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Benton County, Missouri
Hunting land and deer rules around Warsaw, MO
Hunting out of Warsaw, Missouri: tracts by straight-line miles, county deer rules, MDC sunrise tables and the processors and taxidermists in range.
Photo: From Benton County, not the town itself: Sunset over the native grassland of the Cole Camp Prairies in Benton County. USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Warsaw serves as the county seat of Benton County, one of the counties in MDC’s Kansas City Region. Warsaw is the jumping-off town for Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek), its edge 3.9 miles out. The 2024 Census estimate lists 2,337 residents for Warsaw. Within 10 miles of the town point, MDC, Mark Twain, refuge, Corps and Riverways boundaries take in about 58,159 acres, with 9 listed areas in the ring. The county picture: 61,870 public acres in Benton County, made up of 12,670 acres of MDC land, 56,803 acres of Corps fee land and 1,404 acres of state parks and historic sites. Ranked by miles, the list opens with Lost Valley Fish Hatchery, 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 Warsaw
Hunting tracts around Warsaw
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost Valley Fish Hatchery | 0.9 mi N | Hatchery | MDC | Archery only | Allowed | 969 | Managed hunts too |
| Harry S. Truman Lake (Corps) | 1.2 mi S | Corps lake | Corps | Corps rules | – | – | Corps page unread |
| Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek) anchor land | 3.9 mi NW | Corps land, MDC | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 1,708 | – |
| Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Brush Creek) | 6.3 mi NW | Corps land, MDC | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 3,201 | – |
| Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Leesville) | 7.1 mi NW | Corps land, MDC | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 1,808 | – |
| Brickley Hollow CA | 7.4 mi E | Conservation area | MDC | Archery only | Allowed | 186 | – |
| Granny's Acres CA | 7.7 mi S | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 351 | – |
| Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Pomme de Terre) | 8.0 mi S | Corps land, MDC | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 2,238 | – |
| Edmonson Access | 8.7 mi NE | Public access | MDC | Archery only | Allowed | 110 | – |
| Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Valhalla) | 13 mi SW | Corps land, MDC | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 1,765 | – |
By acreage, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Brush Creek) (3,201 acres) tops the 10-mile list. By kind, the ring holds 3 conservation and natural areas, 1 public access and 5 Corps lake tracts. The closest area with an MDC deer listing, Lost Valley Fish Hatchery, allows archery methods only; antlerless permits may be filled there. Harry S. Truman 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
- Lost Valley Fish Hatchery: 969 acres of land containing glades, prairies, and wooded areas (See Area Map for boundaries).
- Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Little Tebo Creek): Harry S. Truman Reservoir management lands consist of 58,133 acres distributed around the reservoir in parts of Henry, Benton, Hickory, and St. Clair counties in west central Missouri.
- Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Brush Creek): Harry S. Truman Reservoir management lands consist of 58,133 acres distributed around the reservoir in parts of Henry, Benton, Hickory, and St. Clair counties in west central Missouri.
- MDC directions to Lost Valley Fish Hatchery: From Warsaw at the Highway 65 Truman Dam exit, take Lost Valley Road east 0.75 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.
Antlerless limits and CWD near Warsaw
Each row is one county’s 2026 rule set; the tag marks Benton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County town county | 4 | Open | Nov. 14-15 | Yes | Open | Zone 3 |
| Henry County | 4 | Open | No | Yes | Open | Zone 3 |
| St. Clair County | 4 | Open | Nov. 14-15 | Yes | Open | Zone 3 |
| Hickory County | 4 | Open | No | Yes | Open | Zone 3 |
Benton County allows 4 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 Benton County on Nov. 14 or 15 to a CWD station the same day; the county has 2 stations. Grain, salt and minerals for deer are banned year-round in Benton County, one of 85 feed-ban counties. Benton County deer must be tested to be donated to food pantries. Benton County belongs mostly to bear zone 3, where permits come by drawing. For ducks, the 2021-2025 zone layer puts Benton County in the Middle Zone (100%); the lines changed for 2026-2030, so check the digest map near a boundary.
Closest CWD stations
| Station | Address | Town | County | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDC Lost Valley Fish Hatchery | 28232 Hatchery Ave. | Warsaw | Benton | 2.3 mi |
| Cole Camp High School – Football Field Parking Lot | 500 S. Keeney St. | Cole Camp | Benton | 17 mi |
| MDC Osceola Wildlife Shop | 3815 NE. Hwy. 13 | Osceola | St. Clair | 22 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.
Warsaw season calendar
24 species and 37 dated windows apply in Benton 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 3 | Bear zone 3 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 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 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 1 | Middle Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| 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 Benton County
The bars are Benton County totals as MDC printed them in each year’s harvest summary. In 2025 the county gave up 4,228 deer, compared with 4,090 in 2015. Antlered bucks made up 1,853 of the 2025 total and does 1,944. That is 6.3 deer per square mile of county in 2025. Spring turkey in Benton County: 546 birds in 2026, against 766 in 2016. The fall firearms turkey harvest was 28 in 2025, with 25 more by archery. Sampling has covered 2,266 deer in Benton County; none tested positive.
| Season | Deer | Bucks | Buttons | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4,148 | 1,729 | 416 | 2,003 |
| 2023 | 4,692 | 1,979 | 439 | 2,274 |
| 2024 | 3,915 | 1,664 | 365 | 1,886 |
| 2025 | 4,228 | 1,853 | 431 | 1,944 |
| Portion | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Archery | 887 |
| Early youth | 263 |
| November | 2,313 |
| Late youth | 37 |
| Alt. methods | 177 |
| Managed hunts | 48 |
| Spring | Turkeys | Public land |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 547 | 84 |
| 2024 | 498 | 75 |
| 2025 | 611 | 97 |
| 2026 | 546 | 90 |
| Year | Samples | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 141 | 0 |
| 2024 | 127 | 0 |
| 2025 | 128 | 0 |
| 2026 | 10 | 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.
Warsaw managed hunt draws
3 managed hunts by drawing are set in Benton County for 2026-27. Applications closed Jul 31, 2026; the next drawing opens in July.
| Location | Method | When | Hunters drawn | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost Valley Fish Hatchery — Portion of Area Closed to Hunting | Archery | Nov. 14–24 | 6 | B |
| Lost Valley Fish Hatchery — Portion of Area Closed to Hunting | Youth – Shotguns | Nov. 28–29 | 5 | A |
| Truman Dam and Reservoir ML | People with Disabilities – Firearms | Nov. 6–8 | 25 | B |
From the MDC Managed Deer Hunts List 2026-2027; limit codes are explained there. Checked October 29, 2026.
Butchers and mounts, Warsaw
Listings come from Benton County and its neighbouring counties, ranked by miles from Warsaw; national chains are dropped. Jackman's Meat Processing, 11 mi away, accepts donated deer under Share the Harvest. Rifles and Reels Taxidermy LLC collects CWD samples under MDC’s partner program. Shoulder mounts and euro skulls start with Rifles and Reels Taxidermy LLC, 4.8 mi out. Forgot the hunter orange? Sportsman Outfitters in Warsaw is at town away. Big Buffalo Outfitters, LLC, 17 mi away, heads the preserve and guide list.
| Service | Within 15 mi | Within 35 mi | Nearest | Miles | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processors | 1 | 6 | Jackman's Meat Processing (first) | 11 mi SE | Warsaw |
| Mounts | 3 | 14 | Rifles and Reels Taxidermy LLC (first) | 4.8 mi W | Warsaw |
| Gun and bow shops | 7 | 25 | Sportsman Outfitters (first) | at town | Warsaw |
| Hunting preserves | 0 | 1 | Big Buffalo Outfitters, LLC (first) | 17 mi NE | Cole Camp |
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.
Warsaw MDC offices
For Benton County, MDC’s closest public office is Clinton Office (Clinton), 27 miles from the county centre. Lees Summit hosts the MDC Kansas City regional office. Staff are often in the field, so call ahead before visiting an office.
MDC Clinton Office lies 23 mi west
MDC JN Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area Field Office, a 29 mi drive north
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.
Warsaw area dinners, classes and hunts
Straight-line radius of about 30 miles: 5 upcoming events, covering DU chapter dinner, NWTF chapter dinner, deer hide and bone workshop and youth managed deer hunt.
Booked dates
| Held on | Event | Miles off | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 20, 2026 | Game Utilization: Deer Leg Bone tools – knives or awls · deer hide and bone workshop | 23 | Clinton MDC Office — Henry County | Register | Source |
| Nov 28–29, 2026 | Lost Valley Fish Hatchery Youth Managed Deer Hunt 2026 · youth managed deer hunt | 2 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Golden Valley Dinner – Clinton · DU chapter dinner | 23 | Primitive Olde Crow & Winery — Clinton | Buy tickets | Source |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Game Utilization: First Steps in Buckskin Leather · deer hide and bone workshop | 2 | Lost Valley Fish Hatchery — Warsaw | Register | Source |
| Jan 30, 2027 | Hickory County Jakes and Jennies NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter dinner | 21 | Wheatland | Buy tickets | Source |
Warsaw: gun clubs and MDC lines nearby
Top of the list for Warsaw: Golden Valley Archery Range (Clinton Office), 23 miles away.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 29, 2026.
Warsaw 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 Warsaw that means add 5 minutes.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Deer hours | Bird hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:42 a.m. | 7:43 p.m. | 6:12 a.m.–8:13 p.m. | 6:12 a.m.–7:43 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:54 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. | 6:24 a.m.–7:51 p.m. | 6:24 a.m.–7:21 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:09 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 6:39 a.m.–7:25 p.m. | 6:39 a.m.–6:55 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:46 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:16 a.m.–5:36 p.m. | 6:16 a.m.–5:06 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:54 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:24 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | 6:24 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:29 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 6:59 a.m.–5:28 p.m. | 6:59 a.m.–4:58 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:29 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:59 a.m.–5:46 p.m. | 6:59 a.m.–5:16 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.
Warsaw hunting FAQ
Where are the managed hunts in Benton County?
Lost Valley Fish Hatchery — Portion of Area Closed to Hunting and Truman Dam and Reservoir ML.
Can Warsaw hunters buy permits at an MDC office?
Yes; MDC offices sell permits, and the closest to the county centre is Clinton Office in Clinton.
Which tract on MDC’s map lies nearest Warsaw?
On the map it is Lost Valley Fish Hatchery, its closest boundary under a mile out. After that: Harry S. Truman Lake (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), its closest boundary 1.2 miles out.
Which neighbouring towns does this site cover?
White Branch, Bent Tree Harbor and Climax Springs, then Calhoun.
How does MDC limit antlerless deer in Benton County?
With a county fill limit of 4 for firearms antlerless permits.
How large is the public land within a short drive of Warsaw?
GIS puts it near 58,159 acres; the land table lists 9 tracts.
What CWD measures apply to deer from Benton County?
Opening-weekend sampling, the statewide carcass rule and the feed and mineral ban.
Can I hunt the October antlerless days near Warsaw?
Yes; Benton County is on the open list.
What are the November opener hours for Warsaw?
6:25 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. at Warsaw, by MDC’s table and longitude rule.
Is a drawn bear permit needed near Warsaw?
Yes; residents apply in May for one zone. Zone 3 had 250 permits.
Which orange garments are mandatory in the firearms portions near Warsaw?
An orange hat plus an orange shirt, vest or coat.
What is the check-in routine for a deer shot near Warsaw?
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.
Which deer processor is the shortest drive from Warsaw?
Jackman's Meat Processing in Warsaw, about 11 mi away, is the closest listed.
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 Warsaw
Distances on this page are straight lines from Warsaw; 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: Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0); Shelby L. Bell (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); Jena Fuller (CC BY-SA 2.0); Jeff Meyer (CC BY 2.0); J L (CC BY-SA 2.0).