Huzzah Conservation Area: hunting and access
Huzzah Conservation Area is 6,079 acres of MDC land in Crawford County, 4 miles from Leasburg. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 3,667 deer in Crawford 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 forestState parks and historic sitesHuzzah Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 6,079 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Crawford County |
| Deer harvest unit | Crawford County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit and Squirrel |
| MDC area number | 5702 |
| MDC region | St. Louis |
| Camping (MDC) | designated camping sites |
| Shooting range (MDC) | rifle or pistol |
| Nearest towns | Leasburg (4 mi), Bourbon (7 mi) and St. Cloud (8 mi) |
What is Huzzah Conservation Area like?
Huzzah Conservation Area is located in Crawford County. The area consists of 6,225 acres. Rugged forest terrain, the Meramec River and Huzzah and Courtois Creeks draw many visitors to this area. The Ozark Trail transects most of the area and allows hikers access to many of its unique features. The Narrows, located in the extreme southwest portion of the area, is a narrow hogback ridgethat divides Huzzah and Courtois Creeks. The Narrows features extremely steep topography and rapidly changing vegetation from ridge to creek bottom. The remains of the Scotia Furnace and Iron Works are located on the property. The Scotia Furnace, built by John G. Scott, Robert Anderson, Thomas Howard and Anvil James, produced pig iron from 1870 to 1880. Much of the forest in the vicinity of the furnace remains was clearcut during that period to produce charcoal to fire the furnace. The area is managed for a variety of game and non-game wildlife species. Timber harvests have been used to produce forage and cover for wildlife.
In MDC's words, from the Huzzah Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Huzzah Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Huzzah Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel.
What are the rules on Huzzah 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 Huzzah Conservation Area?
Huzzah Conservation Area lies in Crawford County. Hunters checked 3,667 deer in Crawford County in 2025, against 3,082 in 2024.
| County | Huzzah Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford County | 6,079 | 3,667 | 3,082 | 4,406 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Huzzah Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Leasburg, take Route H south 5 miles to the area.
Nearest towns: Leasburg (4 miles), Bourbon (7 miles), St. Cloud (8 miles) and Steelville (8 miles).
What other public land is near Huzzah Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Blue Springs Creek Conservation Area: 882 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Onyx Cave Conservation Area: 37 acres, 4 miles away
- Pea Ridge Conservation Area: 8,757 acres, 7 miles away
- Pearl G. and John J. Sizemore Memorial Conservation Area: 171 acres, 7.8 miles away
- John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area: 339 acres, 7.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Huzzah Conservation Area
Counting Huzzah Conservation Area itself, 12,158 of the 55,195 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (22%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 6,142 |
| National forest | 4,974 |
| State parks and historic sites | 1,042 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Huzzah Conservation Area?
In Crawford County, 4 miles from Leasburg.
Can you deer hunt on Huzzah Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Huzzah Conservation Area?
12,158 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Huzzah Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Blue Springs Creek Conservation Area (2.8 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, Huzzah 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.