Big Creek Conservation Area: hunting and access
Big Creek Conservation Area is 1,055 acres of MDC land in Adair County, 2 miles from Kirksville. MDC lists deer hunting here (muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 2,639 deer in Adair 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 sitesCounty, city and regional landBig Creek Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,055 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Adair County |
| Deer harvest unit | Adair County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit and Squirrel |
| MDC area number | 8041 |
| MDC region | Northeast |
| Camping (MDC) | walk-in, float-in or backpack camping (not during deer and turkey seasons) and designated camping sites |
| Nearest towns | Kirksville (2 mi), Millard (5 mi) and Novinger (6 mi) |
What is Big Creek Conservation Area like?
About 75 percent of this 1,064-acre area is forest, woodland or savanna. The remaining 25 percent is made up of native grassland, old field habitat and food plots.
The west side of Big Creek is bordered by Thousand Hills State Park, which is managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The Conservation Department manages the forest, fish, and wildlife resources of Big Creek Conservation Area to provide for public recreation and to protect soil and water quality. Management practices, including cropping, timber management and prescribed burning, are used to improve wildlife habitat.
In MDC's words, from the Big Creek Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Big Creek Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Big Creek Conservation Area lists: Deer: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel.
What are the rules on Big Creek Conservation Area?
Target Shooting and Shooting Ranges: An unstaffed range is located on this department area. Target shooting is not allowed anywhere on this area except for designated shooting range(s). Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Ranges may be closed to public use at any time for maintenance or department sponsored events or programs. Possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on all ranges and associated parking lots. Groups of more than 10 people must obtain a special use permit prior to using the range. To obtain a special use permit, contact the area manager at the phone number listed...
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 Big Creek Conservation Area?
Big Creek Conservation Area lies in Adair County. Hunters checked 2,639 deer in Adair County in 2025, against 2,827 in 2024.
| County | Big Creek Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County | 1,055 | 2,639 | 2,827 | 2,823 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Big Creek Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Kirksville, take Business Highway 63 south 0.50 mile, then take Highway 11 west 1.70 miles, then take Route H north 1.70 miles, and take Rainbow Basin Trail west 1 mile.
Nearest towns: Kirksville (2 miles), Millard (5 miles), Novinger (6 miles) and Connelsville (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 63, MO 11, MO 6, MO 3 and MO 157.
What other public land is near Big Creek Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Rock Lake Conservation Area: 216 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Northeast Regional Office: 32 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Sugar Creek Conservation Area: 2,589 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Hazel Creek Lake (Kirksville): 484 acres, 6.1 miles away
- Hidden Hollow Conservation Area: 1,332 acres, 9.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Big Creek Conservation Area
Counting Big Creek Conservation Area itself, 5,464 of the 31,761 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (17.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and historic sites | 3,064 |
| MDC conservation areas | 2,364 |
| County, city and regional land | 36 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Big Creek Conservation Area?
In Adair County, 2 miles from Kirksville.
Can you deer hunt on Big Creek Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Big Creek Conservation Area?
5,464 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Big Creek Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Rock Lake Conservation Area (1.3 miles).
Get a Missouri hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Missouri are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Big Creek 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.