Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area: hunting and access
Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area is 678 acres of MDC land in Dallas County, 3 miles from Bennett Springs. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 2,951 deer in Dallas 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 sitesOther state landLand trusts and other open landAlfred Newton Gossett Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 678 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Dallas County |
| Deer harvest unit | Dallas County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit and Squirrel |
| MDC area number | 201711 |
| MDC region | Southwest |
| Nearest towns | Bennett Springs (3 mi), Buffalo (10 mi) and Phillipsburg (10 mi) |
What is Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area like?
Alfred Newton Gossett CA was purchased by MDC to provide upland wildlife habitat for public use and watershed protection. This area is a large forested area located south of Windyville in Dallas County. It can be accessed from near the bridge over the Niangua River on Highway K or from Pelican Drive on Highway P. There are old fields with cedars and native grasses, oak woodlands and steep forested river breaks leading down into the Niangua River. Deer, turkey and squirrels are abundant on the area and there are good walk-in access trails on the ridge tops to get into the heart of the area.
In MDC's words, from the Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel.
What are the rules on Alfred Newton Gossett 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 Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area?
Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area lies in Dallas County. Hunters checked 2,951 deer in Dallas County in 2025, against 2,707 in 2024.
| County | Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas County | 678 | 2,951 | 2,707 | 3,442 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Buffalo take highway 32 east 11 miles to Long Lane. Turn North on Highway P for approximately 4 miles to Pelican Drive on the right.
Nearest towns: Bennett Springs (3 miles), Buffalo (10 miles), Phillipsburg (10 miles) and Conway (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 64 and MO 32.
What other public land is near Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Williams Ford Access: 37 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Bennett Spring Access: 180 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Goose Creek Conservation Area: 882 acres, 5.2 miles away
- Coffin Cave Conservation Area: 79 acres, 6.3 miles away
- Barclay Conservation Area: 425 acres, 6.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area
Counting Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area itself, 2,223 of the 30,396 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and historic sites | 996 |
| MDC conservation areas | 724 |
| Other state land | 437 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 66 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area?
In Dallas County, 3 miles from Bennett Springs.
Can you deer hunt on Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area?
2,223 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Williams Ford Access (1.5 miles).
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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, Alfred Newton Gossett 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.