Flatwoods Conservation Area: hunting and access
Flatwoods Conservation Area is 944 acres of MDC land in Wayne County, 4 miles from Piedmont. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only). Hunters checked 4,081 deer in Wayne 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 forestFlatwoods Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 944 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Wayne County |
| Deer harvest unit | Wayne County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey and Squirrel |
| MDC area number | 5624 |
| MDC region | Southeast |
| Camping (MDC) | open camping - walk-in/float-in/backpack and designated camping sites |
| Shooting range (MDC) | archery, shotgun and rifle or pistol |
| Nearest towns | Piedmont (4 mi), Mill Spring (6 mi) and Des Arc (8 mi) |
What is Flatwoods Conservation Area like?
This is a forest area that has an archery and firearms range. This area has unimproved roads that are open to public vehicles. These roads may not be shown on area maps or posted with signs. Road conditions may vary.
In MDC's words, from the Flatwoods Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Flatwoods Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Flatwoods Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Squirrel.
What are the rules on Flatwoods 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 Flatwoods Conservation Area?
Flatwoods Conservation Area lies in Wayne County. Hunters checked 4,081 deer in Wayne County in 2025, against 2,680 in 2024.
| County | Flatwoods Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | 944 | 4,081 | 2,680 | 4,014 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Flatwoods Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Piedmont, take Route B east 4 miles to the area.
Nearest towns: Piedmont (4 miles), Mill Spring (6 miles), Des Arc (8 miles) and Greenville (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 34, MO 49 and MO 143.
What other public land is near Flatwoods Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Graves Mountain Conservation Area: 3,275 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Lon Sanders Canyon Conservation Area: 128 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Wappapello Lake Management Lands: 1,892 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Riverside Conservation Area: 2,654 acres, 5.9 miles away
- Clearwater Lake Management Lands: 16,791 acres, 7.2 miles away
- Clearwater Conservation Area: 11,405 acres, 9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Flatwoods Conservation Area
Counting Flatwoods Conservation Area itself, 8,062 of the 29,805 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (27%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National forest | 7,118 |
| MDC conservation areas | 944 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Flatwoods Conservation Area?
In Wayne County, 4 miles from Piedmont.
Can you deer hunt on Flatwoods Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only.
How much public land is around Flatwoods Conservation Area?
8,062 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Flatwoods Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Graves Mountain Conservation Area (3.5 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, Flatwoods 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.