Elam Bend Conservation Area: hunting and access
Elam Bend Conservation Area is 1,498 acres of MDC land in Gentry County, 2 miles from McFall. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only). Hunters checked 1,536 deer in Gentry 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 areasElam Bend Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,498 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Gentry County |
| Deer harvest unit | Gentry County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel and Quail |
| MDC area number | 7926 |
| MDC region | Northwest |
| Camping (MDC) | individual campsites |
| Shooting range (MDC) | shotgun and rifle or pistol |
| Nearest towns | McFall (2 mi), Pattonsburg (7 mi) and Darlington (10 mi) |
What is Elam Bend Conservation Area like?
The Conservation Department initially purchased property for Elam Bend Conservation Area in 1979 in order to provide a river-oriented, multiple-use area on an unchannelized portion of the upper Grand River. Subsequent additions to the area have increased its size to 1,483 acres.
In addition to providing river access and river-oriented recreation, the area is managed for both game and non-game species of upland and forest wildlife.
In MDC's words, from the Elam Bend Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Elam Bend Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Elam Bend Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Quail.
What are the rules on Elam Bend 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 Elam Bend Conservation Area?
Elam Bend Conservation Area lies in Gentry County. Hunters checked 1,536 deer in Gentry County in 2025, against 1,491 in 2024.
| County | Elam Bend Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gentry County | 1,498 | 1,536 | 1,491 | 1,610 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Elam Bend Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Albany: take Route A south 10.50 miles, then 430th Street east 1.50 miles to the area entrance.
Nearest towns: McFall (2 miles), Pattonsburg (7 miles), Darlington (10 miles) and Weatherby (11 miles).
What other public land is near Elam Bend Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Andy Denton Access: 123 acres, 3.6 miles away
- King Lake Conservation Area: 1,287 acres, 7.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Elam Bend Conservation Area
Counting Elam Bend Conservation Area itself, 1,512 of the 33,687 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 1,512 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Elam Bend Conservation Area?
In Gentry County, 2 miles from McFall.
Can you deer hunt on Elam Bend Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only.
How much public land is around Elam Bend Conservation Area?
1,512 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Elam Bend Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Andy Denton Access (3.6 miles).
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, Elam Bend 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.