Current River Conservation Area: hunting and access
Current River Conservation Area is 29,828 acres of MDC land in Shannon, Reynolds and Carter counties, next to Ellington. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 3,030 deer in Shannon 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 forestNational park land (Ozark National Scenic Riverways and others)Land trusts and other open landCurrent River Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 29,828 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Shannon County, Reynolds County and Carter County |
| Deer harvest unit | Shannon County, Reynolds County, Carter County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey and Squirrel |
| MDC area number | 9515 |
| MDC region | Southeast |
| Camping (MDC) | open camping - walk-in/float-in/backpack and designated camping sites |
| Shooting range (MDC) | archery and rifle or pistol |
| Nearest towns | Ellington (next to it), Van Buren (5 mi) and Eminence (11 mi) |
What is Current River Conservation Area like?
Current River Conservation Area encompasses approximately 29,000 acres of forested ozark land.
The area is roughly bordered by the Current River to the South and west, and Highways 106 and 21 to the north and east. Popular area activities are: Elk viewing, hunting, fishing, birdwatching, and sightseeing. Places of interest on the area are: Current River, Blue Spring, Paint Rock Bluff, Fort Barnesville, Deer Run Log Cabin, Deer Run Fire Tower,Current River Elk Driving Tour and the Deer Run Shooting Range.
In MDC's words, from the Current River Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Current River Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Current River Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Squirrel.
What are the rules on Current 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 Current River Conservation Area?
Current River Conservation Area lies in 3 counties. Hunters checked 3,030 deer in Shannon County in 2025, against 2,069 in 2024.
| County | Current River Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shannon County | 16,227 | 3,030 | 2,069 | 4,146 |
| Reynolds County | 12,755 | 2,746 | 1,766 | 3,135 |
| Carter County | 846 | 2,210 | 1,539 | 2,942 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Current River Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: The two most commonly used entrances are :.
Nearest towns: Ellington (next to it), Van Buren (5 miles), Eminence (11 miles) and Fremont (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 106, MO 21 and US 60.
What other public land is near Current River Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Peck Ranch Conservation Area: 29,462 acres, next to it
- Rocky Creek Conservation Area: 42,323 acres, next to it
- Logan Creek Conservation Area: 13,156 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Clearwater Conservation Area: 11,405 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Clearwater Lake Management Lands: 16,791 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Carter Creek Conservation Area: 444 acres, 5.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Current River Conservation Area
Counting Current River Conservation Area itself, 67,141 of the 127,031 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (52.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 54,715 |
| National park land (Ozark National Scenic Riverways and others) | 12,276 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 150 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Current River Conservation Area?
In Shannon, Reynolds and Carter counties, next to Ellington.
Can you deer hunt on Current River Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Current River Conservation Area?
67,141 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Current River Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Peck Ranch 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, Current 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.
Missouri hunting Shannon County Reynolds County Carter County