Gallatin Conservation Area: hunting and access
Gallatin Conservation Area is 682 acres of MDC land in Daviess County, 4 miles from Gallatin. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, antlerless permits not allowed). Hunters checked 2,873 deer in Daviess 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 areasMRAP landGallatin Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 682 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Daviess County |
| Deer harvest unit | Daviess County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 6903 |
| MDC region | Northwest |
| Camping (MDC) | individual campsites |
| Shooting range (MDC) | shotgun and rifle or pistol |
| Nearest towns | Gallatin (4 mi), Hamilton (7 mi) and Lock Springs (7 mi) |
What is Gallatin Conservation Area like?
Gallatin Conservation Area is in Daviess County, five miles south of Gallatin on Highway 13 and a half mile east on Route M. Approximately 40 percent of the area consists of timber, brushy draws and fencerows. A 10-acre marsh is located in the north part of the area.
Because of its size and diversity, Gallatin Conservation Area is managed for a wide range of game and non-game wildlife species. The area is available to the public for a variety of outdoor activities. Management of the area includes planting foodplots, haying, and controlled burning, in addition to the development of wildlife habitat by tree, shrub, and grass plantings.
In MDC's words, from the Gallatin Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Gallatin Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Gallatin Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, antlerless permits not allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove; Quail.
What are the rules on Gallatin 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 Gallatin Conservation Area?
Gallatin Conservation Area lies in Daviess County. Hunters checked 2,873 deer in Daviess County in 2025, against 2,836 in 2024.
| County | Gallatin Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daviess County | 682 | 2,873 | 2,836 | 3,015 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Gallatin Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Gallatin, take Highway 13 south 5 miles, then Route M east 0.50 mile.
Nearest towns: Gallatin (4 miles), Hamilton (7 miles), Lock Springs (7 miles) and Breckenridge (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 13 and MO 6.
What other public land is near Gallatin Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Holmes Bend Access: 83 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Hamilton City Lake: 80 acres, 7.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Gallatin Conservation Area
Counting Gallatin Conservation Area itself, 765 of the 29,325 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 765 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Gallatin Conservation Area?
In Daviess County, 4 miles from Gallatin.
Can you deer hunt on Gallatin Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, antlerless permits not allowed.
How much public land is around Gallatin Conservation Area?
765 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Gallatin Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Holmes Bend Access (1.9 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, Gallatin 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.