Nishnabotna Conservation Area: hunting and access
Nishnabotna Conservation Area is 2,832 acres of MDC land in Atchison County, 2 miles from Watson. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, antlerless permits not allowed). Hunters checked 540 deer in Atchison 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 areasNishnabotna Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,832 acres (2,436 by MDC's page) |
|---|---|
| County | Atchison County |
| Deer harvest unit | Atchison County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey and Rabbit |
| MDC area number | 200010 |
| MDC region | Northwest |
| Camping (MDC) | designated camping sites |
| Nearest towns | Watson (2 mi), Phelps City (3 mi) and Rock Port (6 mi) |
What is Nishnabotna Conservation Area like?
The United States Army Corps of Engineers has purchased this area as part of the Missouri River Mitigation Project. The mitigation project has been designed to enhance fish and wildlife habitat along the Missouri River. The area is managed through a cooperative effort between the Corps of Engineers and the Missouri Department of Conservation.
This area is managed for a variety of game and non-game species of fish and wildlife. Rich bottomland soils here produce a variety of wetland vegetation and bottomland timber. Management practices include reforestation, prescribed burning and opportunistic management of wetlands. There are four small scour holes that contain fish.
In MDC's words, from the Nishnabotna Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Nishnabotna Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Nishnabotna Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, antlerless permits not allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit.
What are the rules on Nishnabotna Conservation Area?
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 Nishnabotna Conservation Area?
Nishnabotna Conservation Area lies in Atchison County. Hunters checked 540 deer in Atchison County in 2025, against 575 in 2024.
| County | Nishnabotna Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atchison County | 2,832 | 540 | 575 | 562 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Nishnabotna Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: The Nishnabotna Conservation Area is composed of two separate tracts. The north tract is accessible only from the Missouri and Nishnabotna Rivers. The nearest river access is Watson Access. From Watson, take Route BB north and west 2.50 miles, continue on 160th Street west 1 mile to the boat ramp.
Nearest towns: Watson (2 miles), Phelps City (3 miles), Rock Port (6 miles) and Tarkio (14 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-29, US 136 and US 275.
What other public land is near Nishnabotna Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Lower Hamburg Bend Conservation Area: 2,405 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Brickyard Hill Conservation Area: 2,930 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Star School Hill Prairie Conservation Area: 292 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Aspinwall Bend: 704 acres, 6.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Nishnabotna Conservation Area
Counting Nishnabotna Conservation Area itself, 3,135 of the 51,007 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 3,135 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Nishnabotna Conservation Area?
In Atchison County, 2 miles from Watson.
Can you deer hunt on Nishnabotna Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, antlerless permits not allowed.
How much public land is around Nishnabotna Conservation Area?
3,135 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Nishnabotna Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Lower Hamburg Bend Conservation Area (2.2 miles).
Get a Missouri hunt plan when they open
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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, Nishnabotna 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.