Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area: hunting and access
Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area is 3,762 acres of MDC land in Mississippi County, 2 miles from Pinhook. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery only, antlerless permits not allowed). Hunters checked 282 deer in Mississippi 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 sitesCounty, city and regional landTen Mile Pond Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,762 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Mississippi County |
| Deer harvest unit | Mississippi County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit and Dove |
| MDC area number | 8241 |
| MDC region | Southeast |
| Nearest towns | Pinhook (2 mi), East Prairie (3 mi) and Whiting (4 mi) |
What is Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area like?
This 3,755-acre area was once a lowland hardwood forest intermingled with cypress sloughs. Most of the area flooded seasonally and was an important habitat for wintering waterfowl, furbearers, eagles, and other wildlife species.
Management of the area began in 1982 and is aimed at reestablishing wetland habitat, which was lost when the land was drained and converted to agricultural use. Over 1,000 acres of this wetland habitat is managed through the manipulation of water levels to provide high quality natural foods, such as millets, smartweed, sprangletop, sedges,and invertebrates. These food resources are highly sought after by migrating and wintering waterfowl, shorebirds, and other wetland wildlife species. Row crops and green browse are grown on the area to provide nutritious food for geese and field-feeding species of ducks. Wetland development has included the construction of interior levees, wells, pumps, and water control structures. Duck and goose hunting and viewing waterfowl are the most popular outdoor activities on the area. Bald eagles are common on the area from late fall through early spring....
In MDC's words, from the Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery only, antlerless permits not allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Dove.
What are the rules on Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
Closings: Portions of this department area are closed to protect waterfowl from October 15 through March 31.
Hunting: Nontoxic shot is required for all hunting with a shotgun on this area. Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited.
Waterfowl Hunting: Waterfowl hunting is prohibited after 1:00 p.m. on designated portions of this area (one of several MDC lists for this rule).
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 Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area lies in Mississippi County. Hunters checked 282 deer in Mississippi County in 2025, against 341 in 2024.
| County | Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi County | 3,762 | 282 | 341 | 299 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From East Prairie, take Highway 80 east, then take gravel County Road 515 south 5 miles to the tee. At the tee go left 300 yards to headquarters on the right.
Nearest towns: Pinhook (2 miles), East Prairie (3 miles), Whiting (4 miles) and Anniston (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 102, MO 80, MO 77, MO 75 and MO 105.
What other public land is near Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Seven Island Conservation Area: 1,423 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Swift Ditch Access: 142 acres, 8.9 miles away
- Donaldson Point Conservation Area: 6,203 acres, 9.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area
Counting Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area itself, 3,825 of the 44,279 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 3,799 |
| County, city and regional land | 21 |
| State parks and historic sites | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
In Mississippi County, 2 miles from Pinhook.
Can you deer hunt on Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery only, antlerless permits not allowed.
How much public land is around Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area?
3,825 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Seven Island Conservation Area (4.8 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, Ten Mile Pond 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.