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Conservation area · 2026-27
Windy Bar Island Conservation Area hunting guide
What MDC publishes about this conservation area in Cape Girardeau County, in one page.
Photo: Allen Gathman (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Windy Bar Island Conservation Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Windy Bar Island Conservation Area
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 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.
Windy Bar Island Conservation Area: acres, manager and game
The record gives Windy Bar Island Conservation Area 583 acres in Cape Girardeau County. Of 5 conservation areas in Cape Girardeau County, Windy Bar Island Conservation Area is number 3 by acreage. It belongs to the River Hills – SE management district, MDC Southeast Region.
Other uses MDC lists for Windy Bar Island Conservation Area: camping (open camping – walk-in/float-in/backpack), fishing (catfish) and trapping (special use permit).
From the MDC area description: Windy Bar Island Conservation Area is extensively forested, with approximately 90 percent of the island chain composed of riverfront forest or wet-mesic bottomland forest natural communities. Cottonwood and willow are the dominant tree species on the island. Forested ephemeral wetlands, sandbar, and streambank/riverbank communities compose the remaining cover types that can be encountered on Windy Bar. Schenimann Chute, a high-flow side channel of the Mississippi River, adjoins approximately five miles of the western boundary of the property. Schenimann Chute side channel and Windy Bar Island are located along the right descending bank between river miles 62.5 and 56.5. The side channel is dissected by closing structures, which create four distinct pools during lower river stages. Schenimann Chute is important habitat for Big River" fishes that seek off-channel habitats that the Chute provides. Windy Bar Island CA was purchased by the Missouri Conservation Commission, with assistance from the USFWS grant program, in the summer of 2008.
Game species: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Waterfowl.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Windy Bar Island Conservation Area
Neighbors of Windy Bar Island Conservation Area on the map
Count on Cape Woods Conservation Area as the first fallback, 8.1 mi southwest of Windy Bar Island Conservation Area.
| Public land | Type | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Woods CA | Conservation area | 37 | Cape Girardeau | 8.1 mi | southwest |
| Cape LaCroix Bluffs CA | Conservation area | 63 | Scott | 9.8 mi | southwest |
| Apple Creek CA | Conservation area | 2,100 | Cape Girardeau | 14 mi | northwest |
| Tywappity Towersite | Towersite | 64 | Scott | 16 mi | southwest |
| Sand Prairie CA | Conservation area | 200 | Scott | 19 mi | south |
| Maintz Wildlife Preserve | Conservation area | 801 | Cape Girardeau | 22 mi | west |
| General Watkins CA | Conservation area | 1,107 | Scott | 23 mi | southwest |
| Lake Girardeau CA | Conservation area | 351 | Cape Girardeau | 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.
Windy Bar Island Conservation Area hunting methods
Windy Bar Island Conservation Area follows statewide seasons with the area limits shown here.
| Game | Methods | Note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery and firearms | Archery only |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Black Bear | Archery and firearms | Zone permit |
| Ducks | Open Hunting | Nontoxic shot |
MDC allows archery and firearms for deer on Windy Bar Island Conservation Area; only archery antlerless permits may be used. Turkey hunters may use archery and firearms here. Bear hunting is listed on Windy Bar Island Conservation Area (archery and firearms) for permit holders in the right management zone. The FDT area table lists Windy Bar Island Conservation Area with code B (archery antlerless permits only). The deer hunting quick view is the list that counts for MDC areas, and Windy Bar Island Conservation Area appears 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.
Calendar of hunts for Windy Bar Island Conservation Area
Windy Bar Island Conservation Area gets 22 dated rows once the Cape Girardeau County calendar is trimmed to its game list.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 | |
| 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 |
Rabbits may be hunted sunrise to sunset; trapping seasons are on the species pages.
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.
Waterfowl at Windy Bar Island Conservation Area
MDC lists Windy Bar Island Conservation Area as open waterfowl hunting, with no reservation or draw. Middle Zone dates apply to Windy Bar Island Conservation Area per the 2021-2025 layer; read the digest for the new line wording. No lead shot for ducks, geese or coots.
| Segment | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Which county rules govern Windy Bar Island Conservation Area
| Rule | Cape Girardeau 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 2 |
| Duck zone | Middle / South |
Missouri sets deer rules county by county, so Windy Bar Island Conservation Area follows Cape Girardeau County: up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits. Cape Girardeau County opens for both antlerless portions this year. Cape Girardeau County is one of 85 counties with the year-round feed and mineral ban. Bear Management Zone 2 covers Cape Girardeau County: 750 permits and a 22-bear quota for Oct. 17-30. MDC retired the CWD portion, its management zone and the antler-point restriction for 2026.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Windy Bar Island Conservation Area town and service list
Jackson lies closest, about 12 mi as the crow flies. How MDC says to drive in: Windy Bar Island Conservation Area does not have road access and cannot be reached by automobile. It can be accessed by watercraft from Red Star Access (a Mississippi River boat launch), which is located on Second Street just north of the Cape Girardeau downtown district and one block east of Main Street. The southern end of Windy Bar Island is four river miles north of Red Star Access. Windy Bar Island can also be reached by watercraft from the Moccasin Springs Boat Ramp at Trail of Tears State Park. The northern end of Windy Bar Island is 4.50 miles south of the Trail of Tears State Park boat launch. Need MDC staff? Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center in Cape Girardeau is 8.8 mi out.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | Cape Girardeau | 15,929 | 12 mi | west |
| New Wells | Cape Girardeau | – | 16 mi | northwest |
| Benton | Scott | 911 | 20 mi | south |
| Morley | Scott | 674 | 25 mi | southwest |
| Marble Hill | Bollinger | 1,381 | 30 mi | west |
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.
Windy Bar Island Conservation Area: deer, turkey and CWD by year
County figures, the smallest unit MDC publishes.
The county total for 2025 was 3,186 deer (1,260 antlered bucks), the closest MDC figure for Windy Bar Island Conservation Area. 14 public-land birds out of 594 in spring 2026, Cape Girardeau County. 1 positive deer in Cape Girardeau County in the sample years shown.
| Permit year | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,260 | 337 | 1,589 | 3,186 |
| 2024 | 1,216 | 307 | 1,588 | 3,111 |
| 2023 | 1,296 | 314 | 1,689 | 3,299 |
| 2022 | 1,228 | 295 | 1,613 | 3,136 |
| 2021 | 1,228 | 228 | 1,233 | 2,689 |
| 2020 | 1,328 | 250 | 1,337 | 2,915 |
| Year | Spring harvest | Public land share | Youth weekend | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 594 | 14 | 70 | – | – |
| 2025 | 488 | 17 | 47 | 23 | 13 |
| 2024 | 504 | 33 | 46 | 29 | 16 |
| 2023 | 473 | 19 | 42 | 24 | 16 |
| 2022 | 393 | – | 47 | 30 | 30 |
| 2021 | 429 | – | 53 | 20 | 25 |
| Season | Tested | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 0 |
| 2025 | 513 | 1 |
| 2024 | 41 | 0 |
| 2023 | 52 | 0 |
| 2022 | 42 | 0 |
| 2021 | 83 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Windy Bar Island Conservation Area, the event calendar nearby
About 10 straight-line miles out from the area there are 3 upcoming events.
Coming up
| Held on | Event | Mi | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 4, 2026 | Wild Game Cooking: What's for Dinner? Wild Game · wild game cooking class | 8 | Cape Girardeau Nature Center — Cape Girardeau County | Register | Source |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Wild Game Cooking: Cooking Duck Made Simple · wild game cooking class | 8 | Cape Girardeau Nature Center — Cape Girardeau County | Register | Source |
| Dec 29, 2026 | Hunter Education Skills Session · hunter education skills session | 8 | Cape Girardeau Nature Center — Cape Girardeau County | Register | Source |
First and last shooting light in Windy Bar Island Conservation Area
The times below start from the MDC Jefferson City table and subtract 11 minutes for Windy Bar Island Conservation Area, as the booklet directs.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear, elk | Ducks, doves, geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:28 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:40 a.m. | 7:07 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:37 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:07 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 6:55 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:32 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:40 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:15 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:15 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:02 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.
Missouri scenes for Windy Bar Island Conservation Area
Windy Bar Island Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Windy Bar Island Conservation Area, Apple Creek CA range is the nearest MDC or other public range (14 miles). Nearby gun clubs fill the other cards.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Windy Bar Island Conservation Area questions with sourced answers
Windy Bar Island Conservation Area hours and camping?
MDC lists camping.
What paperwork covers a hunt at Windy Bar Island Conservation Area?
Buy the matching Missouri permit (Missouri calls them permits); waterfowl also need the federal duck stamp.
Is Windy Bar Island Conservation Area open for hunting this season?
Yes. MDC lists deer, black bear, turkey and waterfowl on Windy Bar Island Conservation Area, and it is on the deer list.
Is Windy Bar Island Conservation Area archery only for deer?
Plan on archery and firearms. Only archery antlerless permits may be used.
What is the antlerless limit for Windy Bar Island Conservation Area?
Cape Girardeau County sets a firearms antlerless fill limit of 4, and its antlerless portions are open.
Does the feed ban cover Windy Bar Island Conservation Area?
For Cape Girardeau County, sampling is not required and the feed ban applies.
What turkey rules apply on Windy Bar Island Conservation Area?
Turkey methods: archery and firearms. Fall firearms turkey (Oct. 1-31) is open in Cape Girardeau County.
Which bear permits work at Windy Bar Island Conservation Area?
The county is BMZ 2; bear is listed for the area.
Is duck hunting allowed on Windy Bar Island Conservation Area?
Yes: open hunting, Middle Zone season dates.
How long is the legal day at Windy Bar Island Conservation Area in mid-November?
From 6:09 a.m. until 5:15 p.m. on Nov. 14, by the MDC table with the longitude correction.
Closest public alternatives to Windy Bar Island Conservation Area?
The three nearest: Cape Woods Conservation Area (8.1 mi), Cape LaCroix Bluffs Conservation Area (9.8 mi) and Apple Creek Conservation Area (14 mi).
Where do I buy gas near Windy Bar Island Conservation Area?
About 12 mi to Jackson.
How large an area is Windy Bar Island Conservation Area?
Roughly 583 acres, looked after by Missouri Department of Conservation.
Leaving for Windy Bar Island Conservation Area?
Missouri sells permits, not licenses: buy the right one before you hunt Windy Bar Island Conservation Area, and wear hunter orange in the firearms portions.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Allen Gathman (CC BY-SA 2.0); Frank.Vassen (CC BY 2.0); Gary Leavens (CC BY-SA 2.0).