Tingler Prairie Conservation Area: hunting and access
Tingler Prairie Conservation Area is 254 acres of MDC land in Howell County, 5 miles from South Fork. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery only, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 5,474 deer in Howell 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 areasTingler Prairie Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 254 acres (240 by MDC's page) |
|---|---|
| County | Howell County |
| Deer harvest unit | Howell County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 8823 |
| MDC region | Ozark |
| Nearest towns | South Fork (5 mi), West Plains (8 mi) and Brandsville (10 mi) |
What is Tingler Prairie Conservation Area like?
One-half-mile of the South Fork of Spring River meanders through the east side of this 240-acre area. Approximately two-thirds of the area is open, and about 65 acres are classified as woodland.
The Conservation Department acquired the property for Tingler Prairie Conservation Area in 1987-88, following its purchase from the Mott Davis family by the Nature Conservancy. The area was purchased to preserve a 10-acre wet mesic prairie natural community, a shallow marsh and a five acre sinkhole pond (Tingler Lake) with its associated plant community, including the state endangered waterleaf. The wet mesic prairie is the site of two varieties of the state endangered green orchid. The shallow marsh is also an unusual plant community for the region. Much of the open land was planted to fescue before the Nature Conservancy purchased the tract. Present management techniques include converting the fescue pasture to warm-season grasses and controlled burning of the existing prairie plant communities to maintain desirable native plant communities. Area facilities are limited to one parking...
In MDC's words, from the Tingler Prairie Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Tingler Prairie Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery only, antlerless permits allowed; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove; Quail.
What are the rules on Tingler Prairie 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 Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
Tingler Prairie Conservation Area lies in Howell County. Hunters checked 5,474 deer in Howell County in 2025, against 4,476 in 2024.
| County | Tingler Prairie Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howell County | 254 | 5,474 | 4,476 | 6,346 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From West Plains, take Highway 17 south 6 miles to County Road 9100. Take CR9100 west 0.8 mile to County Road 8110 on the left. Please note your mileage, as CR8110 may not be marked. From there take CR 8110 south 1.4 miles to the parking lot.There is a low water bridge which may be impassable on 8110. An alternate route during high water is to take JJ south from 160, follow JJ 4.7 miles and turn left on CR 9220. Follow 9220 for 0.5 miles and continue on it as it becomes CR 8110 at the south end of the area. Continue northward to parking lot.
Nearest towns: South Fork (5 miles), West Plains (8 miles), Brandsville (10 miles) and Koshkonong (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 17 and US 160.
What other public land is near Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- White Ranch Conservation Area: 6,694 acres, 2 miles away
- Archie and Gracie Vanderhoef Memorial State Forest: 146 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Dan and Maureen Cover Prairie Conservation Area: 744 acres, 9.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Tingler Prairie Conservation Area
Counting Tingler Prairie Conservation Area itself, 736 of the 23,660 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 736 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
In Howell County, 5 miles from South Fork.
Can you deer hunt on Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery only, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Tingler Prairie Conservation Area?
736 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Tingler Prairie Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is White Ranch Conservation Area (2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, Tingler Prairie 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.