Lamine River Conservation Area: hunting and access
Lamine River Conservation Area is 6,083 acres of MDC land in Cooper and Morgan counties, next to Otterville. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only). Hunters checked 2,320 deer in Cooper 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 areasState parks and historic sitesLamine River Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 6,083 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Cooper County and Morgan County |
| Deer harvest unit | Cooper County, Morgan County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 8304 |
| MDC region | Central |
| Camping (MDC) | designated camping sites |
| Nearest towns | Otterville (next to it), Syracuse (3 mi) and Smithton (5 mi) |
What is Lamine River Conservation Area like?
Lamine River Conservation Area is in Cooper and Morgan counties, east of Otterville and easily accessed by Highway 50 and Route A, which bisect the area.
The Lamine River, formed by the confluence of Richland and Flat creeks, at the south end of the area, was first named Riviere a la Mine, or River of the Mine; by a prospecting party under Phillip Renault, Director-General of the French colonies in America, as early as 1723. During the Civil War, La Mine crossing was a location where the railroad bridge crossed the river just east of Otterville. The railroad and bridge was of strategic importance for Union Supplies and in 1861 Union Troops dug entrenchments to protect the bridge crossing. A Department of Natural Resources kiosk located on the area immediately west of the Lamine River bridge displays the historical account of the Civil War events and Union entrenchments. The Lamine River Area is located where an interesting combination of land types merge. The rolling farm ground east and west of the area were historically prairies...
In MDC's words, from the Lamine River Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Lamine River Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Lamine River Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove; Quail.
What are the rules on Lamine River Conservation Area?
Dove Hunting: Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited for hunting doves on this area.
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 Lamine River Conservation Area?
Lamine River Conservation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters checked 2,320 deer in Cooper County in 2025, against 2,216 in 2024.
| County | Lamine River Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper County | 4,542 | 2,320 | 2,216 | 2,587 |
| Morgan County | 1,541 | 3,962 | 3,591 | 4,291 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Lamine River Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: Lamine River Conservation Area has five tracts. From Otterville, take Route A east 1 mile. Highway 50 at the Lamine River provides access. Please see map for additional access.
Nearest towns: Otterville (next to it), Syracuse (3 miles), Smithton (5 miles) and Tipton (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 135, US 50 and MO 5.
What other public land is near Lamine River Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Manito Lake Conservation Area: 888 acres, 7.8 miles away
- Kahrs-Boger Park: 106 acres, 9.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Lamine River Conservation Area
Counting Lamine River Conservation Area itself, 6,089 of the 67,253 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 6,084 |
| State parks and historic sites | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Lamine River Conservation Area?
In Cooper and Morgan counties, next to Otterville.
Can you deer hunt on Lamine River Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only.
How much public land is around Lamine River Conservation Area?
6,089 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Lamine River Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Manito Lake Conservation Area (7.8 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, Lamine River 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.