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White Ranch Conservation Area hunting in Missouri
Public hunting ground in Howell County (6,618 acres), with the county deer rules that apply there.
Photo: David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to White Ranch Conservation Area
White Ranch Conservation Area profile
Its acreage is 6,618, inside Howell County. Line up the 5 conservation areas in Howell County by acres and White Ranch Conservation Area comes 1st. Staff of the MDC Ozark Plains district, in the Ozark Region, manage White Ranch Conservation Area.
MDC also notes shooting range (shotgun, rifle or pistol), camping (individual campsites), dog training, fishing (rock bass, sunfish, black bass) and trapping (special use permit) at White Ranch Conservation Area.
Habitat notes from the source: White Ranch Conservation Area is located in Howell County, approximately 11 miles south of West Plains. White Ranch is the local name for a region of land previously owned by Harry White. The 6,618-acre area is mostly forested. Visitors to the area will find abundant populations of deer, turkey, and other wildlife species. The area offers fishing opportunities along the South Fork of the Spring River, as well as in the impoundment on Trail #4. A shooting range is located near the end of Trail #6. Its facilities include a 50- and 100-yard rifle range, plus an area set aside for shotguns. The parking lot, ranges, and public restrooms are accessible to disabled users. During your visit to the area, you may notice various forest management activities that are designed to improve tree growth, quality, and species composition. These practices also improve wildlife habitat and watershed quality.
Game listed: 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 White Ranch Conservation Area
White Ranch Conservation Area and nearby public land, mapped
8 other public places sit inside a 45-mile circle around White Ranch Conservation Area; together they add 2,063 acres, and Archie and Gracie Vanderhoef Memorial State Forest is nearest.
| Area | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archie and Gracie Vanderhoef Memorial State Forest | State forest | 140 | Howell | 2.9 mi | west |
| Tingler Prairie CA | Conservation area | 240 | Howell | 5.2 mi | northwest |
| Dan and Maureen Cover Prairie CA | Conservation area | 736 | Howell | 8.6 mi | east |
| Warm Fork CA | Conservation area | 185 | Oregon | 16 mi | east |
| Carrick W. Davidson – Robert G. Paris WA | Conservation area | 270 | Howell | 17 mi | north |
| Dan and Maureen Cover Memorial WA | Conservation area | 282 | Oregon | 20 mi | northeast |
| Tecumseh Towersite | Towersite | 40 | Ozark | 22 mi | west |
| Patrick Bridge Access | Public access area | 171 | Ozark | 23 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.
Area rules at White Ranch Conservation Area
MDC area rules for White Ranch Conservation Area, as published for 2026-27.
| Species | Methods here | 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 | – |
Wildlife Code entries for White Ranch Conservation Area
- An unstaffed range is located on this department area. Target shooting is not allowed anywhere on this area except for designated shooting range(s).
- Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Ranges may be closed to public use at any time for maintenance or department sponsored events or programs.
- Possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on all ranges and associated parking lots.
- Groups of more than 10 people must obtain a special use permit prior to using the range. To obtain a special use permit, contact the area manager at the phone number listed for this area in the area details section.
For deer, White Ranch Conservation Area is open to archery and firearms, and antlerless permits may be used. Turkey methods on White Ranch Conservation Area: archery and firearms. White Ranch Conservation Area allows black bear by archery and firearms during the October season, permit holders only. The FDT area table lists White Ranch Conservation Area with code A (antlerless permits allowed). Deer and turkey may be hunted only on MDC areas that appear in the booklet table; White Ranch Conservation Area is 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.
White Ranch Conservation Area season calendar
County dates from Howell County that fit White Ranch Conservation Area, matched to its game list.
| Species | Portion | Covers | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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 |
Duck zone rows come from the MDC zone layer; check the digest near a line.
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.
Deer rules that reach White Ranch Conservation Area
| Rule | 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 |
White Ranch Conservation Area takes its deer rules from Howell County, where the firearms antlerless fill limit is 4. Antlerless portions run here in October and December. Howell County falls under the CWD feed and mineral ban. BMZ 1 reaches Howell County; the zone has 1,000 permits and closes early if 30 bears are taken. For 2026 MDC dropped the CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point restriction.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
White Ranch Conservation Area: towns and supplies
South Fork is 9.4 mi from White Ranch Conservation Area, the nearest town on this site. West Plains is the biggest town in that list, 12,704 residents in 2024. Route from the area page: From West Plains, take Highway 17 south 7.50 miles, then County Road 8390 south 5 miles to the area. Drive 14 mi to Ozark Regional Office in West Plains for the nearest MDC counter.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Fork | Howell | – | 9.4 mi | northwest |
| West Plains | Howell | 12,704 | 14 mi | north |
| Pomona | Howell | – | 23 mi | north |
| Thomasville | Oregon | – | 24 mi | northeast |
| Alton | Oregon | 702 | 27 mi | northeast |
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.
County harvest around White Ranch Conservation Area
These are county numbers.
In 2025, 5,474 deer were Telechecked in Howell County, 2,490 of them does. Howell County turkey hunters took 400 birds in spring 2026; 69 came off public land. The MDC dashboard lists 2 CWD positives in Howell County across the years in the table, the first in 2021-2022.
| Year | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 total | On public land | 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 |
| Sample year | CWD samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
When legal light starts in White Ranch Conservation Area
Deer, bear, elk and fall archery turkey may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks, geese, doves and fall firearms turkey stop at sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Photo strip for White Ranch Conservation Area
White Ranch Conservation Area: MDC range details
MDC keeps a range on White Ranch Conservation Area: rifle/pistol, shotgun patterning. Elsewhere on the area, no target shooting.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026; target shooting rule from MDC area rule 3 CSR 10-11.150 on the area page.
White Ranch Conservation Area, quick questions
Turkey hunting at White Ranch Conservation Area: what is allowed?
MDC allows archery and firearms. Fall firearms turkey runs Oct. 1-31.
Do I need a CWD sample for deer from White Ranch Conservation Area?
Sampling is voluntary here; feeding and minerals are banned all year.
When does legal light start and end at White Ranch Conservation Area?
Deer hunters get 6:19 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. on Nov. 14; sunset is 4:55 p.m..
Does a bear zone include White Ranch Conservation Area?
Only with a Zone 1 permit from the drawing; season Oct. 17-30.
Which town sits closest to White Ranch Conservation Area?
South Fork lies 9.4 mi away.
Is there other public land around White Ranch Conservation Area?
Try Archie and Gracie Vanderhoef Memorial State Forest (2.9 mi), Tingler Prairie Conservation Area (5.2 mi) and Dan and Maureen Cover Prairie Conservation Area (8.6 mi).
Can hunters camp on White Ranch Conservation Area?
Camping is listed; hours 4 a.m. to 10 p.m..
How large an area is White Ranch Conservation Area?
Missouri Department of Conservation runs the ground (6,618 acres).
Is hunting legal on White Ranch Conservation Area?
Yes. The area page names deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, dove and quail.
What should I buy before a White Ranch Conservation Area hunt?
Missouri hunting permits for each species; there is no separate area permit for most MDC land.
How many does may be taken around White Ranch Conservation Area?
Howell County: firearms antlerless limit 4, antlerless portions open.
What are the deer hunting methods at White Ranch Conservation Area?
Deer may be taken by archery and firearms. Antlerless permits are allowed.
White Ranch Conservation Area final checklist
Carry your permit, notch it or the MO Hunting app right away, and Telecheck a deer or turkey by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest.
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); DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0).