Otter Slough Conservation Area: hunting and access
Otter Slough Conservation Area is 4,784 acres of MDC land in Stoddard and Butler counties, 3 miles from Dudley. MDC lists deer hunting here only on managed hunts. 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 areasOtter Slough Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,784 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Stoddard County and Butler County |
| Deer harvest unit | Stoddard County, Butler County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Rabbit, Squirrel and Dove |
| MDC area number | 5004 |
| MDC region | Southeast |
| MDC managed hunts | deer |
| Camping (MDC) | individual campsites |
| Nearest towns | Dudley (3 mi), Fisk (5 mi) and Broseley (5 mi) |
What is Otter Slough Conservation Area like?
When early explorers were making their way across what would be southeastern Missouri, they saw a seemingly endless expanse of bottomland hardwood timber and an interconnecting complex of sloughs and St. Francis River oxbows. The New Madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 caused Otter Slough, Fish Slough, Lick Creek and the Glades Swamp to combine into the large wetland now visited by thousands of migrating waterfowl. Otter Slough is one of only a few examples of a cypress/tupelo swamp left in Missouri. The cypress swamp, open marsh and flooded timber provide acorns, natural seeds, tubers and invertebrates, all important waterfowl foods. Corn, wheat, sunflowers and other row crops are all used to maintain an open marsh condition and provide high energy food during winter months to sustain waterfowl during their long, migratory journeys. Duck numbers have exceeded 60,000 and as many as 250,000 snow geese have been recorded on the area.
Although the 4,866-acre area is managed primarily for migratory and wintering waterfowl, many wading birds, shorebirds, eagles and wetland mammals make Otter Slough Conservation Area their home.
In MDC's words, from the Otter Slough Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Otter Slough Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Otter Slough Conservation Area lists: Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove. It also lists managed hunts for deer; MDC's managed deer hunt list has the dates and how to apply.
What are the rules on Otter Slough Conservation Area?
Closings: Portions of this department area are closed to protect waterfowl from October 15 through March 31 Portions of this department area are closed to protect waterfowl from October 15 through the end of the last segment of the appropriate zone's duck season.
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 Otter Slough Conservation Area?
Otter Slough Conservation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters checked 1,935 deer in Stoddard County in 2025, against 2,117 in 2024.
| County | Otter Slough Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stoddard County | 4,716 | 1,935 | 2,117 | 2,158 |
| Butler County | 68 | 1,852 | 1,490 | 2,045 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Otter Slough Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Dexter, take Highway 60 west, then Route ZZ south 10 miles, then County Road 675 west 2 miles to the area entrance.
Nearest towns: Dudley (3 miles), Fisk (5 miles), Broseley (5 miles) and Bernie (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 60 and MO 51.
What other public land is near Otter Slough Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Oak Ridge Conservation Area: 249 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Wilhelmina Conservation Area: 1,559 acres, 8.6 miles away
- Dan River Access: 79 acres, 9.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Otter Slough Conservation Area
Counting Otter Slough Conservation Area itself, 5,095 of the 54,958 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 5,095 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Otter Slough Conservation Area?
In Stoddard and Butler counties, 3 miles from Dudley.
Can you deer hunt on Otter Slough Conservation Area?
Only on MDC managed hunts, by MDC's page. Managed hunts are applied for through MDC.
How much public land is around Otter Slough Conservation Area?
5,095 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Otter Slough Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Oak Ridge Conservation Area (2.1 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, Otter Slough 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.