Nodaway Valley Conservation Area: hunting and access
Nodaway Valley Conservation Area is 3,961 acres of MDC land in Holt and Andrew counties, 2 miles from Fillmore. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery only, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 849 deer in Holt 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 areasNodaway Valley Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,961 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Holt County and Andrew County |
| Deer harvest unit | Holt County, Andrew County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 9134 |
| MDC region | Northwest |
| Camping (MDC) | designated camping sites and individual campsites |
| Nearest towns | Fillmore (2 mi), Graham (6 mi) and Maitland (6 mi) |
What is Nodaway Valley Conservation Area like?
The Conservation Department purchased the area in 1991 to restore a small portion of wetlands that once flourished along the Nodaway River floodplain. A four-mile stretch of the Nodaway River flows through the middle of the area and provides habitat for both migratory and resident wildlife species.
A major wetland development project on the Nodaway Valley Conservation Area was completed in 2002. The project enabled the restoration of more than 2,000 acres of shallow wetland habitat and more than 400 acres of prairie and bottomland hardwood forest in the Nodaway River floodplain. The development project was made possible by the contributions of a diverse group of partners, including: The North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., Holt County Levee District #5, The National Wild Turkey Federation, Wildlife Forever, The Missouri Prairie Foundation, Boy Scouts of America Troop 81 of Oregon, Mo., Northwest Missouri Quail Unlimited, Northland Pheasants Forever, Ideker Inc., and the Missouri Department of Conservation. The area is managed primarily to provide wetland habitat for a wide range of game and non-game wildlife. Management practices on the area include...
In MDC's words, from the Nodaway Valley Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Nodaway Valley Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Nodaway Valley Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery only, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Dove; Quail.
What are the rules on Nodaway Valley Conservation Area?
Closings: Portions of this department area are closed to protect waterfowl from October 15 through March 1.
Hunting: Nontoxic shot is required for all hunting with a shotgun on this area. Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited.
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 Nodaway Valley Conservation Area?
Nodaway Valley Conservation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters checked 849 deer in Holt County in 2025, against 846 in 2024.
| County | Nodaway Valley Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holt County | 2,551 | 849 | 846 | 835 |
| Andrew County | 1,410 | 1,065 | 1,039 | 1,115 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Nodaway Valley Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From St. Joseph, take I-29 north, then Highway 59 (Exit 67) west 3.50 miles, then Route B north 9 miles to the area.
Nearest towns: Fillmore (2 miles), Graham (6 miles), Maitland (6 miles) and Oregon (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-29, US 59, MO 113, MO 120 and US 159.
What other public land is near Nodaway Valley Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Honey Creek Conservation Area: 1,458 acres, 6.2 miles away
- Jamerson C. McCormack Conservation Area: 223 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Monkey Mountain Conservation Area: 1,598 acres, 8.3 miles away
- Riverbreaks Conservation Area: 2,275 acres, 9 miles away
- James D. Christie Conservation Area: 174 acres, 9.7 miles away
- The Eva N. Davis Memorial Conservation Area: 30 acres, 9.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Nodaway Valley Conservation Area
Counting Nodaway Valley Conservation Area itself, 3,963 of the 53,331 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 3,963 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Nodaway Valley Conservation Area?
In Holt and Andrew counties, 2 miles from Fillmore.
Can you deer hunt on Nodaway Valley Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery only, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Nodaway Valley Conservation Area?
3,963 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Nodaway Valley Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Honey Creek Conservation Area (6.2 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, Nodaway Valley 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.