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Reynolds County, Missouri
Hunting land and deer rules around Ellington, MO
Hunting out of Ellington, Missouri: tracts by straight-line miles, county deer rules, MDC sunrise tables and the processors and taxidermists in range.
Photo: Taken on Ozark National Scenic Riverways, 8.8 mi from Ellington; a nearby stand-in, not the town. Paul Sableman (CC BY 2.0)
Ellington sits in Reynolds County, a short drive from public ground in the Bootheel lowlands, the St. Francois Mountains and Mingo Swamp. Ellington is the jumping-off town for Current River Conservation Area, its edge under a mile out. The listing comes from Logan Creek Conservation Area: its nearest edge is 2.5 miles out. The 2024 Census estimate lists 766 residents for Ellington. Within 10 miles of the town point, MDC, Mark Twain, refuge, Corps and Riverways boundaries take in about 49,491 acres, with 7 listed areas in the ring. The county picture: 154,657 public acres in Reynolds County, made up of 55,214 acres of MDC land, 88,488 acres of Mark Twain National Forest, 17,590 acres of Corps fee land and 9,545 acres of state parks and historic sites. Ranked by miles, the list opens with Current River Conservation Area, its closest boundary under a mile 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.
Hunting tracts around Ellington
The deer column is MDC’s method rule for each conservation area (bow and gun, muzzleloader and bow, or archery only) and whether antlerless permits work there.
| Area | Distance | Type | Agency | Deer | Doe permits | Acres | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current River CA anchor land | 0.8 mi SW | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 29,371 | – |
| Logan Creek CA anchor land | 2.5 mi NW | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 13,170 | – |
| Clearwater Lake (Corps) | 5.5 mi E | Corps lake | Corps | Corps rules | – | – | Corps page unread |
| Clearwater Lake lands | 5.5 mi E | Corps land, MDC | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 12,659 | Managed hunts too |
| Clearwater CA | 6.6 mi SE | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 11,211 | – |
| Rocky Creek CA | 8.2 mi SW | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 42,184 | – |
| Ozark National Scenic Riverways | 8.8 mi W | Riverway | Park Service | Statewide rules | – | 80,546 | Managed hunts too |
| Riverside CA | 14 mi E | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 2,768 | – |
| Funk Memorial State Forest and Wildlife Area | 14 mi E | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 180 | – |
| Carter Creek CA | 15 mi S | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 407 | – |
By acreage, Ozark National Scenic Riverways (80,546 acres) tops the 10-mile list. By kind, the ring holds 4 conservation and natural areas, 2 Corps lake tracts and 1 federal area. The closest area with an MDC deer listing, Current River Conservation Area, allows archery and firearms; antlerless permits may be filled there. Clearwater Lake (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) follows the Corps rule that hunting is allowed except where the District Commander bars it; the district page was not readable here.
From the MDC area pages
- Current River CA: Current River Conservation Area encompasses approximately 29,000 acres of forested ozark land.
- Logan Creek CA: Logan Creek Conservation Area lies south of Black River and north of Current River.
- Clearwater Lake lands: The Clearwater Lake Managment Lands are owned by the US Army Corps of Engineers and managed by the MDC.
- MDC directions to Logan Creek CA: From the junction of Highway 106/Route B west of Ellington, take Route B north 3 miles to the main tract. See map for additional access.
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.
Antlerless limits and CWD near Ellington
Each row is one county’s 2026 rule set; the tag marks Reynolds County, and the other rows are counties where the land in the table above lies.
| County | Antlerless fill | Antlerless portions | CWD sampling | Feed ban | Fall turkey | Bear, elk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reynolds County town county | 1 | Open | Nov. 14-15 | No | Open | Zone 2 + elk |
| Carter County | 1 | Closed | Nov. 14-15 | No | Open | Zone 2 + elk |
| Shannon County | 2 | Open | Nov. 14-15 | Yes | Open | Zone 2 + elk |
| Wayne County | 1 | Closed | Nov. 14-15 | No | Open | Zone 2 |
| Dent County | 4 | Open | No | Yes | Open | Zone 2 |
Reynolds County allows 1 antlerless deer on firearms antlerless permits. It is one of the 100 counties open for the early and late antlerless portions. Take any deer killed in Reynolds County on Nov. 14 or 15 to a CWD station the same day; the county has 3 stations. Squirrel and rabbit dogs are off limits in Reynolds County in November portion daylight. Reynolds County is in the elk zone with Carter, Reynolds and Shannon counties. Reynolds County belongs mostly to bear zone 2, where permits come by drawing. For ducks, the 2021-2025 zone layer puts Reynolds County in the Middle Zone (76%) and South Zone (24%); the lines changed for 2026-2030, so check the digest map near a boundary.
Closest CWD stations
| Station | Address | Town | County | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellington MDC Office | 2929 Co. Rd. 618 | Ellington | Reynolds | 1.3 mi |
| Piedmont MDC Office | 410 Piedmont Ave. | Piedmont | Wayne | 17 mi |
| Van Buren MODOT Facility | 9721 Hwy. 60 | Van Buren | Carter | 20 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.
Ellington season calendar
25 species and 42 dated windows apply in Reynolds County; the last column checks each against today.
| Species | Window | Reach | From | 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 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 | 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 | |
| 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.
How many deer come out of Reynolds County
The bars are Reynolds County totals as MDC printed them in each year’s harvest summary. In 2025 the county gave up 2,746 deer, compared with 1,942 in 2015. Antlered bucks made up 1,243 of the 2025 total and does 1,244. That is 3.5 deer per square mile of county in 2025. Spring turkey in Reynolds County: 183 birds in 2026, against 331 in 2016. The fall firearms turkey harvest was 14 in 2025, with 7 more by archery. Sampling has covered 395 deer in Reynolds County; none tested positive.
| Season | Deer | Bucks | Buttons | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2,310 | 1,021 | 239 | 1,050 |
| 2023 | 3,135 | 1,210 | 329 | 1,596 |
| 2024 | 1,766 | 711 | 226 | 829 |
| 2025 | 2,746 | 1,243 | 259 | 1,244 |
| Portion | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Archery | 528 |
| Early youth | 161 |
| November | 1,691 |
| Late youth | 29 |
| Alt. methods | 102 |
| Managed hunts | 0 |
| Spring | Turkeys | Public land |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 197 | 113 |
| 2024 | 205 | 75 |
| 2025 | 257 | 119 |
| 2026 | 183 | 68 |
| Year | Samples | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 29 | 0 |
| 2023 | 45 | 0 |
| 2024 | 32 | 0 |
| 2025 | 16 | 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.
Butchers and mounts, Ellington
Listings come from Reynolds County and its neighbouring counties, ranked by miles from Ellington; national chains are dropped. Piedmont Processing, 16 mi away, accepts donated deer under Share the Harvest. Lacey Taxidermy and Wildlife Art collects CWD samples under MDC’s partner program. Shoulder mounts and euro skulls start with Lacey Taxidermy and Wildlife Art, 22 mi out. Forgot the hunter orange? After 5 Archery Range in Piedmont is 16 mi away. Baker Bucks, LLC, 24 mi away, heads the preserve and guide list.
| Service | Within 15 mi | Within 35 mi | Nearest | Miles | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processors | 0 | 4 | Piedmont Processing (first) | 16 mi E | Piedmont |
| Mounts | 0 | 4 | Lacey Taxidermy and Wildlife Art (first) | 22 mi SW | Winona |
| Gun and bow shops | 0 | 3 | After 5 Archery Range (first) | 16 mi E | Piedmont |
| Hunting preserves | 0 | 2 | Baker Bucks, LLC (first) | 24 mi SE | Ellsinore |
Processors
Mounts
Gun and bow shops
Hunting 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.
Ellington MDC offices
For Reynolds County, MDC’s closest public office is Piedmont Office (Piedmont), 21 miles from the county centre. Cape Girardeau hosts the MDC Southeast regional office. Staff are often in the field, so call ahead before visiting an office.
MDC Ellington Office lies 1.3 mi south
MDC Piedmont Office, a 17 mi drive east
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.
Ellington area dinners, classes and hunts
Straight-line radius of about 30 miles: 1 upcoming event, covering youth managed deer hunt.
Booked dates
| Held on | Event | Miles off | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 5–6, 2026 | Ozark National Scenic Riverways (Big Spring Area) Youth Managed Deer Hunt 2026 · youth managed deer hunt | 19 | Event details | Source |
Ellington: gun clubs and MDC lines nearby
Current River Conservation Area Shooting Range heads the Ellington list (6 miles), and two more follow.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 29, 2026.
Ellington sunrise and sunset
MDC prints one sunrise and sunset table for Jefferson City and tells hunters to adjust it by 1 minute for every 13.5 miles east or west. For Ellington that means subtract 5 minutes.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Deer hours | Bird hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:33 a.m. | 7:34 p.m. | 6:03 a.m.–8:04 p.m. | 6:03 a.m.–7:34 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:45 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 6:15 a.m.–7:42 p.m. | 6:15 a.m.–7:12 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:00 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:30 a.m.–7:16 p.m. | 6:30 a.m.–6:46 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:37 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:07 a.m.–5:27 p.m. | 6:07 a.m.–4:57 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:45 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 6:15 a.m.–5:21 p.m. | 6:15 a.m.–4:51 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:20 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:50 a.m.–5:19 p.m. | 6:50 a.m.–4:49 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:20 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:50 a.m.–5:37 p.m. | 6:50 a.m.–5:07 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.
Ellington hunting FAQ
How does MDC limit antlerless deer in Reynolds County?
With a county fill limit of 1 for firearms antlerless permits.
How large is the public land within a short drive of Ellington?
GIS puts it near 49,491 acres; the land table lists 7 tracts.
What CWD measures apply to deer from Reynolds County?
Opening-weekend sampling, the statewide carcass rule and voluntary testing on other days.
Can I hunt the October antlerless days near Ellington?
Yes; Reynolds County is on the open list.
How are elk permits handed out near Ellington?
Residents apply May 1-31; no preference points, and a 10-year wait after selection.
Is a drawn bear permit needed near Ellington?
Yes; residents apply in May for one zone. Zone 2 had 750 permits.
What is the check-in routine for a deer shot near Ellington?
Notch the permit, then Telecheck online, in the MO Hunting app or by phone before processing, before leaving the county or by 10 p.m., whichever comes first.
What are the November opener hours for Ellington?
6:15 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. at Ellington, by MDC’s table and longitude rule.
Which deer processor is the shortest drive from Ellington?
Piedmont Processing in Piedmont, about 16 mi away, is the closest listed.
Which orange garments are mandatory in the firearms portions near Ellington?
An orange hat plus an orange shirt, vest or coat.
Which neighbouring towns does this site cover?
Centerville, Van Buren and Piedmont, then Bunker.
Can Ellington hunters buy permits at an MDC office?
Yes; MDC offices sell permits, and the closest to the county centre is Piedmont Office in Piedmont.
Which tract on MDC’s map lies nearest Ellington?
On the map it is Current River Conservation Area, its closest boundary under a mile out. After that: Logan Creek Conservation Area, its closest boundary 2.5 miles out.
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.
Before leaving Ellington
Distances on this page are straight lines from Ellington; each conservation area, access and federal tract has its own rules, so read the land page and the 2026-27 booklets before you go.
Other photos on this page: Good Fire Photos (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); J L (CC BY-SA 2.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0); Shelby L. Bell (CC BY 2.0); LeeAnne Adams (CC BY 2.0); darin_kuntze (CC BY 2.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0).