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Out of Wayne County
Public tracts and season dates near Williamsville, MO
Every public tract within reach of Williamsville, the deer methods MDC permits on each, the Wayne County deer rules, season dates, legal light and nearby shops.
Photo: Nearby stand-in from Mark Twain National Forest, 0.3 mi from Williamsville. David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Out in the Bootheel lowlands, the St. Francois Mountains and Mingo Swamp, the city of Williamsville lies within Wayne County. This page hangs on Mark Twain National Forest, whose line lies within under a mile of Williamsville. Of the towns around University Forest Conservation Area, Williamsville came out closest, the edge 8.1 miles out. Population, per the mid-2024 estimate: 272. 3 listed areas and about 102,045 mapped public acres sit within 10 miles of Williamsville. Mapped public land in Wayne County totals about 128,083 acres, among them 23,488 acres of MDC land, 88,305 acres of Mark Twain National Forest, 811 acres of Corps fee land, 9,582 acres of refuge land and 5,982 acres of state parks and historic sites. Before any other area, a straight line from Williamsville 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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Williamsville
Williamsville 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 Williamsville.
| County | Firearms antlerless | Oct./Dec. portions | Mandatory CWD | Feed, minerals | Fall gun turkey | Bear zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County this county | 1 | Closed | Nov. 14-15 | No | Open | Zone 2 |
| 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 |
| Carter County | 1 | Closed | Nov. 14-15 | No | Open | Zone 2 + elk |
The firearms antlerless fill limit in Wayne County is 1. The antlerless portions do not open in Wayne County. Wayne County is on the 2026 list of 28 mandatory sampling counties for the opening weekend. In Wayne County dogs may not be used for squirrels or rabbits during daylight hours of the November portion. Black Bear Management Zone 2 covers 100% of Wayne County; MDC issues 750 permits there with a quota of 22 bears. Duck zone by the old GIS layer: Middle Zone (100%). Counties near a line should check the new 2026-2030 map.
Where to sample
| Site | Street | City | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville City Park | 248 Maple St. | Greenville | Wayne | 12 mi |
| USFS Pinewoods Lake | 31620 Hwy. 60 | Ellsinore | Carter | 13 mi |
| Redman Creek Recreation Area: Bill Emerson Visitor Center Shelter #3 | 10276 Rte. T | Wapapello | Wayne | 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.
Williamsville 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 | 0.3 mi | National forest | USFS | Statewide rules | – | 1,510,740 | – |
| Bradley A. Hammer Memorial CA | 0.7 mi SW | Conservation area | MDC | Muzzleloader, bow | Archery only | 344 | – |
| University Forest CA main area | 8.1 mi E | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 7,151 | – |
| Wappapello Lake (Corps) | 12 mi E | Corps lake | Corps | Corps rules | – | – | Corps page unread |
| Flatwoods CA | 12 mi N | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 907 | – |
| Stephen J. Sun CA | 14 mi SE | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 485 | – |
| Poplar Bluff CA | 15 mi SE | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 1,107 | – |
| Yokum School CA | 15 mi E | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 160 | – |
| Lon Sanders Canyon CA | 16 mi NW | Conservation area | MDC | Archery only | Allowed | 130 | – |
| Wappapello Lake lands | 16 mi N | Corps land, MDC | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 1,880 | Managed hunts too |
The heavyweight here is University Forest Conservation Area: 7,151 acres. Within 10 miles you will find 2 conservation and natural areas and 1 federal area. Deer hunters at Bradley A. Hammer Memorial Conservation Area are held to muzzleloaders and archery tackle only, and only archery antlerless permits are valid there. Check with the Wappapello 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
- Bradley A. Hammer Memorial CA: Bradley A. Hammer Memorial Conservation Area is in Wayne County, one-half mile south of Williamsville and 10 miles northwest of Poplar Bluff.
- University Forest CA: University Forest Conservation Area is in Wayne and Butler counties.
- MDC directions to Bradley A. Hammer Memorial CA: From Williamsville, take Highway 49 west, then County Road 417 south, then County Road 419 west, and County Road 424 north.
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.
Williamsville deer and turkey numbers
Each bar is one permit year for Wayne County, archery through the alternative methods portion. Telecheck came to 4,081 deer in 2025 and 2,680 in 2024. Of those 2025 deer, 1,898 were antlered bucks. Hunter density there ran 9.4 firearms and 2.9 archery hunters per square mile in 2025. Hunters checked 339 spring turkeys in Wayne County in 2026, 121 of them on public land. Fall 2025: 40 turkeys by firearms and 18 by archery. Across the dashboard years, Wayne County logged 728 CWD samples and 0 positives.
| Year | All deer | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3,235 | 1,583 | 337 | 1,315 |
| 2023 | 4,014 | 1,888 | 421 | 1,705 |
| 2024 | 2,680 | 1,262 | 281 | 1,137 |
| 2025 | 4,081 | 1,898 | 402 | 1,781 |
| Season part | Checked |
|---|---|
| Archery | 902 |
| Early youth | 235 |
| November | 2,699 |
| Late youth | 28 |
| Alt. methods | 196 |
| Managed hunts | 21 |
| Year | Spring birds | On public |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 290 | 136 |
| 2024 | 372 | 146 |
| 2025 | 443 | 195 |
| 2026 | 339 | 121 |
| Sample year | Tested | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 78 | 0 |
| 2024 | 126 | 0 |
| 2025 | 39 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 | 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 Williamsville
The November firearms portion runs Nov. 14 to 24 in every county; the antlerless portions in October and December are set by county, and Wayne 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 | |
| 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.
Williamsville managed hunt list
Wayne County hosts 5 managed deer hunts; applications ran in July. The 2026 application window ended Jul 31, 2026.
| Site | Hunt | Dates | Drawn | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mingo NWR | Muzzleloader or Cap-and-Ball Firearms Only | Dec. 5–6 | 80 | B |
| Mingo NWR | Youth – Firearms | Nov. 7–8 | 40 | A |
| Clearwater Lake ML — Veterans with Service-Related Disabilities and Mobility Impaired Hunt | People with Disabilities – Firearms | Nov. 7–8 | 6 | A |
| Coldwater CA — Inside Disabled Hunt Area | People with Disabilities – Firearms | Nov. 14–24 | 5 | F |
| Wappapello Lake ML | People with Disabilities – Firearms | Oct. 17–18 | 25 | A |
From the MDC Managed Deer Hunts List 2026-2027; limit codes are explained there. Checked October 29, 2026.
Williamsville 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 | 6:31 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:01 a.m.–8:02 p.m. | 6:01 a.m.–7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:43 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 6:13 a.m.–7:40 p.m. | 6:13 a.m.–7:10 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 6:58 a.m. | 6:44 p.m. | 6:28 a.m.–7:14 p.m. | 6:28 a.m.–6:44 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:35 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:05 a.m.–5:25 p.m. | 6:05 a.m.–4:55 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:43 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:13 a.m.–5:19 p.m. | 6:13 a.m.–4:49 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:18 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 6:48 a.m.–5:17 p.m. | 6:48 a.m.–4:47 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:18 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:48 a.m.–5:35 p.m. | 6:48 a.m.–5:05 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.
Williamsville 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. Ole Bandit LLC / Country Road Market is the closest Share the Harvest processor. County Line Taxidermy LLC (9.5 mi) is an MDC voluntary CWD sampling partner. The nearest name on the taxidermy list is Black River Fowl, LLC of Williamsville. First retail stop on the list: After 5 Archery Range of Piedmont. The nearest hunting preserve or guide business is Baker Bucks, LLC, about 11 mi from Williamsville.
| Kind | 15 mi | 35 mi | Closest listing | Distance | In |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer cutting | 2 | 6 | Ole Bandit LLC / Country Road Market (top pick) | 12 mi E | Wappapello |
| Taxidermists | 6 | 10 | Black River Fowl, LLC (top pick) | at town | Williamsville |
| Hunting retailers | 2 | 9 | After 5 Archery Range (top pick) | 15 mi NW | Piedmont |
| Guide businesses | 1 | 1 | Baker Bucks, LLC (top pick) | 11 mi W | 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 Williamsville
Counted within some 30 miles of town on October 29, 2026: 4 upcoming events (DU gun bingo, managed hunt, youth with disabilities, mentored waterfowl hunt and youth managed deer hunt).
Coming up
| Held on | Event | Mi | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7–8, 2026 | Mingo NWR Youth Managed Deer Hunt 2026 · youth managed deer hunt | 21 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 7–8, 2026 | Mingo NWR Youth with Disabilities Managed Deer Hunt 2026 · managed hunt, youth with disabilities | 21 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Bluff City Mallards Bingo Bash! · DU gun bingo | 16 | Poplar Bluff Elks Lodge — Butler County | Buy tickets | Source |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Mentored Game Bird Hunt: Youth Wing Shooting Program and Duck Hunt · mentored waterfowl hunt | 25 | Duck Creek Conservation Area — Puxico | Sign up | Source |
Williamsville: gun clubs and MDC lines nearby
Flatwoods Conservation Area Shooting Range heads the Williamsville list (12 miles), and two more follow.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 29, 2026.
MDC staff near Williamsville
Piedmont Office in Piedmont is the public MDC office nearest the centre of Wayne County. Above the local offices sits the Southeast regional office in Cape Girardeau. Offices sell permits and answer questions about conservation areas and managed hunts.
MDC Piedmont Office, a 15 mi drive northwest
MDC Duck Creek Conservation Area Field Office at 22 mi, heading east
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 Williamsville
Which MDC office handles Wayne County?
Piedmont Office (Piedmont) 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 Williamsville on this site?
In order: Ellsinore, Greenville, Piedmont and Poplar Bluff.
Which public tract is the shortest trip from Williamsville?
Mark Twain National Forest, its closest boundary under a mile out. Second is Bradley A. Hammer Memorial Conservation Area, its closest boundary under a mile out.
How many hunting tracts sit inside 10 miles of Williamsville?
3 listed tracts covering about 102,045 acres.
What is the firearms antlerless fill limit for Wayne County?
In Wayne County the firearms antlerless fill limit is 1; archery antlerless rules are statewide.
Are the early and late antlerless portions held in Wayne County?
No, it is one of the 14 closed counties.
Is opening-weekend CWD sampling required around Williamsville?
Yes, Nov. 14-15, with the hunter present at the station.
Does Williamsville lie in Missouri bear country?
Yes: bear zone 2.
At what time may I shoot a deer near Williamsville on Nov. 14?
On Nov. 14, 2026, deer hours at Williamsville start at 6:13 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 Williamsville?
Ole Bandit LLC / Country Road Market (Wappapello) heads our list at 12 mi; call ahead.
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.
Williamsville trip checklist
Before leaving Williamsville, confirm the county you will hunt in, its antlerless limit and any area method rule.
Other photos on this page: Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0); J L (CC BY-SA 2.0); Good Fire Photos (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Shelby L. Bell (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); J L (CC BY-SA 2.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0).