Duck Creek Conservation Area: hunting and access

Duck Creek Conservation Area is 6,404 acres of MDC land in Stoddard, Bollinger and Wayne counties, 4 miles from Zalma. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery only, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 1,935 deer in Stoddard 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.

What is Duck Creek Conservation Area like?

Duck Creek Conservation Area is located nine miles north of Puxico on Highway 51 in Stoddard, Bollinger and Wayne counties.The Missouri Department of Conservation purchased the land for the area in 1950 in order to establish a waterfowl hunting area in conjunction with Mingo National Wildlife Refuge.

The 6,318-acre area has a wide variety of habitat types that support a diversity of plant and animal species, some of which are unique to Missouri. Duck Creek Conservation Area is a remnant of the bottomland hardwood forest that once covered the southeastern part of the state, most of which were in the former floodplain of the Mississippi River. This conservation area contains 1,500 acres of open marsh, 2,700 acres of bottomland forest which includes, 1,200 acres of managed greentree reservoirs and a 1,800 acre lake. The area is managed to provide a diversity of food and shelter for migratory and resident wetland wildlife. Pool 1 is a 1,800 acre manmade reservoir that supplies water to the greentree reservoirs to mimic the flooding that once occurred naturally. Wells provide water for flooding the open marsh units. Managers manipulate water levels on about 2,700 acres of managed...

In MDC's words, from the Duck Creek Conservation Area page.

What can you hunt on Duck Creek Conservation Area?

MDC's page for Duck Creek Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery only, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove.

What are the rules on Duck Creek Conservation Area?

Closings: Portions of this department area are closed to protect waterfowl from October 15 through the end of the last segment of the appropriate zone's duck season Portions of this department area are closed to protect waterfowl from October 15 through the end of the last segment of the appropriate zone's Canada goose season.

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...

Hunting: Nontoxic shot is required for all hunting with a shotgun on this area. Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited.

Field Trials: Field trials are allowed on this department area only by special use permit. To obtain a special use permit, contact the area manager at the phone number listed for this area in the area details section.

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 Duck Creek Conservation Area?

Duck Creek Conservation Area lies in 3 counties. Hunters checked 1,935 deer in Stoddard County in 2025, against 2,117 in 2024.

Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).

How do you get to Duck Creek Conservation Area?

MDC's directions: From Puxico, take Highway 51 north 9 miles to the main entrance.

Nearest towns: Zalma (4 miles), Puxico (5 miles), Advance (7 miles) and Bloomfield (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 51.

What other public land is near Duck Creek Conservation Area?

MDC lands within 10 miles:

• Greenbrier Unit of Duck Creek Conservation Area: 462 acres, next to it
• Dark Cypress Swamp Unit of Duck Creek Conservation Area: 786 acres, 3.4 miles away
• Maple Flats Access: 70 acres, 3.9 miles away
• Sank Conservation Area: 116 acres, 5 miles away
• Crowleys Ridge Conservation Area: 1,928 acres, 5.5 miles away
• Sweetgum Access: 159 acres, 5.7 miles away

Public land within 3 miles of Duck Creek Conservation Area

Counting Duck Creek Conservation Area itself, 17,162 of the 64,410 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (26.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.

Questions hunters ask

Where is Duck Creek Conservation Area?

In Stoddard, Bollinger and Wayne counties, 4 miles from Zalma.

Can you deer hunt on Duck Creek Conservation Area?

Yes, by MDC's page: archery only, antlerless permits allowed.

How much public land is around Duck Creek Conservation Area?

17,162 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Duck Creek Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Greenbrier Unit of Duck Creek Conservation Area (next to it).

Where these facts come from

• Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, Duck Creek 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 Stoddard County Bollinger County Wayne County