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Carter County, Missouri
Hunting land and deer rules around Van Buren, MO
Hunting out of Van Buren, Missouri: tracts by straight-line miles, county deer rules, MDC sunrise tables and the processors and taxidermists in range.
Photo: Taken on Mark Twain National Forest, 0.9 mi from Van Buren; a nearby stand-in, not the town. David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Van Buren serves as the county seat of Carter County, one of the counties in MDC’s Ozark Region. Van Buren is the jumping-off town for Clearwater Conservation Area, its edge 4.6 miles out. The 2024 Census estimate lists 775 residents for Van Buren. Within 10 miles of the town point, MDC, Mark Twain, refuge, Corps and Riverways boundaries take in about 79,408 acres, with 8 listed areas in the ring. The county picture: 132,965 public acres in Carter County, made up of 28,658 acres of MDC land, 89,522 acres of Mark Twain National Forest and 14,954 acres of the Riverways. Ranked by miles, the list opens with 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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Van Buren
Hunting tracts around Van Buren
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Twain National Forest | 0.9 mi | National forest | USFS | Statewide rules | – | 1,510,740 | – |
| Ozark National Scenic Riverways | 2.3 mi NW | Riverway | Park Service | Statewide rules | – | 80,546 | Managed hunts too |
| Peck Ranch CA | 4.1 mi W | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 29,567 | Managed hunts too |
| Carter Creek CA | 4.2 mi E | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 407 | – |
| Clearwater CA anchor land | 4.6 mi NE | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 11,211 | – |
| Clearwater Lake (Corps) | 4.6 mi NE | Corps lake | Corps | Corps rules | – | – | Corps page unread |
| Current River CA | 5.1 mi N | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 29,371 | – |
| Rocky Creek CA | 6.9 mi NW | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 42,184 | – |
| Hunter Towersite | 12 mi SE | Towersite | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 75 | – |
| Clearwater Lake lands | 17 mi NE | Corps land, MDC | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 12,659 | Managed hunts too |
By acreage, Ozark National Scenic Riverways (80,546 acres) tops the 10-mile list. By kind, the ring holds 5 conservation and natural areas, 1 Corps lake tract and 2 federal areas. The closest area with an MDC deer listing, Peck Ranch Conservation Area, allows archery and firearms; only archery antlerless permits are valid 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. Mark Twain National Forest is hunted on MDC permits, though not within 150 yards of buildings, campsites or recreation sites.
From the MDC area pages
- Peck Ranch CA: Peck Ranch consists of 29,763 acres of rugged, forested hills and hollows.
- Carter Creek CA: This is a forested area with a permanent stream, Bear Spring.
- 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.
Antlerless limits and CWD near Van Buren
Each row is one county’s 2026 rule set; the tag marks Carter 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter County town 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 allows 1 antlerless deer on firearms antlerless permits. Carter County is one of the 14 counties closed during the antlerless portions. Take any deer killed in Carter County on Nov. 14 or 15 to a CWD station the same day; the county has 2 stations. Squirrel and rabbit dogs are off limits in Carter County in November portion daylight. Carter County is in the elk zone with Carter, Reynolds and Shannon counties. Carter County belongs mostly to bear zone 2, where permits come by drawing. For ducks, the 2021-2025 zone layer puts Carter County in the South Zone (83%) and Middle Zone (17%); the lines changed for 2026-2030, so check the digest map near a boundary.
Closest CWD stations
| Station | Address | Town | County | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren MODOT Facility | 9721 Hwy. 60 | Van Buren | Carter | 4.8 mi |
| Ellington MDC Office | 2929 Co. Rd. 618 | Ellington | Reynolds | 14 mi |
| USFS Pinewoods Lake | 31620 Hwy. 60 | Ellsinore | Carter | 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.
Van Buren season calendar
25 species and 40 dated windows apply in Carter 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 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.
How many deer come out of Carter County
The bars are Carter County totals as MDC printed them in each year’s harvest summary. In 2025 the county gave up 2,210 deer, compared with 2,209 in 2015. Antlered bucks made up 1,036 of the 2025 total and does 956. That is 4.5 deer per square mile of county in 2025. Spring turkey in Carter County: 152 birds in 2026, against 243 in 2016. The fall firearms turkey harvest was 13 in 2025, with 8 more by archery. Sampling has covered 803 deer in Carter County; none tested positive.
| Season | Deer | Bucks | Buttons | 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 |
| Portion | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Archery | 562 |
| Early youth | 148 |
| November | 1,301 |
| Late youth | 11 |
| Alt. methods | 94 |
| Managed hunts | 94 |
| Spring | Turkeys | Public land |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 194 | 127 |
| 2024 | 182 | 108 |
| 2025 | 282 | 178 |
| 2026 | 152 | 53 |
| Year | Samples | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Van Buren managed hunt draws
5 managed hunts by drawing are set in Carter County for 2026-27. Applications closed Jul 31, 2026; the next drawing opens in July.
| Location | Method | When | Hunters 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.
Butchers and mounts, Van Buren
Listings come from Carter County and its neighbouring counties, ranked by miles from Van Buren; national chains are dropped. Stein's Meat Processing, 18 mi away, accepts donated deer under Share the Harvest. Stein's Meat Processing collects CWD samples under MDC’s partner program. Shoulder mounts and euro skulls start with Lacey Taxidermy and Wildlife Art, 19 mi out. Forgot the hunter orange? After 5 Archery Range in Piedmont is 20 mi away. Baker Bucks, LLC, 15 mi away, heads the preserve and guide list.
| Service | Within 15 mi | Within 35 mi | Nearest | Miles | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processors | 0 | 5 | Bjg Meat Co LLC (first) | 16 mi SE | Grandin |
| Mounts | 0 | 12 | Lacey Taxidermy and Wildlife Art (first) | 19 mi W | Winona |
| Gun and bow shops | 0 | 2 | After 5 Archery Range (first) | 20 mi NE | Piedmont |
| Hunting preserves | 0 | 2 | Baker Bucks, LLC (first) | 15 mi E | 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.
Van Buren MDC offices
For Carter County, MDC’s closest public office is Twin Pines Conservation Center (Winona), 20 miles from the county centre. West Plains hosts the MDC Ozark regional office. Staff are often in the field, so call ahead before visiting an office.
MDC Ellington Office lies 14 mi north
MDC Twin Pines Conservation Center, a 17 mi drive west
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.
Van Buren 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 | 23 | Event details | Source |
Van Buren: gun clubs and MDC lines nearby
Peck Ranch Conservation Area Shooting Range heads the Van Buren list (10 miles), and two more follow.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 29, 2026.
Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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.
Van Buren hunting FAQ
Is a drawn bear permit needed near Van Buren?
Yes; residents apply in May for one zone. Zone 2 had 750 permits.
What CWD measures apply to deer from Carter County?
Opening-weekend sampling, the statewide carcass rule and voluntary testing on other days.
What are the November opener hours for Van Buren?
6:15 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. at Van Buren, by MDC’s table and longitude rule.
How are elk permits handed out near Van Buren?
Residents apply May 1-31; no preference points, and a 10-year wait after selection.
Which orange garments are mandatory in the firearms portions near Van Buren?
An orange hat plus an orange shirt, vest or coat.
What is the check-in routine for a deer shot near Van Buren?
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.
Can Van Buren hunters buy permits at an MDC office?
Yes; MDC offices sell permits, and the closest to the county centre is Twin Pines Conservation Center in Winona.
Which deer processor is the shortest drive from Van Buren?
Bjg Meat Co LLC in Grandin, about 16 mi away, is the closest listed.
Which neighbouring towns does this site cover?
Fremont, Hunter and Ellsinore, then Ellington.
Where are the managed hunts in Carter County?
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.
How large is the public land within a short drive of Van Buren?
GIS puts it near 79,408 acres; the land table lists 8 tracts.
Which tract on MDC’s map lies nearest Van Buren?
On the map it is Mark Twain National Forest, its closest boundary under a mile out. After that: Ozark National Scenic Riverways, its closest boundary 2.3 miles out.
Can I hunt the October antlerless days near Van Buren?
No; Carter County is on the closed list.
How does MDC limit antlerless deer in Carter County?
With a county fill limit of 1 for firearms antlerless permits.
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 Van Buren
Distances on this page are straight lines from Van Buren; 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: Gyrfalk (CC BY-SA 4.0); Chris M Morris (CC BY 2.0); darin_kuntze (CC BY 2.0); J L (CC BY-SA 2.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0); Jena Fuller (CC BY-SA 2.0); Shelby L. Bell (CC BY 2.0); LeeAnne Adams (CC BY 2.0).