10/21/2026
Mark Twain Lake waterfowl refuge closes to hunting, boating traffic
MONROE CITY, Mo. –Mark Twain Lake’s waterfowl refuge will close to waterfowl hunting and boat traffic from Oct. 31 through Dec. 31 during Missouri’s regular duck, goose and coot season. Mark Twain Lake and the Re-Regulation Pool are located within Missouri’s North Zone, where seasonal dates apply.
The refuge will be marked with signs and lake buoys identifying closed areas and prohibiting boat traffic and waterfowl hunting. Land-based activities, including bank fishing, waterfowl viewing and other in-season hunting activities are permitted where otherwise authorized.
Established no-hunting zones are located around various recreation areas at Mark Twain Lake, including Mark Twain State Park, which is owned and operated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. These zones extend to the edge of the water, regardless of lake elevation or sign location.
No-hunting zones protect visitors who also use the lake and surrounding lands during hunting season. Hunters are reminded to hunt responsibly, follow all applicable federal and state regulations and respect the rights of landowners adjacent to public lands.
For additional information, please contact the Mark Twain Lake Project Office at 573-735-4097:
Mark Twain Lake Project Office
20642 Highway J
Monroe City, Missouri 63456
-30-
More about Mark Twain Lake’s waterfowl refuge: Mark Twain Lake manages a waterfowl refuge on the Middle Fork and Elk Fork branches of the lake during the regular waterfowl hunting season. The refuge encompasses approximately 3,000 acres of habitat where migratory waterfowl can feed and rest before continuing south to their wintering grounds.
