Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area: hunting and access
Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area is 1,209 acres of MDC land in Knox County, next to Newark. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 2,646 deer in Knox 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 areasHenry Sever Lake Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,209 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Knox County |
| Deer harvest unit | Knox County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 5801 |
| MDC region | Northeast |
| Camping (MDC) | individual campsites |
| Nearest towns | Newark (next to it), Plevna (5 mi) and La Belle (7 mi) |
What is Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area like?
This 1,248-acre area consists of gently rolling uplands that are 10 percent timbered. The forest is mostly oak/hickory. A variety of woodland edge wildlife are present, including deer, turkey and quail. During the winter and spring, ducks and geese are frequently observed on the area.
The original 747-acre tract was purchased through a trust fund established by Henry Sever upon his death in 1941. The land was deeded to the Conservation Department in 1959. The area features the 158-acre Henry Sever Lake, which was built in 1960. The lake is periodically stocked with channel catfish and blue catfish and is home to one of only two muskellunge populations in northeastern Missouri. Native grass has been planted to supplement the remnants of prairie once found on the area. These areas support numerous small mammals and birds and many contain native prairie forbs. Management of the Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area is geared toward public use and the protection of soil and water quality. Land management tools include farming operations, controlled burns, tree planting, and timber harvest. The area has a disabled-accessible fishing dock and privies. It also has an improved...
In MDC's words, from the Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove; Quail.
What are the rules on Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area?
MDC's standard conservation area rules (Chapter 11 of the Wildlife Code) apply; the area's rules on MDC's site list any it adds.
How many deer are taken around Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area?
Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area lies in Knox County. Hunters checked 2,646 deer in Knox County in 2025, against 2,700 in 2024.
| County | Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | 1,209 | 2,646 | 2,700 | 2,593 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: Southeast entrance: From Newark, take Route KK north 1 mile to the area.
Nearest towns: Newark (next to it), Plevna (5 miles), La Belle (7 miles) and Knox City (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 156 and MO 15.
What other public land is near Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- White Oak Bend Access: 152 acres, 1.5 miles away
- LaBelle Lake Conservation Area: 350 acres, 5.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area
Counting Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area itself, 1,362 of the 31,610 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 1,362 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area?
In Knox County, next to Newark.
Can you deer hunt on Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area?
1,362 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is White Oak Bend Access (1.5 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, Henry Sever Lake 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.