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Conservation area · Ozark Region
Tingler Prairie Conservation Area, a hunter guide
Conservation area in Howell County, 240 acres, MDC Ozark Region.
Photo: David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Tingler Prairie Conservation Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Tingler Prairie Conservation Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Tingler Prairie Conservation Area basics
At 240 acres, Tingler Prairie Conservation Area is part of the public ground of Howell County. Among the 5 conservation areas of Howell County, it sits 4th for acres. The Ozark Plains district (MDC Ozark Region) handles habitat work on Tingler Prairie Conservation Area.
The atlas entry for Tingler Prairie Conservation Area also shows trails (hiking).
MDC describes the area this way: One-half-mile of the South Fork of Spring River meanders through the east side of this 240-acre area. Approximately two-thirds of the area is open, and about 65 acres are classified as woodland. The Conservation Department acquired the property for Tingler Prairie Conservation Area in 1987-88, following its purchase from the Mott Davis family by the Nature Conservancy. The area was purchased to preserve a 10-acre wet mesic prairie natural community, a shallow marsh and a five acre sinkhole pond (Tingler Lake) with its associated plant community, including the state endangered waterleaf. The wet mesic prairie is the site of two varieties of the state endangered green orchid. The shallow marsh is also an unusual plant community for the region. Much of the open land was planted to fescue before the Nature Conservancy purchased the tract. Present management techniques include converting the fescue pasture to warm-season grasses and controlled burning of the existing prairie plant communities to maintain desirable native plant communities.
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 Tingler Prairie Conservation Area
How Tingler Prairie Conservation Area may be hunted
Read these before a first trip to Tingler Prairie Conservation Area; posted signs still govern.
| Species | Allowed | Permit note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery only | 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 | – |
MDC allows archery methods only for deer on Tingler Prairie Conservation Area; antlerless permits may be used. The turkey rule on Tingler Prairie Conservation Area reads archery and firearms. MDC lists black bear on Tingler Prairie Conservation Area, archery and firearms, for hunters drawn for that zone. In the booklet table Tingler Prairie Conservation Area carries antlerless code A: antlerless permits allowed. Listed or not matters on MDC ground: Tingler Prairie 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 Tingler Prairie Conservation Area
| Topic | Howell 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, Zone 2 |
| Duck zone | South |
There are no deer units in Missouri; Howell County is the unit for Tingler Prairie Conservation Area, with a firearms antlerless limit of 4. The early (Oct. 9-11) and late (Dec. 5-13) antlerless portions are open in Howell County. No grain, salt or mineral sites in Howell County: the ban runs all year. For bear, Howell County is in BMZ 1 (1,000 permits drawn, quota 30). 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.
Tingler Prairie Conservation Area by season
These 12 rows are the 2026-27 seasons that fit Tingler Prairie 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 | |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 1 | Bear zone 1 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 2 | Bear zone 2 | 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 |
Gun portions are dropped: deer on Tingler Prairie 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 Tingler Prairie Conservation Area
Totals are for the whole county.
Howell County gave up 5,474 deer in 2025; the table runs back to 2020. In spring 2026, 400 turkeys were checked in Howell County, 69 of them reported from public land. For CWD, Howell County shows 2 positives over the years listed (first year 2021-2022).
| Season | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | County total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,458 | 526 | 2,490 | 5,474 |
| 2024 | 1,774 | 509 | 2,193 | 4,476 |
| 2023 | 2,629 | 581 | 3,136 | 6,346 |
| 2022 | 1,895 | 448 | 2,201 | 4,544 |
| 2021 | 2,152 | 509 | 2,133 | 4,794 |
| 2020 | 2,276 | 517 | 2,574 | 5,367 |
| Year | Spring | Public | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 400 | 69 | 60 | – | – |
| 2025 | 448 | 110 | 41 | 14 | 10 |
| 2024 | 376 | 95 | 32 | 16 | 3 |
| 2023 | 312 | 98 | 19 | 17 | 19 |
| 2022 | 264 | – | 24 | 13 | 12 |
| 2021 | 301 | – | 26 | 13 | 23 |
| Year | Samples | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 19 | 0 |
| 2025 | 283 | 0 |
| 2024 | 338 | 1 |
| 2023 | 300 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1,234 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1,303 | 1 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Tingler Prairie Conservation Area: the surrounding public ground
The map pins Tingler Prairie Conservation Area with the 8 closest public areas, led by Archie and Gracie Vanderhoef Memorial State Forest at 4.2 mi.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archie and Gracie Vanderhoef Memorial State Forest | State forest | 140 | Howell | 4.2 mi | south |
| White Ranch CA | Conservation area | 6,618 | Howell | 5.2 mi | southeast |
| Dan and Maureen Cover Prairie CA | Conservation area | 736 | Howell | 10 mi | east |
| Carrick W. Davidson – Robert G. Paris WA | Conservation area | 270 | Howell | 13 mi | northeast |
| Warm Fork CA | Conservation area | 185 | Oregon | 17 mi | east |
| Patrick Bridge Access | Public access area | 171 | Ozark | 20 mi | west |
| Dean Davis CA | Conservation area | 173 | Howell | 20 mi | north |
| Tecumseh Towersite | Towersite | 40 | Ozark | 20 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 Tingler Prairie Conservation Area
The short run for gas and food is South Fork, 4.9 mi out. 12,704 people live in West Plains, the largest town within reach. Driving route: From West Plains, take Highway 17 south 6 miles to County Road 9100. Take CR9100 west 0.8 mile to County Road 8110 on the left. Please note your mileage, as CR8110 may not be marked. From there take CR 8110 south 1.4 miles to the parking lot.There is a low water bridge which may be impassable on 8110. An alternate route during high water is to take JJ south from 160, follow JJ 4.7 miles and turn left on CR 9220. Follow 9220 for 0.5 miles and continue on it as it becomes CR 8110 at the south end of the area. Continue northward to parking lot. MDC permits and advice: Ozark Regional Office, West Plains, 9.1 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Fork | Howell | – | 4.9 mi | west |
| West Plains | Howell | 12,704 | 8.7 mi | north |
| Pomona | Howell | – | 18 mi | north |
| Thomasville | Oregon | – | 22 mi | northeast |
| Willow Springs | Howell | 2,219 | 26 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 Tingler Prairie Conservation Area
Sunrise in the Bootheel and in the Kansas City area can be 20 minutes apart, so use the adjusted times for Tingler Prairie Conservation Area.
| Day | Hunt | Sun up | Sun down | Big game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:37 a.m. | 7:38 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 8:08 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:49 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:04 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:41 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:49 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:24 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:24 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:11 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.
Hunts, classes and dinners by Tingler Prairie Conservation Area
Near this ground on October 29, 2026: 2 upcoming events.
Dates ahead
| Held on | Event | Away | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 12, 2026 | Trapping: Beginners Trapping Clinic · trapping clinic | 9 | MDC Ozark Regional Office — West Plains | Register | Source |
| May 29, 2027 | Small Game Hunting: Squirrel Hunting 101 · squirrel hunting clinic | 9 | MDC Ozark Regional Office — West Plains | Register | Source |
Tingler Prairie Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
White Ranch CA range (public, free) is 6 miles from Tingler Prairie 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 Tingler Prairie Conservation Area
Tingler Prairie Conservation Area, quick questions
Town nearest Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
South Fork, 4.9 mi by straight line.
Where is the next public ground after Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
Closest public options are Archie and Gracie Vanderhoef Memorial State Forest (4.2 mi), White Ranch Conservation Area (5.2 mi) and Dan and Maureen Cover Prairie Conservation Area (10 mi).
Open hours at Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
Open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.. No camping is listed.
How large an area is Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
In charge: Missouri Department of Conservation. Acres: 240.
Tingler Prairie 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 Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
MDC permits by game: Small Game, Archer's, Firearms Any-Deer or Antlerless, Migratory Bird.
Are antlerless portions open near Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
Up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits in Howell County; antlerless portions run in October and December.
Which weapons are legal for deer at Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
Archery methods only. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Is fall turkey open at Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
Archery and firearms for turkey; the October firearms season is open in the county.
Is there mandatory CWD testing near Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
No mandatory sampling, plus the feed and mineral ban.
First and last shooting light at Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
6:19 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. for deer on opening day; ducks end at 4:55 p.m..
Can I hunt bear on Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
Howell County is in Bear Management Zone 1 (1,000 permits, quota 30); the area lists bear.
Tingler Prairie Conservation Area: confirm these first
Area rules, closures and managed hunt notices on Tingler Prairie 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: David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0); David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0); David Williss (CC BY 2.0).