
Game species: 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 Shannon Ranch Conservation Area
Neighbors of Shannon Ranch Conservation Area on the map
Count on Richard Massengill Conservation Area as the first fallback, 5.8 mi southeast of Shannon Ranch Conservation Area.
| Public land | Type | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Massengill CA | Conservation area | 207 | Douglas | 5.8 mi | southeast |
| Rippee CA | Conservation area | 419 | Douglas | 10 mi | southwest |
| Vera Cruz Access | Public access area | 80 | Douglas | 10 mi | west |
| Caney Mountain CA | Conservation area | 7,899 | Ozark | 19 mi | south |
| Patrick Bridge Access | Public access area | 171 | Ozark | 21 mi | south |
| Dean Davis CA | Conservation area | 173 | Howell | 22 mi | east |
| Cedar Gap CA | Conservation area | 431 | Wright | 23 mi | northwest |
| Camp Branch Access | Public access area | 28 | Wright | 24 mi | north |
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.
Shannon Ranch Conservation Area hunting methods
Shannon Ranch 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 | – |
| Northern Bobwhite Quail | Statewide methods | – |
| Mourning Dove | Statewide methods | – |
What the Code adds for Shannon Ranch Conservation Area
- Equestrian use may be authorized by special use permit.
MDC allows archery and firearms for deer on Shannon Ranch Conservation Area; antlerless permits may be used. Turkey hunters may use archery and firearms here. Bear hunting is listed on Shannon Ranch Conservation Area (archery and firearms) for permit holders in the right management zone. Shannon Ranch 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 Shannon Ranch 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 Shannon Ranch Conservation Area
Shannon Ranch Conservation Area gets 17 dated rows once the Douglas 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 | |
| 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.
Which county rules govern Shannon Ranch Conservation Area
| Rule | Douglas 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 Shannon Ranch Conservation Area follows Douglas County: up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits. Douglas County opens for both antlerless portions this year. Douglas County is one of 85 counties with the year-round feed and mineral ban. Bear Management Zone 1 covers Douglas 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.
Shannon Ranch Conservation Area town and service list
Norwood lies closest, about 13 mi as the crow flies. Ava counts 3,184 residents, more than any other town listed. How MDC says to drive in: From Vanzant, take Highway 95 south 1.25 miles. Need MDC staff? Caney Mountain Conservation Area Field Office in Gainesville is 19 mi out.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwood | Wright | 613 | 13 mi | northwest |
| Cabool | Texas | 2,059 | 17 mi | northeast |
| Wasola | Ozark | – | 18 mi | southwest |
| Ava | Douglas | 3,184 | 20 mi | west |
| Willow Springs | Howell | 2,219 | 20 mi | east |
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.
Shannon Ranch Conservation Area: deer, turkey and CWD by year
County figures, the smallest unit MDC publishes.
The county total for 2025 was 3,695 deer (1,820 antlered bucks), the closest MDC figure for Shannon Ranch Conservation Area. 54 public-land birds out of 485 in spring 2026, Douglas County. 0 positive deers in Douglas County in the sample years shown.
| Permit year | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,820 | 263 | 1,612 | 3,695 |
| 2024 | 1,373 | 272 | 1,403 | 3,048 |
| 2023 | 1,867 | 351 | 1,920 | 4,138 |
| 2022 | 1,563 | 345 | 1,441 | 3,349 |
| 2021 | 1,730 | 316 | 1,450 | 3,496 |
| 2020 | 1,655 | 290 | 1,309 | 3,254 |
| Year | Spring harvest | Public land share | Youth weekend | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 485 | 54 | 50 | – | – |
| 2025 | 540 | 73 | 44 | 16 | 5 |
| 2024 | 452 | 56 | 44 | 19 | 12 |
| 2023 | 423 | 83 | 18 | 23 | 16 |
| 2022 | 293 | – | 20 | 7 | 13 |
| 2021 | 353 | – | 32 | 14 | 26 |
| Season | Tested | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 0 |
| 2025 | 600 | 0 |
| 2024 | 609 | 0 |
| 2023 | 99 | 0 |
| 2022 | 93 | 0 |
| 2021 | 96 | 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 Shannon Ranch Conservation Area
The times below start from the MDC Jefferson City table and add 1 minute for Shannon Ranch Conservation Area, as the booklet directs.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear, elk | Ducks, doves, geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Missouri scenes for Shannon Ranch Conservation Area
Shannon Ranch Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Shannon Ranch Conservation Area, Caney Mountain CA range is the nearest MDC or other public range (21 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.
Shannon Ranch Conservation Area questions with sourced answers
How long is the legal day at Shannon Ranch Conservation Area in mid-November?
From 6:21 a.m. until 5:27 p.m. on Nov. 14, by the MDC table with the longitude correction.
Closest public alternatives to Shannon Ranch Conservation Area?
The three nearest: Richard Massengill Conservation Area (5.8 mi), Rippee Conservation Area (10 mi) and Vera Cruz Access (10 mi).
Where do I buy gas near Shannon Ranch Conservation Area?
About 13 mi to Norwood.
How large an area is Shannon Ranch Conservation Area?
Roughly 1,565 acres, looked after by Missouri Department of Conservation.
Shannon Ranch Conservation Area hours and camping?
Area hours: 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.. MDC lists camping.
What paperwork covers a hunt at Shannon Ranch Conservation Area?
Buy the matching Missouri permit (Missouri calls them permits); waterfowl also need the federal duck stamp.
Is Shannon Ranch Conservation Area open for hunting this season?
Yes. MDC lists deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, dove and quail on Shannon Ranch Conservation Area, and it is on the deer list.
Is Shannon Ranch Conservation Area archery only for deer?
Plan on archery and firearms. Antlerless permits are allowed.
What is the antlerless limit for Shannon Ranch Conservation Area?
Douglas County sets a firearms antlerless fill limit of 4, and its antlerless portions are open.
Does the feed ban cover Shannon Ranch Conservation Area?
For Douglas County, sampling is not required and the feed ban applies.
What turkey rules apply on Shannon Ranch Conservation Area?
Turkey methods: archery and firearms. Fall firearms turkey (Oct. 1-31) is open in Douglas County.
Which bear permits work at Shannon Ranch Conservation Area?
The county is BMZ 1; bear is listed for the area.
Leaving for Shannon Ranch Conservation Area?
Missouri sells permits, not licenses: buy the right one before you hunt Shannon Ranch 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: David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0); David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0); greenebriar (Public domain).