John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area: hunting and access
John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area is 680 acres of MDC land in Pemiscot and New Madrid counties, 6 miles from Hayward. MDC lists deer hunting here (muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits not allowed). Hunters checked 169 deer in Pemiscot 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 areasJohn L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 680 acres (748 by MDC's page) |
|---|---|
| Counties | Pemiscot County and New Madrid County |
| Deer harvest unit | Pemiscot County, New Madrid County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey and Rabbit |
| MDC area number | 8614 |
| MDC region | Southeast |
| Camping (MDC) | designated camping sites |
| Nearest towns | Hayward (6 mi), Portageville (9 mi) and Marston (11 mi) |
What is John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area like?
This 747-acre forested conservation area lies in parts of Pemiscot and New Madrid counties. The tract was donated to the Missouri Department of Conservation in 1986 in memory of John L. and Georgia Girvin.
This conservation area has about three miles of Mississippi River frontage. The topography is very flat and contains mostly bottomland riverfront forest. Elevation ranges from 270-280 feet above mean sea level, and the entire tract is subject to periodic flooding. Rare species noted in the vicinity include the Mississippi kite, interior least tern, primrose willow, and cotton mouse. During your visit to the area, you'll see a variety of land management activities designed to renew the forest and diversify the habitat for many species. The property on both sides of the farm road is privately owned, so please respect the rights and privacy of the landowners by not leaving the road, or using it during wet conditions, until you reach the conservation area parking lot.
In MDC's words, from the John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area?
MDC's page for John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area lists: Deer: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits not allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit.
What are the rules on John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area?
Closings: This department area is closed during periods of high water.
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 John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area?
John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters checked 169 deer in Pemiscot County in 2025, against 227 in 2024.
| County | John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pemiscot County | 358 | 169 | 227 | 220 |
| New Madrid County | 322 | 323 | 405 | 405 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Portageville, take Highway 162 east, then gravel road 439 south 1 mile, cross the levee and park. Proceed by ATV about 2.50 miles southeast on private farm dirt roads. The area is also accessible by boat from the Mississippi River.
Nearest towns: Hayward (6 miles), Portageville (9 miles), Marston (11 miles) and Hayti (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 162.
What other public land is near John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Twin Borrow Pits Conservation Area: 74 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area: 6,373 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Wolf Bayou Unit of Black Island Conservation Area: 349 acres, 4.1 miles away
- DeSoto Unit of Black Island Conservation Area: 737 acres, 5.1 miles away
- Gayoso Bend Unit of Black Island Conservation Area: 953 acres, 7.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area
Counting John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area itself, 754 of the 30,043 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 754 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area?
In Pemiscot and New Madrid counties, 6 miles from Hayward.
Can you deer hunt on John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits not allowed.
How much public land is around John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area?
754 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Twin Borrow Pits Conservation Area (1.3 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, John L. and Georgia Girvin 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.