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Shannon County hunting base
Where Eminence, Missouri, hunters can go
Eminence as a jumping-off point: tracts ranked by distance, antlerless fill limits and CWD rules by county, harvest totals and the closest MDC office.
Photo: Ozark National Scenic Riverways, 2.2 mi from Eminence, a nearby stand-in for the town. Chris M Morris (CC BY 2.0)
Courthouse town for Shannon County, Eminence puts a hunter within driving range of the Ozark hills, the Current and Eleven Point rivers and the Mark Twain National Forest. The listing comes from Angeline Conservation Area: its nearest edge is under a mile out. Eminence is the jumping-off town for Rocky Creek Conservation Area, its edge 2.2 miles out. The Census Bureau’s 2024 figure for Eminence is 531. The 10-mile circle around Eminence catches some 88,426 public acres across 6 listed areas. Across all of Shannon County, GIS measures find about 259,998 public acres, including 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. The first public area on the map from Eminence is Angeline 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.
Tracts near Eminence
Land whose boundary comes within 10 miles of Eminence leads the table, nearest edge first; areas farther out follow by distance to their mapped point.
| Area | Reach | Category | Agency | Deer hunting | Antlerless | Acres | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angeline CA anchor | 0.8 mi NW | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 39,603 | – |
| Ozark National Scenic Riverways | 2.2 mi N | Riverway | Park Service | Statewide rules | – | 80,546 | Managed hunts too |
| Rocky Creek CA anchor | 2.2 mi SE | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 42,184 | – |
| Mark Twain National Forest | 7.3 mi | National forest | USFS | Statewide rules | – | 1,510,740 | – |
| Sunklands CA | 8.2 mi NW | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 40,383 | – |
| Peck Ranch CA | 8.9 mi SE | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 29,567 | Managed hunts too |
| Current River CA | 17 mi E | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 29,371 | – |
| Logan Creek CA | 17 mi NE | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 13,170 | – |
| Birch Creek CA | 17 mi SW | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 5,646 | – |
| Barn Hollow Natural Area | 20 mi W | Natural area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 251 | – |
Biggest of the nearby tracts: Ozark National Scenic Riverways, about 80,546 acres of public ground. Counted by type: 4 conservation and natural areas and 2 federal areas. MDC’s deer rule for Angeline Conservation Area is archery and firearms; antlerless permits may be filled there. Mark Twain National Forest ground reaches the 10-mile ring, hunted under MDC rules and free of any federal fee.
Nearest tracts in brief
- Angeline CA: The Angeline Conservation Area lies north of the Jacks Fork and west of the Current River.
- Rocky Creek CA: The Rocky Creek Conservation Area (CA) contains over 42,000 acres in the southern and eastern parts of Shannon County.
- Directions, Angeline CA: North of Eminence and extending 15 miles west toward Summersville. Enter from Highways 19 and 106 or Route D.
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.
Eminence 2026-27 hunting dates by species
Conservation areas in Shannon County share these dates, but each area can limit methods; check the area rules before you go.
| Quarry | Hunt | Applies | Begins | Ends | Open 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.
Deer rules for the counties around Eminence
Antlerless limits, portions, CWD sampling and the feed ban all change at county lines, which is why the table runs county by county for Eminence.
| Where | Antlerless limit | Portions | Sampling | Mineral ban | Fall firearms turkey | Big game zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shannon County town | 2 | Open | Nov. 14-15 | Yes | Open | Zone 2 + elk |
| Carter County | 1 | Closed | Nov. 14-15 | No | Open | Zone 2 + elk |
| Dent County | 4 | Open | No | Yes | Open | Zone 2 |
| Texas County | 4 | Open | No | Yes | Open | Zone 3, Zone 2, Zone 1 |
| Oregon County | 4 | Open | Nov. 14-15 | Yes | Open | Zone 2, Zone 1 |
In Shannon County, firearms antlerless permits can be filled 2 times. Antlerless portions run in Shannon County, as in 100 counties in all. Shannon County is a mandatory CWD sampling county: deer taken Nov. 14 or 15 go, on the day of harvest, to a sampling station (3 stations in the county), and the hunter must be present. The feed and mineral ban covers Shannon County all year. Share the Harvest donations from Shannon County need a CWD test. Shannon County bars dogs for squirrels and rabbits in daylight during the November portion. Shannon County is elk country: archery Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026 and firearms Dec 12 to Dec 20, 2026 for drawn permit holders. Bear permits for zone 2 come through the resident drawing; 750 were set for 2026. Waterfowl dates follow the zone, and Shannon County reads as South Zone (100%) on the earlier layer. Part of Shannon County lay in the CWD Management Zone, which MDC removed for 2026 together with the CWD portion and the antler-point restriction.
Nearest sampling stations
| Site | Address | Town | County | Miles off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eminence Elementary School | 17794 Hwy. 106 | Eminence | Shannon | 1.1 mi |
| MDC Twin Pines Conservation Education Center | 20086 Hwy. 60 | Winona | Shannon | 11 mi |
| Timber Volunteer Fire Department Shed | 39245 Hwy. 19 | Timber | Shannon | 15 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.
Deer and turkey harvest near Eminence
These are county totals for all of Shannon County, not for Eminence alone; MDC reports deer harvest by county. Permit year 2025 ended at 3,030 deer, the 2015 season at 2,941. The 2025 buck count stood at 1,388, with 279 button bucks. The 2025 statewide report lists 3.1 deer per square mile for the county. Shannon County gave up 237 spring gobblers and jakes in 2026. 17 fall firearms turkeys were checked in 2025. MDC’s CWD dashboard shows 1,386 samples from Shannon County across 2016-2026, with 1 positive.
| Season | Total | Antlered | Buttons | Antlerless 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 |
| Hunt | 2025 deer |
|---|---|
| Archery | 499 |
| Early youth | 219 |
| November | 1,760 |
| Late youth | 14 |
| Alt. methods | 119 |
| Managed hunts | 12 |
| Year | Spring harvest | Public land |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 383 | 273 |
| 2024 | 347 | 193 |
| 2025 | 451 | 297 |
| 2026 | 237 | 135 |
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Eminence taxidermy and gear
Processors come from MDC’s Share the Harvest list, its CWD sampling partners, the MDC commercial permit listing and directory entries that name deer or game. Nearest Share the Harvest processor: Stein's Meat Processing, 10 mi. Lacey Taxidermy and Wildlife Art, 3.4 mi from town, tests heads as an MDC partner. For a mount, the closest taxidermist listed is Lacey Taxidermy and Wildlife Art in Winona (3.4 mi). Ammunition and orange can be had at King Mountain Guns & More in Willow Springs, 31 mi off. Preserve and guide listings begin with Piney Ridge Ranch (10 mi).
| Type | Inside 15 | Inside 35 | Nearest one | Distance | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processing shops | 1 | 3 | Stein's Meat Processing (nearest one) | 10 mi S | Winona |
| Mount makers | 1 | 5 | Lacey Taxidermy and Wildlife Art (nearest one) | 3.4 mi S | Winona |
| Outdoor stores | 0 | 4 | King Mountain Guns & More (nearest one) | 31 mi W | Willow Springs |
| Preserves | 1 | 3 | Piney Ridge Ranch (nearest one) | 10 mi S | Winona |
Processing shops
Mount makers
Outdoor stores
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.
Eminence drawing hunts
The 2026-27 managed hunt list has 3 hunts in Shannon County. The drawing deadline was Jul 31, 2026.
| Location | Hunt type | Dates | Drawn | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Nearest MDC help, Eminence
MDC’s nearest public office to Shannon County is Twin Pines Conservation Center; call (573) 469-0897. The MDC Ozark Region has its office at 551 Joe Jones Blvd, West Plains. Permits sell online, in the MO Hunting app, at vendors and at MDC offices; offices also answer area and managed hunt questions.
MDC Eminence Office: 0.9 mi to the north of Eminence
MDC Twin Pines Conservation Center, about 11 mi south of town
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.
Shooting light at Eminence
Sunrise in the Bootheel and in the Kansas City area can be 20 minutes apart, so use the adjusted times for Eminence.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game legal | Waterfowl legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
What the calendar holds near Eminence
The 30-mile ring around Eminence holds 1 upcoming event; the kinds are youth managed deer hunt.
Upcoming here
| When | Listing | Miles | Venue | Tickets or seats | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 5–6, 2026 | Ozark National Scenic Riverways (Big Spring Area) Youth Managed Deer Hunt 2026 · youth managed deer hunt | 7 | Event details | Source |
Eminence shooters: three nearest ranges
From central Eminence, Bay Creek Branch Shooting Range (Angeline Conservation Area) is nearest at 6 miles.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 29, 2026.
Eminence, answered
What is the bear quota for the zone near Eminence?
22 bears in zone 2 for 2026.
Does Shannon County belong to the elk zone?
Yes, with Carter, Reynolds and Shannon.
Which shooting hours apply to deer at Eminence?
Deer: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset (6:17 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. on Nov. 14); ducks, doves and fall firearms turkey stop at sunset.
Is phone Telecheck still offered?
Yes, 800-314-6828 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; the app and the website also work.
Do duck and dove hunters near Eminence need orange?
No, migratory bird hunters are exempt; other small game hunters wear it during the firearms portions.
Who butchers deer for Eminence hunters?
Stein's Meat Processing in Winona is the first listing; ring them before driving.
Where would a Eminence hunter find MDC staff?
At Twin Pines Conservation Center, 20086 Highway 60, Winona.
Who may hunt a managed hunt near Eminence?
Drawn applicants only; MDC uses preference points.
Which other towns near Eminence have pages?
Winona, Birch Tree, Summersville and Montier, nearest first.
How many miles separate Eminence from public hunting ground?
The shortest straight line runs to Angeline Conservation Area, its closest boundary under a mile out. The next area out is Ozark National Scenic Riverways, its closest boundary 2.2 miles out.
Roughly how much public ground surrounds Eminence?
Close to 88,426 acres, split among 6 listed areas.
Do firearms antlerless permits work in Shannon County?
Yes, up to 2 in Shannon County.
When can Eminence hunters use the antlerless portions?
In October and December; the season table on this page has the days for Shannon County.
Does a CWD Management Zone still cover Eminence?
No. MDC dropped the CWD Management Zone for 2026; mandatory sampling is a separate county list.
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.
Leaving Eminence to hunt
Orange in the firearms portions, a notched permit right after the shot and Telecheck by 10 p.m.: the three habits that keep a Missouri deer legal.
Other photos on this page: Shelby L. Bell (CC BY 2.0); Gyrfalk (CC BY-SA 4.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0); J L (CC BY-SA 2.0); J L (CC BY-SA 2.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0); Good Fire Photos (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Jeff Meyer (CC BY 2.0).