Pigeon Hill Conservation Area: hunting and access
Pigeon Hill Conservation Area is 460 acres of MDC land in Buchanan County, next to Agency. MDC lists deer hunting here (muzzleloader and archery, archery antlerless permits only). Hunters checked 867 deer in Buchanan 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 areasPigeon Hill Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 460 acres (419 by MDC's page) |
|---|---|
| County | Buchanan County |
| Deer harvest unit | Buchanan County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit and Squirrel |
| MDC area number | 6304 |
| MDC region | Northwest |
| Nearest towns | Agency (next to it), Faucett (4 mi) and St. Joseph (6 mi) |
What is Pigeon Hill Conservation Area like?
Note: This area is closed until further notice
The Conservation Department purchased land for this area in 1967 in part with Pittman-Robertson funds from the federal excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition. Thearea includesupland hardwood forestand old field habitat or cropland. Target shooting is popular on the area. All ranges are unstaffed. The archery target area providesa sight-in range. The area also features a rifle range, a pistol range, and a shotgun range. The public firearms range offers a 25-, 50- and 100-yard target area.
In MDC's words, from the Pigeon Hill Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Pigeon Hill Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Pigeon Hill Conservation Area lists: Deer: muzzleloader and archery, archery antlerless permits only; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel.
What are the rules on Pigeon Hill Conservation Area?
Target Shooting and Shooting Ranges: An unstaffed range is located on this department area. Target shooting is not allowed anywhere on this area except for designated shooting range(s). Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Ranges may be closed to public use at any time for maintenance or department sponsored events or programs. Possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on all ranges and associated parking lots. Groups of more than 10 people must obtain a special use permit prior to using the range. To obtain a special use permit, contact the area manager at the phone number listed...
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 Pigeon Hill Conservation Area?
Pigeon Hill Conservation Area lies in Buchanan County. Hunters checked 867 deer in Buchanan County in 2025, against 844 in 2024.
| County | Pigeon Hill Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan County | 460 | 867 | 844 | 890 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Pigeon Hill Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From St. Joseph, take I-29 south, then Highway 169 east 0.25 mile, then Route FF south 2.50 miles, then Route O west 1.50 miles, then SE 50 Road south to the area.
Nearest towns: Agency (next to it), Faucett (4 miles), St. Joseph (6 miles) and Easton (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-29, US 71, MO 371, US 169 and I-229.
What other public land is near Pigeon Hill Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Agency Conservation Area: 93 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Belcher Branch Lake Conservation Area: 395 acres, 4.9 miles away
- Bee Creek Conservation Area: 113 acres, 5.8 miles away
- Mark Youngdahl Urban Conservation Area: 96 acres, 6.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Pigeon Hill Conservation Area
Counting Pigeon Hill Conservation Area itself, 462 of the 25,974 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 462 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Pigeon Hill Conservation Area?
In Buchanan County, next to Agency.
Can you deer hunt on Pigeon Hill Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: muzzleloader and archery, archery antlerless permits only.
How much public land is around Pigeon Hill Conservation Area?
462 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Pigeon Hill Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Agency Conservation Area (3.1 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, Pigeon Hill 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.