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Corps lake land · Missouri 2026-27

Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) hunting

A 2026-27 hunter guide to this MDC-managed Corps lake land in Benton County, 1,708 acres.

Banner from elsewhere in Benton County: Sunset over the native grassland of the Cole Camp Prairies in Benton County.

Photo: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)

Getting to Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)

Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) profile

Expect about 1,708 acres of public ground at Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek), Benton County. By size it ranks 3rd of the 3 MDC-managed Corps lake lands we list in Benton County. Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) is Corps land licensed to MDC, so MDC area rules govern hunting here.

Besides hunting, the MDC area page lists trapping (special use permit).

What the area page says about it: Harry S. Truman Reservoir management lands consist of 58,133 acres distributed around the reservoir in parts of Henry, Benton, Hickory, and St. Clair counties in west central Missouri. The reservoir lies within the upper Osage River basin where the Ozarks meet the Plains. Historically, Native Americans occupying this area were principally Osage, Shawnee, and Kickapoo. Early explorers and pioneers making their way west traveled the basin, while the French trapped along the Osage River and traded with the Native Americans. Place names like Marais des Cygnes, Marmaton, Pomme de Terre, and Thibaut are vivid reminders of the early French influence in the Upper Osage Valley.

200213MDC area number
(660) 530-5500Area phone

Listed game: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove, Quail.

From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.

Nearby

Places to hunt and shoot around Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)

Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Brush Creek)

Public land · 5 mi from Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)

Directions
Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Leesville)

Public land · 5 mi from Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)

Directions
Hunting Near Warsaw, Missouri

Town · 6 mi from Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)

Directions
Benton County

County · 7 mi from Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)

Directions
Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Cedar Creek)

Public land · 11 mi from Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)

Directions
Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Upper Tebo Creek)

Public land · 11 mi from Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)

Directions

Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek): methods MDC allows

The rules below are what MDC lists for Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) on top of statewide seasons.

GameAllowed methodsDetail
White-tailed DeerArchery and firearmsAllowed
Wild TurkeyArchery and firearms–
Black BearArchery and firearmsZone permit
Eastern CottontailStatewide methods–
Gray SquirrelStatewide methods–
Northern Bobwhite QuailStatewide methods–
Mourning DoveStatewide methods–

Deer on Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek): archery and firearms, and antlerless permits may be used. Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) is archery and firearms for turkey. For drawn bear hunters, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) is archery and firearms. On MDC land, deer hunting is legal only where the area is listed; Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) qualifies.

Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.

Records linked to Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)

Other pages linked to Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) on the same lake.

lands.json related records (MDC atlas and Corps Lakes Gateway); checked October 29, 2026.

Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) county rules for 2026-27

ItemBenton County
Firearms antlerless limit4 deer
Antlerless portionsOpen
CWD sampling Nov. 14-15Mandatory
Feed and mineral banYes
Share the Harvest CWD testRequired
Fall firearms turkeyOpen
Dogs, November portionNo rule
Elk countyNo
Bear zoneZone 3
Duck zoneMiddle

County rules apply on Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek); Benton County has a firearms antlerless limit of 4 for 2026-27. In Benton County, the Oct. 9-11 and Dec. 5-13 antlerless portions apply. Benton County is one of the 28 mandatory sampling counties: present deer shot Nov. 14-15 for testing. Feeding deer and placing minerals is banned year-round in Benton County. The bear zone here is 3: 250 permits, quota 8, season Oct. 17-30. Removed for 2026: the CWD portion, the management zone and the antler-point restriction.

  • MDC Lost Valley Fish Hatchery, 28232 Hatchery Ave., Warsaw
  • Cole Camp High School – Football Field Parking Lot, 500 S. Keeney St., Cole Camp

2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.

Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek): what is open when

Filtered for Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) by its game list: 7 species, 17 season rows.

SpeciesSeasonAppliesOpensClosesToday
White-tailed deerArchery, first partStatewideSep 15, 2026Nov 13, 2026
White-tailed deerFirearms, early antlerlessAntlerless countyOct 9, 2026Oct 11, 2026
White-tailed deerFirearms, early youthStatewideOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026
White-tailed deerFirearms, NovemberStatewideNov 14, 2026Nov 24, 2026
White-tailed deerArchery, second partStatewideNov 25, 2026Jan 15, 2027
White-tailed deerFirearms, late youthStatewideNov 27, 2026Nov 29, 2026
White-tailed deerFirearms, late antlerlessAntlerless countyDec 5, 2026Dec 13, 2026
White-tailed deerFirearms, alternative methodsStatewideDec 26, 2026Jan 5, 2027
Black bearBear, zone 3Bear zone 3Oct 17, 2026Oct 30, 2026
Wild turkeyFall archeryStatewideSep 15, 2026Nov 13, 2026
Wild turkeyFall firearmsOpen countyOct 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026
Wild turkeyFall archery, part 2StatewideNov 25, 2026Jan 15, 2027
Bobwhite quailYouth quailStatewideOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026
Bobwhite quailQuailStatewideNov 1, 2026Jan 15, 2027
RabbitsRabbit huntingStatewideOct 1, 2026Feb 15, 2027
SquirrelsSquirrel seasonStatewideMay 23, 2026Feb 15, 2027
DovesDove seasonStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 29, 2026

Spring 2027 turkey dates were not published when these pages were checked.

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.

Map around Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)

Crow-flight distance from Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) to Lost Valley Fish Hatchery is 4.6 mi (southeast); the table runs outward from there.

PlaceTypeAcresCountyMiles offDirection
Lost Valley Fish HatcheryFish hatchery969Benton4.6 misoutheast
Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Brush Creek)Corps lake land3,201Benton4.8 miwest
Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Leesville)Corps lake land1,808Henry5.4 miwest
Edmonson AccessPublic access area110Benton9.6 mieast
Brickley Hollow CAConservation area186Benton11 mieast
Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Cedar Creek)Corps lake land670Henry11 miwest
Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Upper Tebo Creek)Corps lake land7,736Henry11 minorthwest
Harry S. Truman Lake (Corps)Corps lake–Benton, Henry13 misouth

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.

Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) area harvest by year

Whole-county counts.

Hunters in Benton County checked 4,228 deer in 2025, against 3,915 the year before; there is no figure for Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) alone. The spring 2026 count for Benton County was 546 turkeys (90 on public land). Recent CWD results for Benton County: 0 positives, none on record.

Permit yearAntlered bucksButton bucksDoesTotal
20251,8534311,9444,228
20241,6643651,8863,915
20231,9794392,2744,692
20221,7294162,0034,148
20212,0645012,2344,799
20201,9795342,3294,842
SeasonSpringPublicYouthFirearms (fall)Archery (fall)
20265469069––
202561197522825
202449875431517
202354784282918
2022390–331323
2021401–281922
YearSamplesCWD found
2026100
20251280
20241270
20231410
2022790
20211410

MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.

Towns, MDC offices and shops by Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)

From Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek), Warsaw is 5.9 mi away. Largest of the five: Clinton, 9,449 people. Directions on file: From Warsaw, take Highway 65 north, then Route T west 4 miles to the bridge. The area is on both sides of the bridge. Clinton Office (Clinton) sits 20 mi from Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek), closer than any other MDC office.

TownCountyPeople (2024)DistanceDirection
WarsawBenton2,3375.9 misoutheast
Bent Tree HarborBenton–7.0 misouthwest
White BranchBenton–7.4 misoutheast
CalhounHenry40515 minorthwest
ClintonHenry9,44920 miwest
Clinton Office

MDC office · Clinton, Henry County · about 20 mi away

JN Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area Field Office (MDC office, Green Ridge)

MDC office · Green Ridge, Johnson County · about 23 mi away

Rifles and Reels Taxidermy LLC

taxidermy · Warsaw, Benton County · about 5 mi away

Sportsman Outfitters

sporting goods · Warsaw, Benton County · about 6 mi away

Wenig Custom Gunstocks

sporting goods · Lincoln, Benton County · about 6 mi away

Turkey Creek Taxidermy

taxidermy · Warsaw, Benton County · about 12 mi away

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.

Where Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) hunters zero a rifle

Drive about 20 miles from Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) to reach Golden Valley Archery Range (Clinton Office), the nearest public lanes.

Golden Valley Archery Range
(Clinton Office)
MDC unstaffed range

Clinton, Henry County · 20 mi

Shooting: archery field course

Public, free · source: mdc.mo.gov

From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.

Legal hours for Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)

Rabbits are sunrise to sunset, migratory birds half an hour before sunrise to sunset, and big game gets the extra half hour after sunset.

DayMomentFirst sunLast sunDeer hoursBird hours
Sep 1, 2026Dove opener6:42 a.m.7:43 p.m.6:12 a.m. to 8:13 p.m.6:12 a.m. to 7:43 p.m.
Sep 15, 2026Archery opener6:54 a.m.7:21 p.m.6:24 a.m. to 7:51 p.m.6:24 a.m. to 7:21 p.m.
Oct 1, 2026Fall firearms turkey7:09 a.m.6:55 p.m.6:39 a.m. to 7:25 p.m.6:39 a.m. to 6:55 p.m.
Nov 7, 2026Middle Zone ducks6:46 a.m.5:06 p.m.6:16 a.m. to 5:36 p.m.6:16 a.m. to 5:06 p.m.
Nov 14, 2026November firearms opener6:54 a.m.5:00 p.m.6:24 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.6:24 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Dec 26, 2026Alternative methods7:29 a.m.4:58 p.m.6:59 a.m. to 5:28 p.m.6:59 a.m. to 4:58 p.m.
Jan 15, 2027Archery close7:29 a.m.5:16 p.m.6:59 a.m. to 5:46 p.m.6:59 a.m. to 5:16 p.m.

Times are prevailing local time, Central Daylight Time until Nov. 1 and from March 14.

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.

Events tied to Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) and its surroundings

Kinds close by: deer hide and bone workshop and youth managed deer hunt. Count: 2 upcoming events.

Booked dates

Held onEventMiles offWhere heldLinkChecked at
Nov 28–29, 2026Lost Valley Fish Hatchery Youth Managed Deer Hunt 2026 · youth managed deer hunt5Event detailsSource, checked 10/29/2026
Dec 11, 2026Game Utilization: First Steps in Buckskin Leather · deer hide and bone workshop5RegisterSource, checked 10/29/2026

Know a nearby date that is not here? Send it in

Scenery to match Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)

Mourning dove perched
Mourning dove perched
Mourning dove foraging in grass
Mourning dove foraging in grass
Mourning dove perched on a bare branch
Mourning dove perched on a bare branch

Asked and answered: Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)

Can I use a rifle for deer on Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)?

Archery and firearms on this area. Antlerless permits are allowed.

Can anyone hunt Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)?

Yes, deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, dove and quail, following statewide seasons and any area limits.

What are the CWD rules around Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)?

Bring opening-weekend deer to a station. Do not feed deer or put out minerals.

What is the firearms antlerless limit around Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)?

4 antlerless deer with firearms permits, under the Benton County rule.

Bear hunting near Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)?

Bear here means a Zone 3 permit (quota 8).

Can I hunt turkey on Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)?

Use archery and firearms. Fall gun season: Oct. 1-31.

Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) crowded: where next?

Next in line: Lost Valley Fish Hatchery (4.6 mi), Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Brush Creek) (4.8 mi) and Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Leesville) (5.4 mi).

What are deer hours at Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) on Nov. 14?

Nov. 14 at the Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) point: 6:25 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. for deer (sunrise 6:55 a.m.).

Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek): size and manager?

Missouri Department of Conservation handles it, and it spans 1,708 acres.

How far is the nearest town from Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)?

Warsaw is the nearest town we cover, 5.9 mi off.

Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek): which permits apply?

The right MDC permit: Archer's or Firearms for deer, Small Game for small game, Migratory Bird for doves and ducks.

Last word on Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek)

Confirm methods, permits and the Benton County deer rules for Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) before the drive.

Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.

Other photos on this page: cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0).