Coon Island Conservation Area: hunting and access
Coon Island Conservation Area is 3,179 acres of MDC land in Butler County, 5 miles from Qulin. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery only, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 1,852 deer in Butler 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 sitesOther state landCoon Island Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,179 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Butler County |
| Deer harvest unit | Butler County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit and Squirrel |
| MDC area number | 7943 |
| MDC region | Southeast |
| Camping (MDC) | individual campsites |
| Nearest towns | Qulin (5 mi), Neelyville (7 mi) and Broseley (7 mi) |
What is Coon Island Conservation Area like?
The Missouri Bootheel was once predominantly swamp and almost completely forested. The once vast swamps along the Black River, which flows through Coon Island Conservation Area, were reportedly favorite hunting grounds for Native Americans.
Extensive land conversion from seasonally flooded bottomland hardwood forest to agricultural land has greatly diminished wetland habitat in this region and with it the numbers of resident and migratory wildlife species that depend on this valuable lowland habitat. The 3,222.8-acre Coon Island Conservation Area was purchased in 1979 to protect existing wetlands, recreate seasonally flooded bottomland hardwoods and restore the hydrology of the area to simulate natural water processes. A system of levees, spillways, water control structures, and submersible pumps maintain wetland habitat. However, the area continues to be subject to frequent Black River floods, which affect annual management practices. The area lies in a major waterfowl flyway and provides important habitat for waterfowl. Management of this wetland is designed to increase waterfowl use. The open marsh and flooded timber...
In MDC's words, from the Coon Island Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Coon Island Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Coon Island Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery only, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel.
What are the rules on Coon Island Conservation Area?
Closings: Portions of this department area are closed to protect waterfowl from October 15 through March 1.
Hunting: Nontoxic shot is required for all hunting with a shotgun on this area. Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited.
Waterfowl Hunting: Waterfowl hunting is prohibited after 1:00 p.m. on designated portions of this area (one of several MDC lists for this rule).
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 Coon Island Conservation Area?
Coon Island Conservation Area lies in Butler County. Hunters checked 1,852 deer in Butler County in 2025, against 1,490 in 2024.
| County | Coon Island Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler County | 3,179 | 1,852 | 1,490 | 2,045 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Coon Island Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Poplar Bluff, take Highway 53 south, then Route HH south 8 miles, then County Road 244 east 1 mile.
Nearest towns: Qulin (5 miles), Neelyville (7 miles), Broseley (7 miles) and Harviell (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 51, MO 142 and MO 53.
What other public land is near Coon Island Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Allred Lake Natural Area: 165 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Big Cane Conservation Area: 2,138 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Dan River Access: 79 acres, 6.7 miles away
- Corkwood Conservation Area: 442 acres, 6.8 miles away
- Wilhelmina Conservation Area: 1,559 acres, 7 miles away
- Harviell Access: 40 acres, 8.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Coon Island Conservation Area
Counting Coon Island Conservation Area itself, 3,836 of the 58,709 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 3,765 |
| Other state land | 40 |
| State parks and historic sites | 31 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Coon Island Conservation Area?
In Butler County, 5 miles from Qulin.
Can you deer hunt on Coon Island Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery only, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Coon Island Conservation Area?
3,836 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Coon Island Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Allred Lake Natural Area (0.6 miles).
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, Coon Island 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.