Oak Ridge Conservation Area: hunting and access
Oak Ridge Conservation Area is 249 acres of MDC land in Stoddard County, next to Dudley. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only). Hunters checked 1,935 deer in Stoddard 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 areasOak Ridge Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 249 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Stoddard County |
| Deer harvest unit | Stoddard County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit and Squirrel |
| MDC area number | 8211 |
| MDC region | Southeast |
| Camping (MDC) | individual campsites |
| Nearest towns | Dudley (next to it), Fisk (5 mi) and Dexter (7 mi) |
What is Oak Ridge Conservation Area like?
Oak Ridge Conservation Area is in Stoddard County, immediately west of the city limits of Dudley. Old Highway 60 forms the northern boundary of and provides access to this 243-acre area. The conservation area is located on the broad, flat Dudley Ridge, and there is little elevation change. Bottomland hardwood species dominates the forested acreage. The area is one of the few remaining tracts of timber for miles around the town of Dudley. Management of the area is based on the concept of multiple use. During your visit to the area you may view various forest improvement practices designed to improve tree growth, quality, species composition, wildlife habitat, and maintain watershed quality.
In MDC's words, from the Oak Ridge Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Oak Ridge Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel.
What are the rules on Oak Ridge 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 Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
Oak Ridge Conservation Area lies in Stoddard County. Hunters checked 1,935 deer in Stoddard County in 2025, against 2,117 in 2024.
| County | Oak Ridge Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stoddard County | 249 | 1,935 | 2,117 | 2,158 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Dudley, take Old Highway 60 west for 0.9 miles and the area will be on your left.
Nearest towns: Dudley (next to it), Fisk (5 miles), Dexter (7 miles) and Broseley (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 60 and MO 51.
What other public land is near Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Otter Slough Conservation Area: 4,784 acres, 2.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Oak Ridge Conservation Area
Counting Oak Ridge Conservation Area itself, 533 of the 23,576 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 533 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
In Stoddard County, next to Dudley.
Can you deer hunt on Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only.
How much public land is around Oak Ridge Conservation Area?
533 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Oak Ridge Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Otter Slough 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, Oak Ridge 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.