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Out of Carter County
Public tracts and season dates near Ellsinore, MO
Every public tract within reach of Ellsinore, the deer methods MDC permits on each, the Carter County deer rules, season dates, legal light and nearby shops.
Photo: Nearby stand-in from Mark Twain National Forest, 0.6 mi from Ellsinore. Forest Service, Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Out in the Ozark hills, the Current and Eleven Point rivers and the Mark Twain National Forest, the city of Ellsinore lies within Carter County. This page hangs on Mark Twain National Forest, whose line lies within under a mile of Ellsinore. Population, per the mid-2024 estimate: 417. 6 listed areas and about 55,405 mapped public acres sit within 10 miles of Ellsinore. Mapped public land in Carter County totals about 132,965 acres, among them 28,658 acres of MDC land, 89,522 acres of Mark Twain National Forest and 14,954 acres of the Riverways. Before any other area, a straight line from Ellsinore reaches Mark Twain National Forest, 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.
Ellsinore county-by-county deer guide
Missouri has no deer units below the county, so a county line can change the antlerless limit within a short drive of Ellsinore.
| County | Firearms antlerless | Oct./Dec. portions | Mandatory CWD | Feed, minerals | Fall gun turkey | Bear zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter County this county | 1 | Closed | Nov. 14-15 | No | 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 |
| Wayne County | 1 | Closed | Nov. 14-15 | No | Open | Zone 2 |
The firearms antlerless fill limit in Carter County is 1. The antlerless portions do not open in Carter County. Carter County is on the 2026 list of 28 mandatory sampling counties for the opening weekend. In Carter County dogs may not be used for squirrels or rabbits during daylight hours of the November portion. Carter County is one of the three elk counties; elk hunting excludes the refuge portion of Peck Ranch CA. Black Bear Management Zone 2 covers 100% of Carter County; MDC issues 750 permits there with a quota of 22 bears. Duck zone by the old GIS layer: South Zone (83%) and Middle Zone (17%). Counties near a line should check the new 2026-2030 map.
Where to sample
| Site | Street | City | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USFS Pinewoods Lake | 31620 Hwy. 60 | Ellsinore | Carter | 1.7 mi |
| Piedmont MDC Office | 410 Piedmont Ave. | Piedmont | Wayne | 17 mi |
| Van Buren MODOT Facility | 9721 Hwy. 60 | Van Buren | Carter | 17 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.
Ellsinore land list
Rows run by nearest boundary, then by mapped-point miles; each land page carries the area regulations, directions and its county deer rules.
| Name | How far | Land type | Manager | Deer rule | Antlerless | Size (ac) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Twain National Forest main area | 0.6 mi | National forest | USFS | Statewide rules | – | 1,510,740 | – |
| Hunter Towersite | 6.7 mi SW | Towersite | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 75 | – |
| Ozark National Scenic Riverways | 7.9 mi NW | Riverway | Park Service | Statewide rules | – | 80,546 | Managed hunts too |
| Clearwater CA | 8.3 mi NW | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 11,211 | – |
| Clearwater Lake (Corps) | 8.3 mi N | Corps lake | Corps | Corps rules | – | – | Corps page unread |
| Bradley A. Hammer Memorial CA | 9.8 mi E | Conservation area | MDC | Muzzleloader, bow | Archery only | 344 | – |
| Carter Creek CA | 12 mi NW | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 407 | – |
| Little Black CA | 13 mi S | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 3,093 | – |
| Mudpuppy CA | 15 mi S | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 1,404 | – |
| Flatwoods CA | 17 mi NE | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 907 | – |
The heavyweight here is Ozark National Scenic Riverways: 80,546 acres. Within 10 miles you will find 3 conservation and natural areas, 1 Corps lake tract and 2 federal areas. Deer hunters at Hunter Towersite are held to archery and firearms, and only archery antlerless permits are valid there. Check with the Clearwater Lake (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) project office: the Corps hunting page could not be reached for this check. Hunting is allowed across Mark Twain National Forest under Missouri seasons, away from residences and developed sites.
Area notes
- Clearwater CA: Clearwater Conservation Area lies southwest of Clearwater Lake in Reynolds County.
- MDC directions to Hunter Towersite: From Hunter on Route E, take County Road 0-251 south 0.25 mile.
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.
Ellsinore deer and turkey numbers
Each bar is one permit year for Carter County, archery through the alternative methods portion. Telecheck came to 2,210 deer in 2025 and 1,539 in 2024. Of those 2025 deer, 1,036 were antlered bucks. Hunter density there ran 8.4 firearms and 2.8 archery hunters per square mile in 2025. Hunters checked 152 spring turkeys in Carter County in 2026, 53 of them on public land. Fall 2025: 13 turkeys by firearms and 8 by archery. Across the dashboard years, Carter County logged 803 CWD samples and 0 positives.
| Year | All deer | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,852 | 941 | 199 | 712 |
| 2023 | 2,942 | 1,276 | 260 | 1,406 |
| 2024 | 1,539 | 757 | 165 | 617 |
| 2025 | 2,210 | 1,036 | 218 | 956 |
| Season part | Checked |
|---|---|
| Archery | 562 |
| Early youth | 148 |
| November | 1,301 |
| Late youth | 11 |
| Alt. methods | 94 |
| Managed hunts | 94 |
| Year | Spring birds | On public |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 194 | 127 |
| 2024 | 182 | 108 |
| 2025 | 282 | 178 |
| 2026 | 152 | 53 |
| Sample year | Tested | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 111 | 0 |
| 2024 | 65 | 0 |
| 2025 | 70 | 0 |
| 2026 | 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.
Seasons open near Ellsinore
The November firearms portion runs Nov. 14 to 24 in every county; the antlerless portions in October and December are set by county, and Carter County is closed to them.
| Game | Portion | Where | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery, first part | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 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, 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.
Ellsinore managed hunt list
Carter County hosts 5 managed deer hunts; applications ran in July. The 2026 application window ended Jul 31, 2026.
| Site | Hunt | Dates | Drawn | 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 |
| Ozark National Scenic Riverways — Big Spring Area | Youth – Firearms | Dec. 5–6 | 10 | D |
| Peck Ranch CA — Inside Fenced Portion | Youth – Firearms | Oct. 10–11 | 65 | A |
| Ozark National Scenic Riverways — Big Spring Area Exceptional Warrior Mobility Impaired Hunt | People with Disabilities – Firearms | Oct. 31–Nov. 1 | 10 | B |
From the MDC Managed Deer Hunts List 2026-2027; limit codes are explained there. Checked October 29, 2026.
Ellsinore legal shooting light
Rabbits are sunrise to sunset, migratory birds half an hour before sunrise to sunset, and big game gets the extra half hour after sunset.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear, elk | Ducks, doves, geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Ellsinore processors and shops
Missouri does not license hunting guides, so the guide rows are preserves holding MDC permits and directory listings; call before you drive. Piedmont Processing is the closest Share the Harvest processor. County Line Taxidermy LLC (5.3 mi) is an MDC voluntary CWD sampling partner. The nearest name on the taxidermy list is County Line Taxidermy LLC of Ellsinore. First retail stop on the list: After 5 Archery Range of Piedmont. The nearest hunting preserve or guide business is Baker Bucks, LLC, about at town from Ellsinore.
| Kind | 15 mi | 35 mi | Closest listing | Distance | In |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer cutting | 2 | 7 | Bjg Meat Co LLC (top pick) | 8.1 mi SW | Grandin |
| Taxidermists | 5 | 11 | County Line Taxidermy LLC (top pick) | 5.3 mi SE | Ellsinore |
| Hunting retailers | 0 | 7 | After 5 Archery Range (top pick) | 15 mi N | Piedmont |
| Guide businesses | 1 | 2 | Baker Bucks, LLC (top pick) | at town | Ellsinore |
Deer cutting
Taxidermists
Hunting retailers
Guide businesses
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.
Events a short drive out of Ellsinore
Counted within some 30 miles of town on October 29, 2026: 1 upcoming event (DU gun bingo).
Coming up
| Held on | Event | Mi | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 11, 2026 | Bluff City Mallards Bingo Bash! · DU gun bingo | 22 | Poplar Bluff Elks Lodge — Butler County | Buy tickets | Source |
Ellsinore: gun clubs and MDC lines nearby
Little Black Conservation Area Archery Range heads the Ellsinore list (12 miles), and two more follow.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 29, 2026.
MDC staff near Ellsinore
Twin Pines Conservation Center in Winona is the public MDC office nearest the centre of Carter County. Above the local offices sits the Ozark regional office in West Plains. Offices sell permits and answer questions about conservation areas and managed hunts.
MDC Piedmont Office, a 17 mi drive north
MDC Doniphan Office at 20 mi, heading south
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.
Asked about Ellsinore
Are the early and late antlerless portions held in Carter County?
No, it is one of the 14 closed counties.
Is opening-weekend CWD sampling required around Ellsinore?
Yes, Nov. 14-15, with the hunter present at the station.
Does Ellsinore lie in Missouri bear country?
Yes: bear zone 2.
Do elk roam near Ellsinore?
Yes; Carter County is in the elk zone.
At what time may I shoot a deer near Ellsinore on Nov. 14?
On Nov. 14, 2026, deer hours at Ellsinore start at 6:14 a.m.
What is the Telecheck deadline for Missouri deer?
10 p.m. on the day of harvest, or sooner if you process the deer or leave the county of harvest.
Will orange camouflage satisfy Missouri’s rule?
No. Camouflage orange does not meet the rule.
Where can I drop a deer for cutting near Ellsinore?
Bjg Meat Co LLC (Grandin) heads our list at 8.1 mi; call ahead.
Which MDC office handles Carter County?
Twin Pines Conservation Center (Winona) is the nearest public office.
When does the managed hunt drawing take applications?
July 1-31; results post from Aug. 15.
What are the closest towns to Ellsinore on this site?
In order: Hunter, Williamsville, Piedmont and Van Buren.
Which public tract is the shortest trip from Ellsinore?
Mark Twain National Forest, its closest boundary under a mile out. Second is Hunter Towersite, its closest boundary 6.7 miles out.
How many hunting tracts sit inside 10 miles of Ellsinore?
6 listed tracts covering about 55,405 acres.
What is the firearms antlerless fill limit for Carter County?
In Carter County the firearms antlerless fill limit is 1; archery antlerless rules are statewide.
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.
Ellsinore trip checklist
Before leaving Ellsinore, confirm the county you will hunt in, its antlerless limit and any area method rule.
Other photos on this page: darin_kuntze (CC BY 2.0); Gyrfalk (CC BY-SA 4.0); Shelby L. Bell (CC BY 2.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0); Jena Fuller (CC BY-SA 2.0); LeeAnne Adams (CC BY 2.0); Good Fire Photos (Public Domain Mark 1.0); J L (CC BY-SA 2.0).