Castor River Conservation Area: hunting and access
Castor River Conservation Area is 10,417 acres of MDC land in Bollinger County, 3 miles from Zalma. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only). Hunters checked 3,992 deer in Bollinger 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 areasCastor River Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 10,417 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Bollinger County |
| Deer harvest unit | Bollinger County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Squirrel and Dove |
| MDC area number | 7842 |
| MDC region | Southeast |
| Camping (MDC) | open camping - walk-in/float-in/backpack, designated camping sites and individual campsites |
| Shooting range (MDC) | rifle or pistol |
| Nearest towns | Zalma (3 mi), Glen Allen (7 mi) and Marquand (8 mi) |
What is Castor River Conservation Area like?
Castor River CA is nearly all forest with several small springs scattered across the area, including Blue Pond Natural Area. Blue Pond is the deepest natural pond in Missouri at more than 65 feet deep. It's believed to have been formed from a cavern collapse during the New Madrid earthquake in 1811. Facilities/features at Castor River CA include primitive camping, multi-use trails for hiking, biking and horse riding, numerous intermittent streams and one permanent stream.
In MDC's words, from the Castor River Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Castor River Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Castor River Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Squirrel; Dove.
What are the rules on Castor River 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 Castor River Conservation Area?
Castor River Conservation Area lies in Bollinger County. Hunters checked 3,992 deer in Bollinger County in 2025, against 3,291 in 2024.
| County | Castor River Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bollinger County | 10,417 | 3,992 | 3,291 | 4,048 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Castor River Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Marble Hill, take Highway 34 west 12 miles. Continue west to access campgrounds, trails and range, take Route Y south from Highway 34.
Nearest towns: Zalma (3 miles), Glen Allen (7 miles), Marquand (8 miles) and Marble Hill (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 34 and MO 51.
What other public land is near Castor River Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Sweetgum Access: 159 acres, next to it
- Coldwater Conservation Area: 11,723 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Maple Flats Access: 70 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Iron Bridge Access: 66 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Marquand Access: 72 acres, 4.9 miles away
- Sank Conservation Area: 116 acres, 5.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Castor River Conservation Area
Counting Castor River Conservation Area itself, 10,836 of the 89,266 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 10,835 |
| State parks and historic sites | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Castor River Conservation Area?
In Bollinger County, 3 miles from Zalma.
Can you deer hunt on Castor River Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only.
How much public land is around Castor River Conservation Area?
10,836 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Castor River Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Sweetgum Access (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, Castor River 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.