A duck hunter at first light on a national wildlife refuge
Public land · Missouri

August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area

Conservation area · Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC)

Open to duck huntingRules checked Oct 22, 2026
A duck hunter at first light on a national wildlife refuge. Photo: USFWS
State
Missouri
Type
Conservation area
Managed by
Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC)
Size
13,929 acres
Official page
Agency page

Missouri's largest managed wetland area, in the Middle Zone on the Marais des Cygnes, Little Osage and Osage river bottoms, with a managed draw and open-hunting units.

Official rules

Waterfowl rules

  • One of MDC's 13 managed waterfowl hunting areas. Half the hunting spots go to online reservations (Missouri residents only; half drawn before the season, half in weekly in-season drawings) and half to the morning draw, or “poor line,” which residents and nonresidents can join.Source: MDC 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest (PDF) · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
  • In-season reservations: apply online Tuesday 12:01 a.m. to Monday 3 p.m. for hunts the following week; one area per day. Results are posted Tuesday at 12:01 a.m.Source: MDC in-season application dates · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Closing time for waterfowl hunting: sunset.Source: MDC 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest (PDF) · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Hunt only with an area Daily Waterfowl Hunting Tag, from your assigned blind or spot, and check out right after your hunt by turning in the completed tag.Source: MDC Four Rivers CA · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Portions are closed to protect waterfowl Oct 15–Mar 1.Source: MDC Four Rivers CA · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Nontoxic shot is required for all shotgun hunting on the area. Decoys and blinds must come out daily; blinds built on site may only use willows.Source: MDC Four Rivers CA · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
  • MDC lists both a morning draw and open hunting here. Units 3 and 4 were added in 1998; MDC describes the managed program plus “open hunting” units.Source: MDC Four Rivers CA · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Parties are limited to four people, observers and youth included (except during youth season), all hunting over one decoy spread.Source: MDC 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest (PDF) · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
Access

Access and ramps

  • Waterfowl information line: 417-853-4593. Draw times change through the season; MDC posts them by area.Source: MDC waterfowl area draw times · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Location: Vernon and Bates counties. MDC lists the area center at 38.0184, -94.2904.Source: MDC Four Rivers CA · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Boats may not be left overnight. Houseboats, airboats and personal watercraft are banned. On lakes of 70 acres or more, outboards over 10 hp run at slow, no-wake speed.Source: MDC Four Rivers CA · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Areas are open 4 a.m.–10 p.m.; hunting and launching boats are allowed 24 hours where those activities are permitted.Source: MDC Four Rivers CA · Last checked Oct 22, 2026

See something wrong or out of date? Report a correction.

Before you go

Check the rules and the water

Confirm this season’s rules on our state law pages or the agency’s own site, check draw and permit deadlines, and look at today’s river levels on the migration map. Areas can close or flood on short notice.