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Town base, Shannon County
Public hunting ground near Birch Tree, Missouri
Ground to hunt around Birch Tree, the 2026-27 rules for Shannon County, deer and turkey totals by year, drawn hunts and businesses close to town.
Photo: Nearby stand-in for Birch Tree: Mark Twain National Forest (2.6 mi from Birch Tree). Charlie Llewellin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Birch Tree, a city, falls within Shannon County and MDC’s Ozark Region. Of the towns around Mark Twain National Forest, Birch Tree came out closest, the edge 2.6 miles out. In the 2024 estimates Birch Tree logged 562 residents. Counting overlaps once, public land within 10 miles comes to about 64,762 acres in 5 listed areas. County-wide, Shannon County holds some 259,998 acres of public land: 142,969 acres of MDC land, 82,866 acres of Mark Twain National Forest, 34,159 acres of the Riverways and 772 acres of state parks and historic sites. Closest of every listed area is Birch Creek Conservation Area, its closest boundary 2.6 miles out.
Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer, population from the Census Vintage 2024 estimates; public acreage and boundary miles within 10 miles are a GIS measure over MDC, USFS, USFWS, Corps and NPS boundaries (places.json). MDC region from the MDC Regions layer. Checked October 29, 2026.
Birch Tree land, nearest first
Miles run from the Birch Tree town point to the closest edge for land inside 10 miles, and to the mapped point beyond that, so road miles will be longer.
| Property | Off town | Type | Run by | Deer gear | Doe tags | Acres | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birch Creek CA | 2.6 mi S | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 5,646 | – |
| Mark Twain National Forest why listed | 2.6 mi | National forest | USFS | Statewide rules | – | 1,510,740 | – |
| Rocky Creek CA | 3.4 mi NE | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 42,184 | – |
| Ozark National Scenic Riverways | 4.9 mi NE | Riverway | Park Service | Statewide rules | – | 80,546 | Managed hunts too |
| Angeline CA | 8.3 mi N | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 39,603 | – |
| Barn Hollow Natural Area | 12 mi W | Natural area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 251 | – |
| Mountain View Towersite | 15 mi W | Towersite | MDC | Archery only | Allowed | 27 | – |
| Peck Ranch CA | 19 mi E | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 29,567 | Managed hunts too |
| Midvale CA | 20 mi NW | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 80 | – |
| Carrick W. Davidson – Robert G. Paris Wildlife Area | 21 mi SW | Conservation area | MDC | Archery only | Allowed | 270 | – |
Size leader inside 10 miles of Birch Tree: Ozark National Scenic Riverways, 80,546 acres. That ring mixes 3 conservation and natural areas and 2 federal areas. Birch Creek Conservation Area (2.6 mi) takes archery and firearms for deer, and antlerless permits may be filled there; turkey is bow and gun. Forest Service land is close by: Mark Twain National Forest, open under statewide MDC seasons.
Area descriptions
- Birch Creek CA: Birch Creek Conservation Area is managed with a sustainable ecological approach to multiple-use management.
- Rocky Creek CA: The Rocky Creek Conservation Area (CA) contains over 42,000 acres in the southern and eastern parts of Shannon County.
- MDC directions to Birch Creek CA: From Birch Tree, take Highway 99 south 6 miles.
Lands from MDC area pages and GIS layers, USFS, USFWS, NPS, Corps and Missouri State Parks records (lands.json; each land page cites its own source). Boundary miles from places.json, other miles to each mapped point. Deer methods and antlerless permit status from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet area table and the MDC area deer quick view. Checked October 29, 2026.
Services around Birch Tree
Buttons for phone, map and website appear only when a source gave them; opening hours were not verified. Stein's Meat Processing (9.1 mi) takes Share the Harvest deer for Missouri food pantries. Deer heads can be dropped at Stein's Meat Processing, an MDC CWD sampling partner. Lacey Taxidermy and Wildlife Art (Winona) is the first taxidermy stop, 11 mi from Birch Tree. King Mountain Guns & More (22 mi) is the handiest gun or outdoor shop. Piney Ridge Ranch of Winona is the closest preserve on file.
| Service | Close (15 mi) | Wider (35 mi) | Closest | Miles | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer processors | 1 | 7 | Stein's Meat Processing (closest) | 9.1 mi E | Winona |
| Taxidermy shops | 1 | 5 | Lacey Taxidermy and Wildlife Art (closest) | 11 mi NE | Winona |
| Sporting goods | 0 | 8 | King Mountain Guns & More (closest) | 22 mi W | Willow Springs |
| Outfitters and preserves | 3 | 4 | Piney Ridge Ranch (closest) | 9.1 mi E | Winona |
Deer processors
Taxidermy shops
Sporting goods
Outfitters and preserves
Processors from the MDC Share the Harvest processor lookup, MDC CWD sampling partners, the MDC commercial permit listing and Yellow Pages; taxidermists, shops and preserves from MDC permits, chain store locators and Yellow Pages (services.json). Checked October 29, 2026; hours were not checked.
Birch Tree county deer limits and CWD rules
The county you stand in decides the deer rules; this table lists the ones a Birch Tree hunter is most likely to cross into.
| County | Antlerless deer | Antlerless hunts | CWD stations | Feed rule | Fall turkey | Bear, elk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shannon County local | 2 | Open | Nov. 14-15 | Yes | Open | Zone 2 + elk |
| Oregon County | 4 | Open | Nov. 14-15 | Yes | Open | Zone 2, Zone 1 |
| Ripley County | 4 | Open | Nov. 14-15 | Yes | Open | Zone 2 |
| Iron County | 1 | Closed | Nov. 14-15 | No | Open | Zone 2 |
| Carter County | 1 | Closed | Nov. 14-15 | No | Open | Zone 2 + elk |
MDC sets Shannon County at 2 for firearms antlerless deer. Both antlerless portions apply in Shannon County. Deer shot in Shannon County on the November opening weekend must be sampled for CWD that day at one of 3 county stations. Shannon County is a feed-ban county: no grain, salt or minerals for deer. A CWD test is required before a Shannon County deer can go to Share the Harvest. Leave the beagles home in Shannon County by day during the November portion. The elk zone takes in Shannon County (Peck Ranch CA refuge excluded). Shannon County lies in bear zone 2, where the quota is 22 bears. On MDC’s 2021-2025 zone layer Shannon County is South Zone (100%); the zone lines moved for 2026. The old CWD Management Zone that covered Shannon County is gone for 2026, as are the CWD portion and the antler-point rule.
Stations for Nov. 14-15
| Station | Street | City | County | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDC Twin Pines Conservation Education Center | 20086 Hwy. 60 | Winona | Shannon | 10 mi |
| Eminence Elementary School | 17794 Hwy. 106 | Eminence | Shannon | 12 mi |
| Thomasville Community Center | 134 Old St. | Thomasville | Oregon | 14 mi |
County rules from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county table; CWD sampling counties and stations from the MDC CWD pages; bear zones from the 2026 Black Bear Hunting Digest; elk from the 2026 Elk Hunting Digest; duck zones from the 2026-2027 waterfowl digest and the 2021-2025 MDC zone layer. Checked October 29, 2026.
Birch Tree season dates
For Shannon County, 39 season segments cover deer, turkey, small game, waterfowl and furbearers this permit year.
| Animal | Season | Area rule | Start | Finish | Right 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 2 | Bear zone 2 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Elk | Archery portion | Elk zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Elk | Firearms portion | Elk zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 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 | |
| Pheasant | Youth pheasant | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Pheasant | 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 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock season | Statewide | Oct 18, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 | |
| 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 | South Zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Coyote | Coyote hunting | Statewide | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Groundhog | Groundhog | Statewide | May 11, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| Bullfrogs and green frogs | Frogging | Statewide | Jun 30, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunt and trap, early | Statewide | Aug 1, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | |
| Rails | Rail season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Crow | Crow season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Mar 3, 2027 | |
| Badger and foxes | Hunting and trapping | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting and trapping | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunt and trap, main | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
From the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations, the 2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest and the 2026 hunting and trapping summary (Missouri Department of Conservation), checked October 29, 2026.
Managed deer hunts near Birch Tree
For a drawn hunt near Birch Tree, Shannon County has 3 managed deer hunts this season. MDC took applications until Jul 31, 2026.
| Where | Category | Days | Hunters | Limit code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peck Ranch CA — Inside Fenced Portion | Archery | Nov. 4–8 | 175 | B |
| Peck Ranch CA — Inside Fenced Portion | Muzzleloader or Cap-and-Ball Firearms Only | Dec. 5–6 | 200 | B |
| Peck Ranch CA — Inside Fenced Portion | Youth – Firearms | Oct. 10–11 | 65 | A |
From the MDC Managed Deer Hunts List 2026-2027; limit codes are explained there. Checked October 29, 2026.
Birch Tree area harvest, county totals
MDC publishes harvest county by county, so the chart covers the whole of Shannon County. 2025 brought 3,030 deer, after 2,069 in 2024. Antlered bucks: 1,388 in 2025; does: 1,363. MDC’s 2025 report puts the county at 3.1 deer per square mile and 4.7 firearms hunters per square mile. Spring 2026: 237 turkeys checked in Shannon County (188 adult gobblers). Fall turkey in 2025 came to 17 on firearms permits. CWD testing in Shannon County: 1,386 samples and 1 positive over the sample years shown.
| Year | Harvest | Bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3,222 | 1,295 | 351 | 1,576 |
| 2023 | 4,146 | 1,530 | 358 | 2,258 |
| 2024 | 2,069 | 875 | 199 | 995 |
| 2025 | 3,030 | 1,388 | 279 | 1,363 |
| Portion | Deer |
|---|---|
| Archery | 499 |
| Early youth | 219 |
| November | 1,760 |
| Late youth | 14 |
| Alt. methods | 119 |
| Managed hunts | 12 |
| Spring | Total | Public |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 383 | 273 |
| 2024 | 347 | 193 |
| 2025 | 451 | 297 |
| 2026 | 237 | 135 |
| Year | Samples | CWD found |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 158 | 0 |
| 2024 | 363 | 0 |
| 2025 | 444 | 1 |
| 2026 | 4 | 0 |
Deer from the MDC 2025-2026 deer harvest summary and earlier summaries (harvest.json; 2017-2019 county totals exclude managed hunts); density from the MDC 2025 deer season report; turkey from the MDC turkey harvest summaries; CWD from the MDC CWD dashboard. Checked October 29, 2026.
Birch Tree and surroundings, event dates
A 30-mile crow-flight radius gives 3 upcoming events as of October 29, 2026.
Next on the calendar
| Dates | What | Distance | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 5–6, 2026 | Ozark National Scenic Riverways (Big Spring Area) Youth Managed Deer Hunt 2026 · youth managed deer hunt | 19 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Trapping: Beginners Trapping Clinic · trapping clinic | 27 | MDC Ozark Regional Office — West Plains | Register | Source |
| May 29, 2027 | Small Game Hunting: Squirrel Hunting 101 · squirrel hunting clinic | 27 | MDC Ozark Regional Office — West Plains | Register | Source |
Birch Tree shooters: three nearest ranges
Twin Pines Conservation Center Archery Range heads the Birch Tree list (10 miles), and two more follow.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 29, 2026.
MDC offices for Birch Tree hunters
From the centre of Shannon County, the closest MDC office open to visitors is Twin Pines Conservation Center in Winona. The Ozark Region is run from Ozark Regional Office in West Plains ((417) 256-7161). No office visit is needed for a permit: buy it online, in the MO Hunting app or from a vendor.
MDC Twin Pines Conservation Center, about 10 mi east of town
MDC Eminence Office, 14 mi out of Birch Tree
Offices from the MDC offices open to the public, the MDC regional offices page and the MDC field office layer (services.json, counties.json). Checked October 29, 2026.
Birch Tree legal hours
Legal light for deer at Birch Tree runs 30 minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; for ducks it starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends at sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:35 a.m. | 7:36 p.m. | 6:05 a.m.–8:06 p.m. | 6:05 a.m.–7:36 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:47 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 6:17 a.m.–7:44 p.m. | 6:17 a.m.–7:14 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:02 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 6:32 a.m.–7:18 p.m. | 6:32 a.m.–6:48 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:39 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:09 a.m.–5:29 p.m. | 6:09 a.m.–4:59 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:47 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:17 a.m.–5:23 p.m. | 6:17 a.m.–4:53 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:22 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 6:52 a.m.–5:21 p.m. | 6:52 a.m.–4:51 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:22 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:52 a.m.–5:39 p.m. | 6:52 a.m.–5:09 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.
Birch Tree hunting questions
Is Birch Tree a good base for public-land hunting?
It has 5 tracts and about 64,762 public acres inside 10 miles.
Where is the closest conservation area or federal tract to Birch Tree?
Among MDC and federal tracts, the nearest is Birch Creek Conservation Area, its closest boundary 2.6 miles out. Number two: Mark Twain National Forest, its closest boundary 2.6 miles out.
Is Shannon County one of the antlerless-portion counties?
Yes. MDC lists Shannon County as open.
Which 2026 county deer rules apply around Birch Tree?
Shannon County: firearms antlerless limit 2, antlerless portions open, mandatory CWD sampling Nov. 14-15.
Can I hunt black bear from Birch Tree?
Yes, Oct 17 to Oct 30, 2026 in zone 2 for drawn permit holders.
Must deer shot near Birch Tree be tested for CWD?
Yes, deer taken Nov. 14 or 15 in Shannon County must go to a sampling station that day.
How soon after dawn can a Birch Tree deer hunter fire?
From 6:17 a.m. on Nov. 14 at Birch Tree.
What are the elk dates near Birch Tree?
Archery Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026, firearms Dec 12 to Dec 20, 2026.
Must a portable blind on an MDC area carry orange?
It is recommended, not required, on MDC areas.
Must I notch my permit for a Birch Tree deer?
Yes, notch the month and day on a paper permit or in the MO Hunting app right away.
Which MDC office open to the public is nearest Birch Tree?
For Shannon County, Twin Pines Conservation Center, 20086 Highway 60, Winona, (573) 469-0897.
How many miles to a deer processor from Birch Tree?
About 9.1 mi, to Stein's Meat Processing.
What bases lie close to Birch Tree?
Montier, Winona, Eminence and Thomasville.
Does MDC hold managed deer hunts near Birch Tree?
Yes, 3 hunts in Shannon County.
Answers from places.json, lands.json, counties.json, services.json and the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations; Telecheck from the booklet, hunter orange from booklet p. 4. Checked October 29, 2026.
Birch Tree final checks
Leaving Birch Tree before dawn? Look up legal light for the date and the county rules for the tract you picked.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0); Chris M Morris (CC BY 2.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0); Shelby L. Bell (CC BY 2.0); Jeff Meyer (CC BY 2.0); darin_kuntze (CC BY 2.0); Good Fire Photos (Public Domain Mark 1.0).