J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area: hunting and access
J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area is 1,700 acres of MDC land in Johnson and Pettis counties, 2 miles from Green Ridge. MDC lists deer hunting here (muzzleloader and archery, archery antlerless permits only). Hunters checked 3,057 deer in Johnson 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 areasState parks and historic sitesJ. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,700 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Johnson County and Pettis County |
| Deer harvest unit | Johnson County, Pettis County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 7717 |
| MDC region | Kansas City |
| Nearest towns | Green Ridge (2 mi), Whiteman AFB (5 mi) and Windsor (7 mi) |
What is J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area like?
J.N. "Turkey" Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area is in Johnson and Pettis counties. J.N."Turkey" Kearn, who delighted many people with his humor and knowledge of local history, lived on this land in harmony with its natural beauty. In 1976, he donated 1,479 acres to the Conservation Department with the wish that the bounty of wildlife his ancestors spoke of when they first settled here be restored and preserved for future generations. The Department purchased an additional 195 acres, bringing the area to its present size of 1,674 acres.
The area features a great variety of habitat types, including wooded hills, bottomlands, crop fields, and native grass fields. Two fishing lakes, covering nine and 25 acres, respectively, were built in 2000. The area contains several small ponds and one two-acre pond, and Muddy Creek crosses the northwest corner of the area. Management of the area focuses on providing habitat for upland wildlife species, including deer, turkey, rabbits, squirrels, doves, and songbirds.
In MDC's words, from the J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area page.
What can you hunt on J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area?
MDC's page for J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area lists: Deer: muzzleloader and archery, archery antlerless permits only; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove; Quail.
What are the rules on J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area?
MDC's standard conservation area rules (Chapter 11 of the Wildlife Code) apply; the area's rules on MDC's site list any it adds.
How many deer are taken around J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area?
J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters checked 3,057 deer in Johnson County in 2025, against 3,151 in 2024.
| County | J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | 1,237 | 3,057 | 3,151 | 3,490 |
| Pettis County | 463 | 2,867 | 3,007 | 3,146 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area?
MDC's directions: From Knob Noster, take Highway 23 south 7 miles, then County Road SE 600 east 2 miles, then turn south on SE 1201 to the area.
Nearest towns: Green Ridge (2 miles), Whiteman AFB (5 miles), Windsor (7 miles) and Knob Noster (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 127.
What other public land is near J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Bruns Tract: 159 acres, 0.5 miles away
- W. R. Kearn Memorial Conservation Area: 283 acres, 0.8 miles away
- Hartwell Conservation Area: 163 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Bryson's Hope Conservation Area: 294 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Grandfather Prairie Conservation Area: 81 acres, 7.8 miles away
- Friendly Prairie Conservation Area: 39 acres, 8.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area
Counting J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area itself, 2,571 of the 50,337 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 2,566 |
| State parks and historic sites | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area?
In Johnson and Pettis counties, 2 miles from Green Ridge.
Can you deer hunt on J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: muzzleloader and archery, archery antlerless permits only.
How much public land is around J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area?
2,571 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Bruns Tract (0.5 miles).
Get a Missouri hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Missouri included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife 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.