August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area: hunting and access
August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area is 13,960 acres of MDC land in Vernon and Bates counties, 4 miles from Metz. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery only, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 3,131 deer in Vernon 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 sitesAugust A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 13,960 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Vernon County and Bates County |
| Deer harvest unit | Vernon County, Bates County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 8238 |
| MDC region | Kansas City |
| Camping (MDC) | designated camping sites |
| Nearest towns | Metz (4 mi), Rich Hill (4 mi) and Harwood (5 mi) |
What is August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area like?
The 13,929 acre area is largely wetlands with several large tracts of bottomland forest. It has over 21 miles of stream frontage and a large natural area.
The initial purchase of nearly 4,500 acres for the area occurred in 1982. A large-scale construction project completed in 1996 restored over 2,000 acres of this area (Units 1 and 2) to productive, manageable wetlands. Developments include a pump station, a water storage reservoir, and a system of levees and water control structures that allow control of water levels in 14 separate marshes. In 1998, an additional 7,036 acres (Unit 3 and 4) were added to the area through a cooperative partnership between the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ducks Unlimited, the North American Wetland Conservation Council, and the Busch family. In 1999, the area was renamed the August A. Busch, Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers to honor the former Conservation Department Commissioner and a man who cherished wetlands and waterfowl. This new addition was...
In MDC's words, from the August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area?
MDC's page for August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery only, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove; Quail.
What are the rules on August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area?
Closings: Portions of this department area are closed to protect waterfowl from October 15 through March 1.
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 may be taken only by holders of a valid area Daily Waterfowl Hunting Tag and only from a blind or in a designated area, except that hunters may retrieve dead birds and pursue and shoot downed cripples outside the designated area. Waterfowl hunters must check out immediately after the close of their hunting trip and prior to processing birds by accurate completion and return of the Daily Waterfowl Hunting Tag to designated locations. These department areas are closed to waterfowl hunting on December 25. Only authorized persons are allowed within the waterfowl shooting areas during...
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 August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area?
August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters checked 3,131 deer in Vernon County in 2025, against 3,183 in 2024.
| County | August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon County | 12,943 | 3,131 | 3,183 | 3,197 |
| Bates County | 1,017 | 2,316 | 2,212 | 2,397 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: The area is located about 15 miles north of Nevada and 5 miles south of Rich Hill in Bates and Vernon counties. To reach headquarters from I-49/71 Highway, take Route TT east 2 miles to 1600 Road, then south 2 miles.
Nearest towns: Metz (4 miles), Rich Hill (4 miles), Harwood (5 miles) and Schell City (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-49 and US 71.
What other public land is near August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Cephas Ford Access: 101 acres, next to it
- Balltown Access: 180 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Gama Grass Prairie Conservation Area: 78 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Douglas Branch Conservation Area: 522 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Ripgut Prairie Natural Area: 280 acres, 3.9 miles away
- Harmony Mission Lake Conservation Area: 1,067 acres, 4.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area
Counting August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area itself, 14,862 of the 87,527 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (17%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 14,753 |
| State parks and historic sites | 109 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area?
In Vernon and Bates counties, 4 miles from Metz.
Can you deer hunt on August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery only, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area?
14,862 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Cephas Ford Access (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers 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.