Little Black Conservation Area: hunting and access
Little Black Conservation Area is 3,068 acres of MDC land in Ripley County, 4 miles from Grandin. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 3,088 deer in Ripley 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 forestLittle Black Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,068 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Ripley County |
| Deer harvest unit | Ripley County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit and Squirrel |
| MDC area number | 7110 |
| MDC region | Ozark |
| Camping (MDC) | open camping - walk-in/float-in/backpack |
| Shooting range (MDC) | archery |
| Nearest towns | Grandin (4 mi), Doniphan (8 mi) and Hunter (8 mi) |
What is Little Black Conservation Area like?
Little Black Conservation Area is four miles south of the historic Grandin Mill site and was one of the first areas harvested for that mill in the 19th century. Remnant pine stumps from that harvest and pine woodland indicator species are commonly found. Historically, this region supported shortleaf pine and pine-oak woodlands with associated diverse ground flora. Post oak flatwoods were present on the broad ridges.
The tree species present are typical for oak-hickory and oak-pine forest types and include white oak, scarlet oak, southern red oak, post oak, black oak, hickory, and shortleaf pine. The 700-acre Little Black Woodland Bird Habitat Restoration Project was initiated in 2006 to restore woodland habitat by reducing heavily stocked tree stands. On this area, the Fern Nook Natural Area has unique and high quality forest resources dominated by old growth stands with little or no disturbance. It may be the earliest example of old growth management in the Ozarks. Eighty acres within this tract has been described as the highest quality bottomland forest in the Ozarks and has not been disturbed for 150 years. There are a wide range of species including sweetgum, white oak, ash, elm, sugar maple, shumard oak, bur oak, overcup oak, sycamore, swamp white oak, pecan and bitternut hickory. Uplands have...
In MDC's words, from the Little Black Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Little Black Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Little Black 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 Little Black 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 Little Black Conservation Area?
Little Black Conservation Area lies in Ripley County. Hunters checked 3,088 deer in Ripley County in 2025, against 2,848 in 2024.
| County | Little Black Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ripley County | 3,068 | 3,088 | 2,848 | 3,818 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Little Black Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Doniphan, take Highway 21 north 8 miles, then Route NN east to the area.
Nearest towns: Grandin (4 miles), Doniphan (8 miles), Hunter (8 miles) and Fairdealing (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 21.
What other public land is near Little Black Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Mudpuppy Conservation Area: 1,384 acres, 2.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Little Black Conservation Area
Counting Little Black Conservation Area itself, 8,682 of the 52,690 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (16.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National forest | 4,987 |
| MDC conservation areas | 3,695 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Little Black Conservation Area?
In Ripley County, 4 miles from Grandin.
Can you deer hunt on Little Black Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Little Black Conservation Area?
8,682 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Little Black Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Mudpuppy Conservation Area (2.1 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, Little Black 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.