King Lake Conservation Area: hunting and access
King Lake Conservation Area is 1,287 acres of MDC land in DeKalb and Gentry counties, 4 miles from King City. MDC lists deer hunting here (muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 1,097 deer in DeKalb 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 areasKing Lake Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,287 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | DeKalb County and Gentry County |
| Deer harvest unit | DeKalb County, Gentry County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 8428 |
| MDC region | Northwest |
| Camping (MDC) | individual campsites |
| Nearest towns | King City (4 mi), Union Star (8 mi) and Maysville (9 mi) |
What is King Lake Conservation Area like?
King Lake Conservation Area is mostly in DeKalb County, but the northernmost portion of the area extends into Gentry County.
Lost Creek drainage, within which the area is located was once the site of an Army trail established in 1823. Because of its size and diversity, the area is managed for a wide range of game and non-game wildlife species. Open fields are managed with farming, haying, and controlled burning, practices which complement more intensive habitat developments such as tree, shrub and grass plantings, habitat manipulation, and timber management.
In MDC's words, from the King Lake Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on King Lake Conservation Area?
MDC's page for King Lake Conservation Area lists: Deer: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove; Quail.
What are the rules on King Lake Conservation Area?
Waterfowl Hunting: Waterfowl hunting is prohibited after 1:00 p.m. on designated portions of this area (one of several MDC lists for this rule).
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 King Lake Conservation Area?
King Lake Conservation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters checked 1,097 deer in DeKalb County in 2025, against 1,047 in 2024.
| County | King Lake Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County | 1,031 | 1,097 | 1,047 | 1,058 |
| Gentry County | 256 | 1,536 | 1,491 | 1,610 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to King Lake Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From King City, take Route Z east 5 miles, then CR 500 south 1 mile to the area.
Nearest towns: King City (4 miles), Union Star (8 miles), Maysville (9 miles) and Amity (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 169 and MO 48.
What other public land is near King Lake Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Limpp Community Lake: 69 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Andy Denton Access: 123 acres, 5.2 miles away
- Elam Bend Conservation Area: 1,498 acres, 7.8 miles away
- Willow Brook Lake (Maysville): 150 acres, 9.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of King Lake Conservation Area
Counting King Lake Conservation Area itself, 1,292 of the 33,311 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 1,292 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is King Lake Conservation Area?
In DeKalb and Gentry counties, 4 miles from King City.
Can you deer hunt on King Lake Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around King Lake Conservation Area?
1,292 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, King Lake Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Limpp Community Lake (4.3 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, King 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.