Shannon Ranch Conservation Area: hunting and access
Shannon Ranch Conservation Area is 1,572 acres of MDC land in Douglas County, 12 miles from Norwood. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 3,695 deer in Douglas 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 areasNational forestCounty, city and regional landShannon Ranch Conservation AreaCounty lineHighway
| Size | 1,572 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Douglas County |
| Deer harvest unit | Douglas County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 8423 |
| MDC region | Ozark |
| Camping (MDC) | individual campsites |
| Nearest towns | Norwood (12 mi), Mountain Grove (12 mi) and Cabool (16 mi) |
What is Shannon Ranch Conservation Area like?
This 1,565-acre area is named for the family which farmed it for several years prior to ownership by the Department. It is located on Highway 95 about 13 miles south of Mountain Grove in Douglas County. During your visit to Shannon Ranch, you may notice forest management practices designed to improve tree growth, quality, and variety. Native tree species, such as oaks, hickories, shortleaf pine and cedar, grow abundantly here. Various methods are used to manage the forests, including timber stand improvement (TSI), tree planting, and the harvesting of trees. These practices will improve forest health, wildlife habitat, and help maintain watershed quality as well. Foresters survey the size, age, and condition of the trees and balance management to support both forest health and wildlife habitat needs. When a tree is removed, more sunlight reaches the young herbaceous growth on the forest floor, creating new structure and improving wildlife habitat. Wildlife depend on this new growth for food, cover, and nesting, and a well-managed forest keeps this balance of mature trees and herbaceous regeneration. Unique plants and animals are also found on the small areas of glade habitat scattered throughout the area. Visitors interested in uncommon plants or striking geological features may want to explore one of the glade or woodland communities. Additional wildlife habitat management practices on the area includes the conversion of old fields from fescue to native grasses, annual green browse plots, and prescribed burning.
In MDC's words, from the Shannon Ranch Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Shannon Ranch Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Shannon Ranch Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove; Quail.
What are the rules on Shannon Ranch Conservation 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 Shannon Ranch Conservation Area?
Shannon Ranch Conservation Area lies in Douglas County. Hunters checked 3,695 deer in Douglas County in 2025, against 3,048 in 2024.
| County | Shannon Ranch Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | 1,572 | 3,695 | 3,048 | 4,138 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Shannon Ranch Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Vanzant, take Highway 95 south 1.25 miles.
Nearest towns: Norwood (12 miles), Mountain Grove (12 miles), Cabool (16 miles) and Wasola (17 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 76, MO 95 and MO 14.
What other public land is near Shannon Ranch Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Richard Massengill Conservation Area: 203 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Rippee Conservation Area: 439 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Vera Cruz Access: 79 acres, 8.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Shannon Ranch Conservation Area
Counting Shannon Ranch Conservation Area itself, 4,464 of the 34,568 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National forest | 2,891 |
| MDC conservation areas | 1,573 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Shannon Ranch Conservation Area?
In Douglas County, 12 miles from Norwood.
Can you deer hunt on Shannon Ranch Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Shannon Ranch Conservation Area?
4,464 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Shannon Ranch Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Richard Massengill Conservation Area (4.1 miles).
Get a Missouri hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Missouri are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Shannon Ranch 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.