Fort Crowder Conservation Area: hunting and access
Fort Crowder Conservation Area is 2,176 acres of MDC land in Newton County, 3 miles from Neosho. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 2,890 deer in Newton 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 wildlife refugesCounty, city and regional landFort Crowder Conservation AreaCounty lineHighway
| Size | 2,176 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Newton County |
| Deer harvest unit | Newton County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Squirrel and Dove |
| MDC area number | 6510 |
| MDC region | Southwest |
| Camping (MDC) | designated camping sites |
| Shooting range (MDC) | archery, shotgun and rifle or pistol |
| Nearest towns | Neosho (3 mi), Stella (6 mi) and Stark City (6 mi) |
What is Fort Crowder Conservation Area like?
Fort Crowder Conservation Area, located in southern Newton County, was once part of the old, World War II Camp Crowder Army Base. The U.S. Army selected the Neosho site for the base because of its proximity to water, railroads, and highways. Visitors to the area can still see foundations, fruit trees, open fields and other remnants of many of the hundreds of small farms purchased by the federal government for the 60,000-acre base. Camp Crowder was named for Judge Advocate General and U.S. Ambassador to Cuba Enoch H. Crowder. Thousands of soldiers went through basic training here before the camp was decommissioned in the mid 1950s, including Mort Walker, who immortalized the Camp as Camp Swampy in his syndicated comic strip, Beetle Bailey.
Fort Crowder Conservation Area, encompassing 2,362 acres, is approximately 60 percent forested. The remainder of the area is open and includes 200 acres of native warm-season grasses, 100 acres of crop fields, and 600 acres of fields maintained in an early successional stage. The area hosts various game species, including quail, rabbits and doves in the open areas and large numbers of deer and squirrels. Turkeys have been stocked here and are now present in good numbers. During your visit to Fort Crowder Conservation Area you may view various forest and wildlife improvement projects in progress from the 11 miles of multiuse trails that wind through the area. These trails are open to hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Trails are closed to bicycle and horse use during all portions of the Firearms deer and the Spring turkey seasons. Fort Crowder also has a very nice unstaffed firearms...
In MDC's words, from the Fort Crowder Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Fort Crowder Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Fort Crowder Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Squirrel; Dove.
What are the rules on Fort Crowder 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...
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.
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 Fort Crowder Conservation Area?
Fort Crowder Conservation Area lies in Newton County. Hunters checked 2,890 deer in Newton County in 2025, against 2,789 in 2024.
| County | Fort Crowder Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton County | 2,176 | 2,890 | 2,789 | 3,043 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Fort Crowder Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: In Neosho at the Highway 59 and Route HH junction, take Route HH east 3.50 miles.
Nearest towns: Neosho (3 miles), Stella (6 miles), Stark City (6 miles) and Granby (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 86, US 60 and MO 59.
What other public land is near Fort Crowder Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Bicentennial Conservation Area: 706 acres, 0.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Fort Crowder Conservation Area
Counting Fort Crowder Conservation Area itself, 3,127 of the 35,553 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 2,883 |
| National wildlife refuges | 243 |
| County, city and regional land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Fort Crowder Conservation Area?
In Newton County, 3 miles from Neosho.
Can you deer hunt on Fort Crowder Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Fort Crowder Conservation Area?
3,127 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Fort Crowder Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Bicentennial Conservation Area (0.5 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, Fort Crowder 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.