Compton Hollow Conservation Area: hunting and access
Compton Hollow Conservation Area is 838 acres of MDC land in Webster County, 5 miles from Fordland. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 2,914 deer in Webster 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 areasCompton Hollow Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 838 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Webster County |
| Deer harvest unit | Webster County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit and Squirrel |
| MDC area number | 6527 |
| MDC region | Southwest |
| Camping (MDC) | open camping - walk-in/float-in/backpack |
| Shooting range (MDC) | archery |
| Nearest towns | Fordland (5 mi), Strafford (6 mi) and Rogersville (8 mi) |
What is Compton Hollow Conservation Area like?
Compton Hollow Conservation Area is located in Webster County. Visitors can access this 840-acre area from Compton Hollow Road, where two parking lots are located about 0.75 mile apart. Visitors can also access the northwestern part of this area from Conservation Lane, off of Route B. Approximately 90 percent of the area is forested. Non-forested areas are composed of old fields and wildlife food plots. Several small ponds provide wildlife watering holes. The area is home to numerous game and non-game species, including deer, turkey, squirrel, and raccoon. Forest thinnings and small forest clearings are designed to improve wildlife habitat and natural community health. Compton Hollow contains several small dolomite glades and a dry-mesic chert woodland. These features are protected and managed to maintain or increase their natural qualities.
An archery field course with 6 individual stations is located near the east parking lot, just off Compton Hollow Road. A regulations sign at the start of the course instructs users in proper procedures. There are several trails on the area that provide opportunities for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Note that trails are closed during all portions of the firearms deer season and during shooting hours of the Spring turkey hunting season.
In MDC's words, from the Compton Hollow Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Compton Hollow Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Compton Hollow Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel.
What are the rules on Compton Hollow 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 Compton Hollow Conservation Area?
Compton Hollow Conservation Area lies in Webster County. Hunters checked 2,914 deer in Webster County in 2025, against 2,646 in 2024.
| County | Compton Hollow Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webster County | 838 | 2,914 | 2,646 | 3,344 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Compton Hollow Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Marshfield, take I-44 west to exit 96, then Route B south 5 miles, then Compton Hollow Road east about 1 mile.
Nearest towns: Fordland (5 miles), Strafford (6 miles), Rogersville (8 miles) and Marshfield (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-44.
What other public land is near Compton Hollow Conservation Area?
Public land within 3 miles of Compton Hollow Conservation Area
Counting Compton Hollow Conservation Area itself, 838 of the 29,335 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 838 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Compton Hollow Conservation Area?
In Webster County, 5 miles from Fordland.
Can you deer hunt on Compton Hollow Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Compton Hollow Conservation Area?
838 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Compton Hollow Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
Get a Missouri hunt plan when they open
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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, Compton Hollow 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.