Caney Mountain Conservation Area: hunting and access
Caney Mountain Conservation Area is 7,977 acres of MDC land in Ozark County, 3 miles from Gainesville. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 2,819 deer in Ozark County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MDC's conservation area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: MDC deer harvest summaries, 2021 to 2025.
MDC conservation areasCaney Mountain Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 7,977 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Ozark County |
| Deer harvest unit | Ozark County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel and Dove |
| MDC area number | 5202 |
| MDC region | Ozark |
| MDC managed hunts | deer and turkey |
| Camping (MDC) | designated camping sites and individual campsites |
| Shooting range (MDC) | archery and rifle or pistol |
| Nearest towns | Gainesville (3 mi), Wasola (7 mi) and Sundown (13 mi) |
What is Caney Mountain Conservation Area like?
Caney Mountain Conservation Area is in Ozark County, five miles north of Gainsville. This 7,899-acre area is characterized by unusual geology, including the roughest parts of a precipitous range of hills. These hills are a remnant of an old elevated plateau that has been dissected by numerous feeder streams. From area roads, visitors can view numerous prominent peaks, including Bear Cave Mountain, High Rock Mountain, Morrison Knob, Long Bald, and Tater Cave Mountain. The area also includes unique plant communities. Glades, savannas, forest openings, and old growth forest cover the rugged terrain along the small creek bottoms. Several of the state's rare and endangered species are being protected on the area. Caney Mountain was a stronghold of the eastern wild turkey in Missouri, even when the state population dropped to less than 2,500 birds. The area was acquired as a turkey refuge in 1940, and A. Starker Leopold, son of Aldo Leopold, the pioneer of modern wildlife conservation, prepared the first wildlife management plan. Prior to its purchase, the land had been repeatedly burned and had been subjected to open range grazing. The Conservation Department released 30 deer captured from what is now the Drury-Mincy Conservation Area here in the fall of 1940. This area then enabled both deer and turkey restoration to the rest of the state. The area still continues it's long history of wildlife habitat management today, including annual prescribed burning, wildlife food plots, managed deer and turkey hunts, wildlife population surveys, and glade and woodland restoration.
In MDC's words, from the Caney Mountain Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Caney Mountain Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove. It also lists managed hunts for deer and turkey; MDC's managed deer hunt list has the dates and how to apply.
What are the rules on Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
Target Shooting and Shooting Ranges: An unstaffed range is located on this department area. Target shooting is not allowed anywhere on this area except for designated shooting range(s). Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Ranges may be closed to public use at any time for maintenance or department sponsored events or programs. Possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on all ranges and associated parking lots. Groups of more than 10 people must obtain a special use permit prior to using the range. To obtain a special use permit, contact the area manager at the phone number listed...
Every conservation area also follows MDC's standard rules in Chapter 11 of the Wildlife Code; the area's full rules are on MDC's site.
How many deer are taken around Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
Caney Mountain Conservation Area lies in Ozark County. Hunters checked 2,819 deer in Ozark County in 2025, against 2,633 in 2024.
| County | Caney Mountain Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozark County | 7,977 | 2,819 | 2,633 | 3,257 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: Zone 1 (Inside the fenced portion-Old Refuge): From Gainesville, take Highway 181 north 5 miles, then Caney Mountain Refuge Drive west 0.50 mile to the area headquarters.
Nearest towns: Gainesville (3 miles), Wasola (7 miles), Sundown (13 miles) and Pontiac (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 5, MO 181, MO 95 and US 160.
What other public land is near Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Norfork Lake Management Lands: 4,972 acres, 7.2 miles away
- Bull Shoals Lake Management Lands: 35,896 acres, 8.2 miles away
- Patrick Bridge Access: 149 acres, 8.8 miles away
- Rippee Conservation Area: 439 acres, 9.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Caney Mountain Conservation Area
Counting Caney Mountain Conservation Area itself, 7,977 of the 57,319 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (13.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 7,977 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
In Ozark County, 3 miles from Gainesville.
Can you deer hunt on Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
7,977 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Caney Mountain Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Norfork Lake Management Lands (7.2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, Caney Mountain Conservation Area; MDC conservation area boundaries.
- Boundary and acres: MDC's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and MDC conservation area boundaries.
- Deer harvest: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
FilledTag is not part of the Missouri Department of Conservation. Check MDC's rules and posted signs before you go.