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Corps lake land · Kansas City Region
Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek), a hunter guide
MDC-managed Corps lake land in St. Clair County, 4,152 acres, MDC Kansas City Region.
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)
Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek) basics
At 4,152 acres, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek) is part of the public ground of St. Clair County. Among the 5 MDC-managed Corps lake lands of St. Clair County, it sits 2nd for acres. Land title: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Manager: MDC, Lone Buffalo district.
The atlas entry for Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek) also shows fishing (white bass, catfish, crappie, black bass).
MDC describes the area this way: 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.
Hunted here: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove, Quail, Waterfowl.
- 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 Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)
Other units on the Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek) lake
Same lake, other records: see the table.
lands.json related records (MDC atlas and Corps Lakes Gateway); checked October 29, 2026.
MDC rules for Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)
Read these before a first trip to Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek); 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 | – |
| Ducks | Open Hunting | Nontoxic shot |
The deer rule for Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek) is archery and firearms, and antlerless permits may be used here. The turkey rule on Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek) reads archery and firearms. MDC lists black bear on Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek), archery and firearms, for hunters drawn for that zone. Listed or not matters on MDC ground: Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek) 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.
Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek) duck rules
No draw is needed for ducks on Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek); it is open hunting. Use Middle Zone dates for Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek), but check the digest if you hunt close to a zone line. Federal law makes nontoxic shot mandatory for waterfowl.
| Season | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Youth waterfowl days | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Ducks, split 1 | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
| Ducks, split 2 | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 |
2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest, managed areas; area page; checked October 29, 2026.
County deer rules for Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)
| Topic | St. Clair County |
|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | Mandatory |
| 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 / South |
There are no deer units in Missouri; St. Clair County is the unit for Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek), with a firearms antlerless limit of 4. The early (Oct. 9-11) and late (Dec. 5-13) antlerless portions are open in St. Clair County. Plan a stop at a sampling station if you tag a deer in St. Clair County on Nov. 14 or 15. No grain, salt or mineral sites in St. Clair County: the ban runs all year. For bear, St. Clair 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.
- MDC Osceola Wildlife Shop, 3815 NE. Hwy. 13, Osceola
- Dains Fish Farm, 2550 Hwy. H, Taberville
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek) by season
These 27 rows are the 2026-27 seasons that fit Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek) 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 | |
| Teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | Middle Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | South Zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 1 | Middle Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 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 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 2 | Middle Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 10, 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 |
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 Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)
Totals are for the whole county.
St. Clair County gave up 3,383 deer in 2025; the table runs back to 2020. In spring 2026, 572 turkeys were checked in St. Clair County, 95 of them reported from public land. For CWD, St. Clair County shows 3 positives over the years listed (first year 2016-2017).
| Season | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | County total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,631 | 297 | 1,455 | 3,383 |
| 2024 | 1,658 | 275 | 1,376 | 3,309 |
| 2023 | 1,806 | 371 | 1,813 | 3,990 |
| 2022 | 1,722 | 362 | 1,678 | 3,762 |
| 2021 | 1,797 | 363 | 1,597 | 3,757 |
| 2020 | 1,892 | 364 | 1,583 | 3,839 |
| Year | Spring | Public | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 572 | 95 | 70 | – | – |
| 2025 | 623 | 113 | 63 | 24 | 23 |
| 2024 | 463 | 91 | 43 | 20 | 13 |
| 2023 | 491 | 111 | 23 | 25 | 30 |
| 2022 | 415 | – | 33 | 13 | 16 |
| 2021 | 401 | – | 30 | 15 | 28 |
| Year | Samples | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 | 609 | 0 |
| 2024 | 208 | 1 |
| 2023 | 938 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1,004 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1,129 | 1 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek): the surrounding public ground
The map pins Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek) with the 8 closest public areas, led by Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Sac Osage) at 3.2 mi.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Sac Osage) | Corps lake land | 5,375 | St. Clair | 3.2 mi | east |
| Lichen Glade CA | Conservation area | 30 | St. Clair | 3.2 mi | north |
| Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Gallinipper Creek) | Corps lake land | 2,265 | St. Clair | 6.2 mi | northeast |
| Linscomb WA | Conservation area | 2,385 | St. Clair | 6.2 mi | west |
| Dave Rock CA | Conservation area | 133 | St. Clair | 8.5 mi | northeast |
| Blackjack Access | Public access area | 212 | St. Clair | 9.3 mi | south |
| Taberville Prairie CA | Conservation area | 1,680 | St. Clair | 10 mi | west |
| Kings Prairie Access | Public access area | 285 | St. Clair | 11 mi | east |
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 Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)
The short run for gas and food is Osceola, 6.2 mi out. 3,674 people live in El Dorado Springs, the largest town within reach. Driving route: From Roscoe, take Route E north 2 miles. MDC permits and advice: El Dorado Springs Office, El Dorado Springs, 16 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osceola | St. Clair | 979 | 6.2 mi | northeast |
| El Dorado Springs | Cedar | 3,674 | 15 mi | southwest |
| Deepwater | Henry | 384 | 17 mi | north |
| Appleton City | St. Clair | 1,080 | 18 mi | northwest |
| Montrose | Henry | 392 | 20 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 Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)
Sunrise in the Bootheel and in the Kansas City area can be 20 minutes apart, so use the adjusted times for Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek).
| Day | Hunt | Sun up | Sun down | Big game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:44 a.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:56 a.m. | 7:23 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:53 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:11 a.m. | 6:57 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 6:57 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:48 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:56 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:31 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:31 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:18 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.
Before Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek): public and club ranges
Golden Valley Archery Range (Clinton Office) (public, free) is 23 miles from Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek). 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 Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)
Common Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek) questions
Open hours at Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)?
Open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.. No camping is listed.
What is the acreage of Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)?
In charge: Missouri Department of Conservation. Acres: 4,152.
Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek): open to hunters?
It is open to hunting: deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, dove, quail and waterfowl, under statewide seasons and the area rules.
Permits needed for Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)?
MDC permits by game: Small Game, Archer's, Firearms Any-Deer or Antlerless, Migratory Bird.
Are antlerless portions open near Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)?
Up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits in St. Clair County; antlerless portions run in October and December.
Which weapons are legal for deer at Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)?
Archery and firearms. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Is fall turkey open at Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)?
Archery and firearms for turkey; the October firearms season is open in the county.
Is there mandatory CWD testing near Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)?
Yes, sampling Nov. 14-15, plus the feed and mineral ban.
Which duck zone covers Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)?
Hunt ducks under open hunting; the county is in the Middle Zone.
Can I hunt bear on Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)?
St. Clair County is in Bear Management Zone 3 (250 permits, quota 8); the area lists bear.
Where is the next public ground after Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)?
Closest public options are Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Sac Osage) (3.2 mi), Lichen Glade Conservation Area (3.2 mi) and Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Gallinipper Creek) (6.2 mi).
First and last shooting light at Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)?
6:26 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. for deer on opening day; ducks end at 5:02 p.m..
Town nearest Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek)?
Osceola, 6.2 mi by straight line.
Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek): confirm these first
Area rules, closures and managed hunt notices on Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek) 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: pfly (CC BY-SA 2.0); mostateparks (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0).