Little Compton Lake Conservation Area: hunting and access
Little Compton Lake Conservation Area is 545 acres of MDC land in Carroll and Chariton counties, 5 miles from Triplett. MDC lists deer hunting here (muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 2,358 deer in Carroll 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 wildlife refugesLittle Compton Lake Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 545 acres (515 by MDC's page) |
|---|---|
| Counties | Carroll County and Chariton County |
| Deer harvest unit | Carroll County, Chariton County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel and Quail |
| MDC area number | 8329 |
| MDC region | Northwest |
| Camping (MDC) | individual campsites |
| Nearest towns | Triplett (5 mi), Hale (5 mi) and Bosworth (5 mi) |
What is Little Compton Lake Conservation Area like?
Little Compton Lake Conservation Area is in northeastern Carroll County. This area includes 1.5 miles of frontage on the north bank of the Grand River and a 40-acre lake, which is managed to provide public fishing. The lake contains a variety of species, including largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, carp, and buffalo. The Conservation Department purchased this area in 1983 to provide the public with good quality outdoor activities, which include fishing, hunting, and nature enjoyment.
The upland areas are managed to protect the lake's watershed and to provide upland game hunting. Approximately 120 acres of bottomland forest along the Grand River are managed to protect the river bank and to provide habitat for deer, turkey, and other forest wildlife.
In MDC's words, from the Little Compton Lake Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Little Compton Lake Conservation Area lists: Deer: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Quail.
What are the rules on Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
MDC's standard conservation area rules (Chapter 11 of the Wildlife Code) apply; the area's rules on MDC's site list any it adds.
How many deer are taken around Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
Little Compton Lake Conservation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters checked 2,358 deer in Carroll County in 2025, against 2,411 in 2024.
| County | Little Compton Lake Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll County | 349 | 2,358 | 2,411 | 2,745 |
| Chariton County | 196 | 2,331 | 2,096 | 2,258 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Hale, take Highway 139 south 4 miles, then County Road 140 east 3 miles, then County Road 361 south to area entrance.
Nearest towns: Triplett (5 miles), Hale (5 miles), Bosworth (5 miles) and Sumner (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 139.
What other public land is near Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Yellow Creek Conservation Area: 593 acres, 3 miles away
- Helen K. Wiese Conservation Area: 110 acres, 4.2 miles away
- Fountain Grove Conservation Area: 8,511 acres, 8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Little Compton Lake Conservation Area
Counting Little Compton Lake Conservation Area itself, 571 of the 26,453 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 571 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
In Carroll and Chariton counties, 5 miles from Triplett.
Can you deer hunt on Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
571 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Little Compton Lake Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Yellow Creek Conservation Area (3 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, Little Compton 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.