Frost Island Conservation Area: hunting and access
Frost Island Conservation Area is 1,251 acres of MDC land in Clark County, next to St. Francisville. MDC lists deer hunting here (muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 2,750 deer in Clark 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 areasState parks and historic sitesFrost Island Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,251 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Clark County |
| Deer harvest unit | Clark County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 9601 |
| MDC region | Northeast |
| Camping (MDC) | walk-in, float-in or backpack camping (not during deer and turkey seasons) and designated camping sites |
| Nearest towns | St. Francisville (next to it), Wayland (3 mi) and Alexandria (6 mi) |
What is Frost Island Conservation Area like?
In 1996, seven tracts totaling 916 acres were acquired as part of the Emergency Wetland Reserve Program (EWRP), which was initiated after the flood of 1993 which lasted for 175 days. This flood damaged the area's farmland by depositing large amounts of silt and sand in some areas and scouring in other areas. Flood protection levees were not repaired to allow future flood waters to inundate the area and reduce flood damage downstream.
An adjacent upland tract and a small tract along the Des Moines River was purchased later to bring the area to its present size of 1,232 acres. The Des Moines River bounds the area on the north and east sides, providing two miles of river frontage, but there is no boat ramp. The lowland areas of Frost Island CA contain old crop fields, food plots, grass plantings, and some bottomland hardwood forest. The upland portion of the area is a high sandy terrace. Unique natural features exist on the area. A natural oxbow slough, locally known as "McGuire's Hole," is on the area's south boundary. This naturally occurring wetland and adjoining sandy terrace is ideal nesting habitat for some rare or locally uncommon reptiles. The terrace also supports a small remnant sand prairie. The prairie hosts a variety of sand-adapted plants, a few of which are listed as rare in Missouri, and many others...
In MDC's words, from the Frost Island Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Frost Island Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Frost Island Conservation Area lists: Deer: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove; Quail.
What are the rules on Frost Island Conservation Area?
Hunting: Nontoxic shot is required for all hunting with a shotgun on this area. Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited.
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 Frost Island Conservation Area?
Frost Island Conservation Area lies in Clark County. Hunters checked 2,750 deer in Clark County in 2025, against 2,750 in 2024.
| County | Frost Island Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark County | 1,251 | 2,750 | 2,750 | 2,707 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Frost Island Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Wayland, take Highway 27 north 4 miles, then on gravel road 198 east 1 mile.
Nearest towns: St. Francisville (next to it), Wayland (3 miles), Alexandria (6 miles) and Revere (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 27, US 136 and US 61.
What other public land is near Frost Island Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- William E. Crawford Conservation Area: 92 acres, 4 miles away
- Rose Pond Conservation Area: 382 acres, 6.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Frost Island Conservation Area
Counting Frost Island Conservation Area itself, 1,382 of the 31,261 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 1,256 |
| State parks and historic sites | 126 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Frost Island Conservation Area?
In Clark County, next to St. Francisville.
Can you deer hunt on Frost Island Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Frost Island Conservation Area?
1,382 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Frost Island Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is William E. Crawford Conservation Area (4 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, Frost Island 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.