Bryson's Hope Conservation Area: hunting and access
Bryson's Hope Conservation Area is 294 acres of MDC land in Pettis County, 3 miles from Windsor. MDC lists deer hunting here (muzzleloader and archery, archery antlerless permits only). Hunters checked 2,867 deer in Pettis 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 landBryson's Hope Conservation AreaCounty lineHighway
| Size | 294 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Pettis County |
| Deer harvest unit | Pettis County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey and Quail |
| MDC area number | 200702 |
| MDC region | Kansas City |
| Nearest towns | Windsor (3 mi), Green Ridge (4 mi) and Ionia (10 mi) |
What is Bryson's Hope Conservation Area like?
The initial 196-acre tract was purchased by the Department in 2006. An additional 90 acres was added in 2008. A small addition was added in 2010 to put this area at 290 acres.
This area falls within the Green Ridge Focus Area as identified in the Greater Prairie Chicken Recovery Plan. When acquired, the habitat was intensively row-cropped with very little habitat for grassland wildlife. Since acqusition, the area has been converted to a variety of cool-season and warm-season grass mixtures. The purpose of this area is to provide optimum nesting and brood-rearing habitat not only for prairie chickens, but also other grassland species. High quality grasslands are important habitat for many species. Area managers use prescribed fire, grazing, and other management practices to maintain healthy grasslands, simulate disturbances, and limit the negative impacts of invasive species.
In MDC's words, from the Bryson's Hope Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Bryson's Hope Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Bryson's Hope Conservation Area lists: Deer: muzzleloader and archery, archery antlerless permits only; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Quail.
What are the rules on Bryson's Hope 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 Bryson's Hope Conservation Area?
Bryson's Hope Conservation Area lies in Pettis County. Hunters checked 2,867 deer in Pettis County in 2025, against 3,007 in 2024.
| County | Bryson's Hope Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pettis County | 294 | 2,867 | 3,007 | 3,146 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Bryson's Hope Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Green Ridge, take Route B west 3 miles, then Hope Dale Road south 2 miles.
Nearest towns: Windsor (3 miles), Green Ridge (4 miles), Ionia (10 miles) and Whiteman AFB (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 127, MO 52 and MO 2.
What other public land is near Bryson's Hope Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- W. R. Kearn Memorial Conservation Area: 283 acres, next to it
- Bruns Tract: 159 acres, 1 mile away
- J. N. Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area: 1,700 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Hartwell Conservation Area: 163 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Grandfather Prairie Conservation Area: 81 acres, 8.9 miles away
- Friendly Prairie Conservation Area: 39 acres, 9.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Bryson's Hope Conservation Area
Counting Bryson's Hope Conservation Area itself, 1,078 of the 26,733 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 1,060 |
| County, city and regional land | 12 |
| State parks and historic sites | 6 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Bryson's Hope Conservation Area?
In Pettis County, 3 miles from Windsor.
Can you deer hunt on Bryson's Hope Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: muzzleloader and archery, archery antlerless permits only.
How much public land is around Bryson's Hope Conservation Area?
1,078 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Bryson's Hope Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is W. R. Kearn Memorial Conservation Area (next to it).
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, Bryson's Hope 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.