Barclay Conservation Area: hunting and access
Barclay Conservation Area is 425 acres of MDC land in Dallas County, 4 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 landBarclay Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 425 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 | 9728 |
| MDC region | Southwest |
| Nearest towns | Bennett Springs (4 mi), Macks Creek (12 mi) and Lebanon (13 mi) |
What is Barclay Conservation Area like?
Barclay Conservation Area is in northeastern Dallas County, 40 miles south of Lake of the Ozarks, seven miles north of Bennett Spring State Park and 21 miles northeast of Buffalo. The Conservation Department purchased the area in 1996 with department funds to provide public access to the Niangua River. The area provides 1.7 miles of Niangua River frontage. A 0.4 mile spring branch also originates there.
In addition to the river frontage, Barclay CA also contains 426 acres of land. This land has excellent examples of dolomite glade communities, oak-hickory uplands, river bottom forest, and clear-running springs. Deer, turkey, raccoon, squirrel, rabbit, coyote, and many other small animals and birds are commonly seen from the gravel roads and forest trails and along field edges. Hunting is allowed and there are opportunities for wildlife viewing. Wildlife habitat management includes manipulating fields within the forest to provide additional food sources. Timber harvesting is also an important element in habitat management as it provides forage and cover for forest wildlife and a diversity of habitat types. Barclay Conservation Area Access, located on the area, was dedicated in 2001 and provides a concrete boat ramp, canoe launching area, and a parking lot. Sport Fish Restoration funds...
In MDC's words, from the Barclay Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Barclay Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Barclay 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 Barclay 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 Barclay Conservation Area?
Barclay Conservation Area lies in Dallas County. Hunters checked 2,951 deer in Dallas County in 2025, against 2,707 in 2024.
| County | Barclay Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas County | 425 | 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 Barclay Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Bennett Spring State Park, take Highway 64 west 3.70 miles, then Corkery Road north 3 miles, then Barclay Springs Road east.
Nearest towns: Bennett Springs (4 miles), Macks Creek (12 miles), Lebanon (13 miles) and Louisburg (14 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 64.
What other public land is near Barclay Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Coffin Cave Conservation Area: 79 acres, next to it
- Lead Mine Conservation Area: 7,832 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Bennett Spring Access: 180 acres, 2.6 miles away
- Mary Lawson Conservation Area: 62 acres, 5.2 miles away
- Alfred Newton Gossett Conservation Area: 678 acres, 6.5 miles away
- Williams Ford Access: 37 acres, 7.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Barclay Conservation Area
Counting Barclay Conservation Area itself, 2,134 of the 25,973 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 2,134 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Barclay Conservation Area?
In Dallas County, 4 miles from Bennett Springs.
Can you deer hunt on Barclay Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Barclay Conservation Area?
2,134 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Barclay Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Coffin Cave Conservation Area (next to it).
Get a Missouri hunt plan when they open
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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, Barclay 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.