Buford Mountain Conservation Area: hunting and access
Buford Mountain Conservation Area is 4,058 acres of MDC land in Iron and Washington counties, 3 miles from Caledonia. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 1,903 deer in Iron 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 areasNational forestState parks and historic sitesBuford Mountain Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,058 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Iron County and Washington County |
| Deer harvest unit | Iron County, Washington County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey and Squirrel |
| MDC area number | 7727 |
| MDC region | Southeast |
| Camping (MDC) | designated camping sites |
| Nearest towns | Caledonia (3 mi), Iron Mountain Lake (3 mi) and Bismarck (4 mi) |
What is Buford Mountain Conservation Area like?
Buford Mountain Conservation Area is located east of Missouri's beautiful Belleview Valley. The areas namesake feature presents a majestic view from Highway 21. This heavily forested area is very wilderness-like and Buford Mountains 1,740-feet makes it just shy of the highest in the state. Most of the mountain is hardened by granite known as Rhyolite, which serves as a testament to the area's volcanic past. A steep and challenging trail takes hikers and backpackers up the mountain and through several glades. The climb is rewarded at Bald Knob with a stunning view of the valley below. The adventurous can spend the night at the designated primitive campsite.
In MDC's words, from the Buford Mountain Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Buford Mountain Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Buford Mountain Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Squirrel.
What are the rules on Buford Mountain 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 Buford Mountain Conservation Area?
Buford Mountain Conservation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters checked 1,903 deer in Iron County in 2025, against 1,240 in 2024.
| County | Buford Mountain Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron County | 3,928 | 1,903 | 1,240 | 1,843 |
| Washington County | 130 | 3,425 | 2,485 | 4,106 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Buford Mountain Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Ironton, take Highway 21 north 8 miles, then Route U northeast approximatley 4 miles until you reach the parking lot and Area sign.
Nearest towns: Caledonia (3 miles), Iron Mountain Lake (3 miles), Bismarck (4 miles) and Pilot Knob (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 21 and MO 32.
What other public land is near Buford Mountain Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Bismarck Conservation Area: 1,159 acres, 1 mile away
- Hughes Mountain Natural Area: 460 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Bootleg Access: 289 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Ketcherside Mountain Conservation Area: 5,115 acres, 7.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Buford Mountain Conservation Area
Counting Buford Mountain Conservation Area itself, 5,360 of the 47,789 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (11.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 5,232 |
| State parks and historic sites | 128 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Buford Mountain Conservation Area?
In Iron and Washington counties, 3 miles from Caledonia.
Can you deer hunt on Buford Mountain Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Buford Mountain Conservation Area?
5,360 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Buford Mountain Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Bismarck Conservation Area (1 mile).
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, Buford Mountain 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.