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Conservation area · Southeast Region
Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area, a hunter guide
Conservation area in Mississippi County, 3,765 acres, MDC Southeast Region.
Photo: Paul Sableman (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area
Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area basics
At 3,765 acres, Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area is part of the public ground of Mississippi County. Among the 2 conservation areas of Mississippi County, it sits 1st for acres. The MS Lowlands East district (MDC Southeast Region) handles habitat work on Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area.
MDC describes the area this way: This 3,755-acre area was once a lowland hardwood forest intermingled with cypress sloughs. Most of the area flooded seasonally and was an important habitat for wintering waterfowl, furbearers, eagles, and other wildlife species. Management of the area began in 1982 and is aimed at reestablishing wetland habitat, which was lost when the land was drained and converted to agricultural use. Over 1,000 acres of this wetland habitat is managed through the manipulation of water levels to provide high quality natural foods, such as millets, smartweed, sprangletop, sedges,and invertebrates. These food resources are highly sought after by migrating and wintering waterfowl, shorebirds, and other wetland wildlife species. Row crops and green browse are grown on the area to provide nutritious food for geese and field-feeding species of ducks. Wetland development has included the construction of interior levees, wells, pumps, and water control structures. Duck and goose hunting and viewing waterfowl are the most popular outdoor activities on the area.
Hunted here: Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Dove, Waterfowl.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area
How Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area may be hunted
Read these before a first trip to Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area; posted signs still govern.
| Species | Allowed | Permit note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery only | Not allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery only | – |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Mourning Dove | Statewide methods | Nontoxic for doves |
| Ducks | Morning Draw | Nontoxic shot |
Code rules for Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area
- Portions of this department area are closed to protect waterfowl from October 15 through March 31.
- Nontoxic shot is required for all hunting with a shotgun on this area. Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited.
- Waterfowl hunting is prohibited after 1:00 p.m. on designated portions of the following department areas: (A) Amarugia Highlands Conservation Area (B) Bob Brown Conservation Area (C) Columbia Bottom Conservation Area (D) Coon Island Conservation Area (E) Duck Creek Conservation Area (F) Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area (G) Fountain Grove Conservation Area (H) Grand Pass Conservation Area (I) King Lake Conservation Area (J) B. K.
- Waterfowl may be taken only by holders of a valid area Daily Waterfowl Hunting Tag and only from a blind or in a designated area, except that hunters may retrieve dead birds and pursue and shoot downed cripples outside the designated area. Waterfowl hunters must check out immediately after the close of their hunting trip and prior to processing birds by accurate completion and return of the Daily Waterfowl Hunting Tag to designated locations. These department areas are closed to waterfowl hunting on December 25.
MDC allows archery methods only for deer on Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area; antlerless permits may not be used. The turkey rule on Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area reads archery only. In the booklet table Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area carries antlerless code C: antlerless permits not allowed. Nontoxic shot is required for all shotgun hunting on Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area. Listed or not matters on MDC ground: Ten Mile Pond 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.
Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area duck rules
Mind the clock on Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area: Sunset. Waterfowl hunting on Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area runs through the MDC managed wetland system: reservations plus a morning drawing. Wetland office phone: 573-649-2770. Reservation holders take half the positions and the morning draw fills the rest; the pre-season reservation window was Sept. 1-18. Use South Zone dates for Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area, but check the digest if you hunt close to a zone line. Federal law makes nontoxic shot mandatory for waterfowl.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Wade and shoot | Yes |
| Water blinds | – |
| Field blinds for geese | X |
| ADA blinds | 0 |
| Boats for blinds only | – |
| Boat launches | X |
| Camping | – |
| Season | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Youth waterfowl days | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 |
| Ducks, split 1 | Nov 26, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 |
| Ducks, split 2 | Dec 7, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest, managed areas; area page; checked October 29, 2026.
Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area dove fields
The 2026 MDC dove field layer maps 3 fields on Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area, 96.1 acres planted as sunflower. Each field is tagged e half: wheelin group od and open to all hunters. Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area is on the MDC list of dove management areas. Doves here must be taken with nontoxic shot. Dove season runs Sep 1, 2026 to Nov 29, 2026 statewide.
MDC 2026 dove field layer and Dove Management Areas; checked October 29, 2026.
County deer rules for Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area
| Topic | Mississippi County |
|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | None |
| Antlerless portions | Closed |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | No |
| Feed and mineral ban | No |
| Share the Harvest CWD test | No |
| Fall firearms turkey | Closed |
| Dogs, November portion | No rule |
| Elk county | No |
| Bear zone | Zone 2 |
| Duck zone | South |
| Flood closure zone | 2 |
There are no deer units in Missouri; Mississippi County is the unit for Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area, with a firearms antlerless limit of zero. No antlerless portions here in October or December. For bear, Mississippi County is in BMZ 2 (750 permits drawn, quota 22). Mississippi County is one of seven counties closed to fall firearms turkey. 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.
Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area by season
These 13 rows are the 2026-27 seasons that fit Ten Mile Pond 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 | Archery, second part | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery, part 2 | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| 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 |
Gun portions are dropped: deer on Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area are archery only. 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 Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area
Totals are for the whole county.
Mississippi County gave up 282 deer in 2025; the table runs back to 2020. In spring 2026, 98 turkeys were checked in Mississippi County, 11 of them reported from public land. For CWD, Mississippi County shows 0 positives over the years listed.
| Season | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | County total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 196 | 10 | 76 | 282 |
| 2024 | 233 | 11 | 97 | 341 |
| 2023 | 201 | 19 | 79 | 299 |
| 2022 | 164 | 13 | 86 | 263 |
| 2021 | 140 | 10 | 64 | 214 |
| 2020 | 198 | 8 | 83 | 289 |
| Year | Spring | Public | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 98 | 11 | 16 | – | – |
| 2025 | 87 | 9 | 6 | – | 3 |
| 2024 | 118 | 21 | 12 | – | 2 |
| 2023 | 118 | 16 | 5 | – | 8 |
| 2022 | 78 | – | 7 | – | 5 |
| 2021 | 91 | – | 5 | 0 | 9 |
| Year | Samples | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 0 |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 |
| 2023 | 6 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 |
| 2019 | 7 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area: the surrounding public ground
The map pins Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area with the 8 closest public areas, led by Seven Island Conservation Area at 8.0 mi.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seven Island CA | Conservation area | 1,376 | Mississippi | 8.0 mi | south |
| Swift Ditch Access | Public access area | 146 | New Madrid | 11 mi | west |
| Donaldson Point CA | Conservation area | 5,945 | New Madrid | 14 mi | southwest |
| Sand Prairie CA | Conservation area | 200 | Scott | 28 mi | north |
| John L. and Georgia Girvin CA | Conservation area | 748 | New Madrid, Pemiscot | 28 mi | southwest |
| General Watkins CA | Conservation area | 1,107 | Scott | 29 mi | northwest |
| Wolf Bayou Unit of Black Island CA (276 acres) | Conservation area | 276 | Pemiscot | 33 mi | southwest |
| Holly Ridge CA | Conservation area | 991 | Stoddard | 33 mi | west |
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 Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area
The short run for gas and food is East Prairie, 5.1 mi out. 4,447 people live in Charleston, the largest town within reach. Driving route: From East Prairie, take Highway 80 east, then take gravel County Road 515 south 5 miles to the tee. At the tee go left 300 yards to headquarters on the right. MDC permits and advice: Otter Slough Conservation Area Field Office, Dexter, 44 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Prairie | Mississippi | 2,859 | 5.1 mi | northwest |
| Charleston | Mississippi | 4,447 | 13 mi | north |
| New Madrid | New Madrid | 2,597 | 16 mi | southwest |
| Morley | Scott | 674 | 27 mi | northwest |
| Benton | Scott | 911 | 29 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.
Shooting hours in Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area
Sunrise in the Bootheel and in the Kansas City area can be 20 minutes apart, so use the adjusted times for Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area.
| Day | Hunt | Sun up | Sun down | Big game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:26 a.m. | 7:27 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 7:57 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:38 a.m. | 7:05 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 6:53 a.m. | 6:39 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:39 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:30 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:38 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:13 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:13 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:00 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.
Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
Holly Ridge Conservation Area Archery Range (public, free) is 34 miles from Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
A visual feel for Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area
Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area, quick questions
Are antlerless portions open near Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
Up to 0 antlerless deer on firearms permits in Mississippi County; antlerless portions are closed there.
Which weapons are legal for deer at Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
Archery methods only. Antlerless permits are not allowed.
Is fall turkey open at Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
Archery only for turkey; the October firearms season is closed in the county.
Is there mandatory CWD testing near Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
No mandatory sampling, and no feed ban.
Which duck zone covers Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
Hunt ducks under morning draw and reservations; the county is in the South Zone.
Can I hunt bear on Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
Mississippi County is in Bear Management Zone 2 (750 permits, quota 22); bear is not listed for this area.
First and last shooting light at Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
6:09 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. for deer on opening day; ducks end at 4:45 p.m..
Dove hunting fields on Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
MDC mapped 3 dove fields (96.1 acres).
Town nearest Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
East Prairie, 5.1 mi by straight line.
Where is the next public ground after Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
Closest public options are Seven Island Conservation Area (8.0 mi), Swift Ditch Access (11 mi) and Donaldson Point Conservation Area (14 mi).
Open hours at Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
Open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.. No camping is listed.
How large an area is Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
In charge: Missouri Department of Conservation. Acres: 3,765.
Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area: open to hunters?
It is open to hunting: deer, turkey, rabbit, dove and waterfowl, under statewide seasons and the area rules.
Permits needed for Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
MDC permits by game: Small Game, Archer's, Firearms Any-Deer or Antlerless, Migratory Bird.
Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area: confirm these first
Area rules, closures and managed hunt notices on Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area can change; posted signs and the agency page have the final word.
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: Nyttend (Public domain); Nyttend (Public domain); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).