Missouri has become a popular destination on a waterfowler’s bucket list. The exceptional management of state and federal land paired with private land management has made Missouri a waterfowl hotspot in the past 10-15 years. Waterfowl hunters enjoy hunting Missouri because of the diverse landscapes, variety of species, and accessibility to the land. This article describes where you can waterfowl hunt in Missouri, the places where hunters have the most success, and what hunters need in order to capitalize on the opportunity in the state.
Where Can You Duck Hunt Public Land in Missouri
The three types of public waterfowl hunting areas in Missouri are areas that require a reservation, open hunting areas, and federal managed locations. There are specific regulations for each type of area that hunters must follow in order to be able to hunt. Each type of location is different in the way they are managed which leads to differences in duck populations, regulations, and hunter success rates.
Areas Requiring a Reservation
At certain public waterfowl hunting locations in Missouri, a reservation is required to hunt. Hunters may obtain a reservation through a preseason application, an in season application (quick draw), or utilize the poor line the morning of the hunt. I have found that areas requiring a reservation take pride in their habitat management and have the greatest population of ducks when compared to other public waterfowl hunting areas in the state. Below are areas in Missouri where a reservation is required to hunt waterfowl.
North Zone
Bob Brown Conservation Area
A Complete Resource for Duck Hunting Bob Brown Conservation Area
Nodaway Valley Conservation Area
A Complete Resource to Duck Hunting Nodaway Valley Conservation Area
Fountain Grove Conservation Area
A Complete Resource to Duck Hunting Fountain Grove
- Ted Shanks Conservation Area
- B.K. Leach Conservation Area
- Columbia Bottom Conservation Area
- Marais Temps Clair Conservation Area
Middle Zone
Grand Pass Conservation Area
A Complete Resource to Duck Hunting Grand Pass
Eagle Bluff Conservation Area
A Complete Resource to Duck Hunting Eagle Bluff
Four Rivers Conservation Area
A Complete Resource to Duck Hunting Four Rivers Conservation Area
Duck Creek Conservation Area
A Complete Resource for Hunting Duck Creek Conservation Area
Otter Slough Conservation Area
A Complete Resource for Duck Hunting Otter Slough Conservation Area
Schell-Osage Conservation Area
A Complete Resource for Duck Hunting Schell-Osage Conservation Area
- Montrose Conservation Area
South Zone
Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area
A Complete Resource for Duck Hunting Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area
Open Hunting Areas in Missouri
Open hunting areas in Missouri give hunters access to public hunting areas without a reservation. At these places, the hunting results are more inconsistent and the habitat is not managed exclusively for waterfowl. That being said, I have had wonderful results on these places when the conditions are right. Oftentimes, the birds around these areas are less pressured and more responsive to decoys and calls.
There are many open hunting areas in Missouri for waterfowl. Listed below are a few notable locations:
Yellow Creek Conservation Area
A Complete Resource to Duck Hunting Yellow Creek Conservation Area
- Blind Pony Lake
- Bilby Ranch Lake
Please see the Missouri Department of Conservation website for a complete listing of open hunting areas.
Federal Managed Areas
Federal managed areas are another type of public waterfowl hunting location in Missouri. They differ from state managed areas in regard to regulations, draw procedures, and the number of days available for hunting. These locations offer hunters the opportunity to hunt places within the state that oftentimes house thousands of ducks during the fall migration. Notable federal managed public waterfowl hunting locations in Missouri are listed below.
- Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge
- Mingo National Wildlife Refuge
*Regulations and reservation procedures at federal managed areas often differ from state managed areas. Be sure to visit the respective location website for information before heading out to hunt.
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Where is the Best Duck Hunting in Missouri
The best duck hunting in Missouri is found at Grand Pass, Fountain Grove, Nodaway Valley, Ted Shanks, and Ten Mile Pond. These areas are among the top locations when comparing waterfowl population and hunter success rates each year. Where the ducks are depends on weather and a quality food source, which these areas all provide.
To produce the most relevant information, I gathered data from the Missouri Department of Conservation’s website regarding hunter success rates. Their link is listed at the bottom of the page.
Best Public Land Waterfowl Hunting in Missouri 2020
Waterfowl harvested per person in Missouri 2020
| Area | November | December | January |
| Columbia Bottom | 0.65 | 0.35 | 0.80 |
| Duck Creek | 1.95 | 1.94 | 1.36 |
| Eagle Bluff | 1.34 | 1.31 | No Report |
| Four Rivers | 2.67 | 2.36 | 2.96 |
| Grand Pass | 3.65 | 2.46 | No Report |
| Marais Temps | 0.87 | 0.32 | 0.60 |
| Montrose | 1.34 | 2.03 | 2.96 |
| Otter Slough | 3.00 | 2.37 | No Report |
| B.K. Leach | 0.80 | 0.21 | 0.10 |
| Fountain Grove | 2.55 | 1.76 | No Report |
| Nodaway Valley | 3.42 | 1.36 | No Report |
| Ted Shanks | 1.97 | 1.93 | No Report |
| Ten Mile Pond | 2.34 | 1.88 | 1.30 |
Best Public Land Waterfowl Hunting in Missouri 2019
Waterfowl harvested per person in Missouri 2019
| Area | November | December | January |
| Columbia Bottom | 0.58 | 0.30 | 0.22 |
| Duck Creek | 1.40 | 1.38 | 1.02 |
| Eagle Bluff | 1.23 | 1.03 | 0.95 |
| Four Rivers | 1.44 | 1.49 | 1.72 |
| Grand Pass | 1.45 | 1.40 | 0.98 |
| Marais Temps | 1.34 | 0.33 | 0.37 |
| Montrose | 2.13 | 1.85 | 1.50 |
| Otter Slough | 1.95 | 1.79 | 1.50 |
| B.K. Leach | 0.39 | 0.39 | No Report |
| Fountain Grove | 2.25 | 1.49 | No Report |
| Nodaway Valley | 2.61 | 1.25 | No Report |
| Ted Shanks | 1.25 | 0.98 | No Report |
| Ten Mile Pond | 1.93 | 1.95 | 1.40 |
What Do I Need to Duck Hunt in Missouri
The permits that waterfowl hunters in Missouri must possess are comparable to what they must possess in other states. Out of state hunters must possess different permits than residents of the state. The lists below indicate which permits hunters must have to waterfowl hunt in Missouri.
- Small game hunting permit
- Migratory bird permit
- Federal Duck Stamp
*Non-residents will be required to purchase a non-resident small game hunting permit as well as a non-resident migratory bird permit to waterfowl hunt in Missouri. All hunters must possess a Federal Duck Stamp.
When Can You Duck Hunt in Missouri
The state of Missouri is separated into three zones for waterfowl hunting. The north, middle, and south zone each have a different start and end date. Depending on the year, a zone may also have a split in the season which extends the waterfowl season and takes pressure off the migrating waterfowl. For specific details regarding zone boundaries and season dates, please visit the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Website listed below.
*This is not a comprehensive resource to duck hunting in Missouri. To obtain more specific information and regulations, please visit the Missouri Department of Conservation’s website listed below.
Missouri Department of Conservation website
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