Blue Lick Conservation Area: hunting and access
Blue Lick Conservation Area is 387 acres of MDC land in Saline County, 7 miles from Marshall. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery only, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 2,048 deer in Saline 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 areasCounty, city and regional landBlue Lick Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 387 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Saline County |
| Deer harvest unit | Saline County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel and Quail |
| MDC area number | 9301 |
| MDC region | Central |
| Nearest towns | Marshall (7 mi), Houstonia (9 mi) and Nelson (10 mi) |
What is Blue Lick Conservation Area like?
Several saline springs exist on the area. Row cropping has ceased and the Department is allowing native riparian and wetland plants to restore the area. A small wetland that is filled by rainfall and river flooding occurs on the area.
In MDC's words, from the Blue Lick Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Blue Lick Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Blue Lick Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery only, antlerless permits allowed; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Quail.
What are the rules on Blue Lick 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 Blue Lick Conservation Area?
Blue Lick Conservation Area lies in Saline County. Hunters checked 2,048 deer in Saline County in 2025, against 1,954 in 2024.
| County | Blue Lick Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saline County | 387 | 2,048 | 1,954 | 2,198 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Blue Lick Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From I-70, take Highway 65 north 3.50 miles, then 155th Road west 1.50 miles.
Nearest towns: Marshall (7 miles), Houstonia (9 miles), Nelson (10 miles) and Sweet Springs (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 65, I-70 and US 40.
What other public land is near Blue Lick Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Marshall Junction Conservation Area: 768 acres, 2.6 miles away
- Blind Pony Lake Conservation Area: 2,197 acres, 6.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Blue Lick Conservation Area
Counting Blue Lick Conservation Area itself, 527 of the 27,066 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 527 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Blue Lick Conservation Area?
In Saline County, 7 miles from Marshall.
Can you deer hunt on Blue Lick Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery only, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Blue Lick Conservation Area?
527 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Blue Lick Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Marshall Junction Conservation Area (2.6 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, Blue Lick 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.