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MDC Ozark Region
Tracts, county rules and seasons near Fremont, Missouri
Fremont, MDC Ozark Region: tracts inside 10 miles, the rules of each county they touch, opening-weekend CWD sampling and local shops.
Photo: Mark Twain National Forest (0.8 mi from Fremont), used as a nearby stand-in. Forest Service, Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Carter County counts Fremont among its communities; county business happens in Van Buren. Anyone headed to Peck Ranch Conservation Area can base in Fremont; the line is 3.2 miles out. Fremont was picked as the base town for Mark Twain National Forest, whose closest boundary lies 5.7 miles out. Fremont has no city government, and the Census 2024 estimates leave it out. About 140,203 acres of public ground lie inside a 10-mile radius of Fremont. Carter County as a whole carries roughly 132,965 public acres (28,658 acres of MDC land, 89,522 acres of Mark Twain National Forest and 14,954 acres of the Riverways). Measured from the town point, the first area is Mark Twain National Forest, its closest boundary under a mile out.
Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer; 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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Fremont
Fremont deer rules by county, 2026
MDC sets deer rules county by county, and public land near Fremont can sit in a different county from the town, so every county holding a nearby area gets a row.
| County | Fill limit | Portions open | CWD Nov. 14-15 | Grain, salt ban | Turkey, fall | Bear zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter County home 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 |
Carter County carries a firearms antlerless limit of 1. Carter County sits out both antlerless portions. Mandatory CWD sampling covers Carter County on Nov. 14-15, 2026; stations are open 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Carter County is one of the counties with the November dog rule for squirrels and rabbits. Drawn elk permits are valid in Carter County. Zone 2 bear hunting reaches Carter County (Oct 17 to Oct 30, 2026). Check the 2026-2030 digest map: the older layer shows Carter County in the South Zone (83%) and Middle Zone (17%).
Sampling stops nearby
| Site | Address | Town | County | How far |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren MODOT Facility | 9721 Hwy. 60 | Van Buren | Carter | 5.6 mi |
| MDC Twin Pines Conservation Education Center | 20086 Hwy. 60 | Winona | Shannon | 8.4 mi |
| Eminence Elementary School | 17794 Hwy. 106 | Eminence | Shannon | 18 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.
Public ground from Fremont
The map and table share 10 areas; bold pins mark land whose boundary comes within 10 miles of Fremont.
| Public land | Miles | Kind | Run by | Deer methods | Antlerless | Acres | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Twain National Forest key area | 0.8 mi | National forest | USFS | Statewide rules | – | 1,510,740 | – |
| Peck Ranch CA key area | 3.2 mi N | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 29,567 | Managed hunts too |
| Ozark National Scenic Riverways | 7.1 mi NW | Riverway | Park Service | Statewide rules | – | 80,546 | Managed hunts too |
| Rocky Creek CA | 7.5 mi NW | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 42,184 | – |
| Carter Creek CA | 14 mi E | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 407 | – |
| Current River CA | 15 mi N | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 29,371 | – |
| Hunter Towersite | 17 mi E | Towersite | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 75 | – |
| Birch Creek CA | 20 mi W | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 5,646 | – |
| Clearwater CA | 20 mi NE | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 11,211 | – |
| Logan Creek CA | 23 mi N | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 13,170 | – |
Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the biggest tract touching the ring, at 80,546 acres. Sorted by program, the nearby land is 2 conservation and natural areas and 2 federal areas. For deer at Peck Ranch Conservation Area, MDC lists archery and firearms, and only archery antlerless permits are valid there. The national forest near Fremont needs no extra federal permit; MDC rules and dates apply.
Close-up on the nearest tracts
- Peck Ranch CA: Peck Ranch consists of 29,763 acres of rugged, forested hills and hollows.
- 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 Peck Ranch CA: From Winona, take Route H east 5 miles, then continue east on gravel 7 miles to the area in Carter County.
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.
Carter County harvest for Fremont hunters
Figures cover the entire county; MDC prints no harvest for a single town. 2025 brought 2,210 deer, after 1,539 in 2024. In 2025, 1,036 checked deer were antlered bucks. Harvest density in 2025: 4.5 deer per square mile. In spring 2026 the county turkey harvest reached 152. The latest fall firearms figure is 13 (2025). Carter County has 0 CWD-positive deer out of 803 samples on the MDC dashboard.
| Year | Total | Antlered | 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 |
| Part of season | Total |
|---|---|
| Archery | 562 |
| Early youth | 148 |
| November | 1,301 |
| Late youth | 11 |
| Alt. methods | 94 |
| Managed hunts | 94 |
| Year | Birds | Public land |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 194 | 127 |
| 2024 | 182 | 108 |
| 2025 | 282 | 178 |
| 2026 | 152 | 53 |
| Season | Deer tested | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Fremont open seasons, 2026-27
MDC sets deer rules county by county, and Carter County allows 1 antlerless deer on firearms permits. The 40 rows below come from the 2026 MDC booklets.
| Game | Segment | Scope | Opening day | Closing day | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Fremont drawn deer hunts
Carter County holds 5 managed deer hunts on the 2026-27 list, at Ozark National Scenic Riverways — Big Spring Area, Ozark National Scenic Riverways — Big Spring Area Exceptional Warrior Mobility Impaired Hunt and Peck Ranch CA — Inside Fenced Portion. Apply each July; the 2026 deadline was Jul 31, 2026.
| Area | 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 |
| 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.
Legal light, Fremont
Deer, bear, elk and fall archery turkey may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks, geese, doves and fall firearms turkey stop at sunset.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Fremont hunting businesses
The shops Fremont hunters use each fall, sorted by trade and then by distance. To donate venison, Stein's Meat Processing (9.8 mi) is on MDC’s Share the Harvest processor list. Closest voluntary CWD partner on MDC’s list: Stein's Meat Processing (9.8 mi). Taxidermy: Lacey Taxidermy and Wildlife Art, 14 mi away in Winona. The closest shop for shells and gear is After 5 Archery Range, 29 mi from Fremont. Pen-raised birds and guided hunts: Piney Ridge Ranch (Winona) is the closest preserve or guide listed.
| Kind | Listings 15 mi | Listings 35 mi | Nearest business | Away | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venison processing | 1 | 4 | Stein's Meat Processing (nearest) | 9.8 mi W | Winona |
| Taxidermy studios | 1 | 9 | Lacey Taxidermy and Wildlife Art (nearest) | 14 mi NW | Winona |
| Gear shops | 0 | 2 | After 5 Archery Range (nearest) | 29 mi NE | Piedmont |
| Preserves and guide services | 1 | 3 | Piney Ridge Ranch (nearest) | 9.8 mi W | Winona |
Venison processing
Taxidermy studios
Gear shops
Preserves and guide services
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.
Hunting dates within reach of Fremont
Inside a rough 30-mile circle, soonest first, there is 1 upcoming event: youth managed deer hunt. Checked October 29, 2026.
Still to come
| Held on | Event | How far | 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 | 22 | Event details | Source |
Fremont: gun clubs and MDC lines nearby
Peck Ranch Conservation Area Shooting Range heads the Fremont list (6 miles), and two more follow.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 29, 2026.
Fremont conservation offices
The nearest MDC office open to the public from the middle of Carter County is Twin Pines Conservation Center in Winona, about 20 miles away. Regional questions go to Ozark Regional Office, 551 Joe Jones Blvd, West Plains. Field offices are conservation area staff bases, so call before driving out.
MDC Twin Pines Conservation Center, 8.6 mi out of Fremont
MDC Eminence Office lies 18 mi northwest
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.
Fremont hunters ask
Which bear zone number applies around Fremont?
Zone 2, over 100% of the county.
Where can drawn elk hunters go near Fremont?
Carter, Reynolds and Shannon counties, minus the Peck Ranch refuge.
What time does deer hunting stop at Fremont on the opener?
At 5:22 p.m., half an hour after sunset; rabbits stop at sunset.
Can a deer wait until tomorrow to be Telechecked?
No. Telecheck by 10 p.m. the same day, unless processing or leaving the county comes first.
Is hunter orange required near Fremont?
Yes, during the firearms deer portions: a hunter orange hat and a shirt, vest or coat visible from all sides.
Where does a Fremont hunter get venison cut and wrapped?
Try Stein's Meat Processing (Winona), the closest listing.
Whom do I call about conservation areas near Fremont?
Call Twin Pines Conservation Center at (573) 469-0897.
How can a Fremont hunter get into a drawn deer hunt?
Apply in July through MDC’s managed hunt drawing; one hunt per year.
If not Fremont, where else can I stay?
Van Buren is closest, then Winona, Eminence and Hunter.
If I hunt from Fremont, which public land comes first?
Start with Mark Twain National Forest, its closest boundary under a mile out. Behind it comes Peck Ranch Conservation Area, its closest boundary 3.2 miles out.
What does the 10-mile acreage around Fremont add up to?
Some 140,203 acres in 4 tracts.
Can I take antlerless deer with a rifle near Fremont?
Yes, 1 on firearms antlerless permits in Carter County, and in the antlerless portions if the county is open.
Does Carter County open for the antlerless portions?
No, Carter County is closed.
Does Carter County have mandatory CWD sampling in 2026?
Yes, as one of 28 sampling counties.
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.
Fremont pre-trip checks
For hunts out of Fremont, the MDC booklets and the area regulations on each land page settle any doubt.
Other photos on this page: Chris M Morris (CC BY 2.0); 16porkchops (CC BY-SA 4.0); J L (CC BY-SA 2.0); Jeff Meyer (CC BY 2.0); Good Fire Photos (Public Domain Mark 1.0); J L (CC BY-SA 2.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).