R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area: hunting and access
R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area is 513 acres of MDC land in Dent County, 5 miles from Edgar Springs. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 2,659 deer in Dent 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 areasNational forestR. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 513 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Dent County |
| Deer harvest unit | Dent County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit and Squirrel |
| MDC area number | 8132 |
| MDC region | Ozark |
| Nearest towns | Edgar Springs (5 mi), Newburg (12 mi) and Rolla (13 mi) |
What is R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area like?
Richard F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area covers 520 acres in northwestern Dent County, approximately 17 miles from Salem and 14 miles from Rolla. Route OO runs through the extreme northern portion of the tract. Dent County Road 2110 runs through the heart of this tract off of Route OO.
The area is forested with various species of oak, hickory, and other native trees. The area has both natural and planted stands of shortleaf pine. Native wildlife, such as whitetail deer, turkeys, and squirrels can be found here. There are three dolomite bluffs on the area. The west-facing bluff is up to 40 feet high and the south-facing bluff is up to 30 feet high. These cliffs provide habitat for amphibians and reptiles. The blufftops offer scenic views of the adjacent forest. This area was acquired by the Missouri Department of Conservation through a land donation. Before being donated, the area had been in the Forest Crop Land program since 1965 and under the management direction of Conservation Department foresters. During your visit to Richard F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area, you may view various forest improvement practices designed to improve wildlife habitat,...
In MDC's words, from the R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area page.
What can you hunt on R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area?
MDC's page for R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel.
What are the rules on R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife 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 R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area?
R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area lies in Dent County. Hunters checked 2,659 deer in Dent County in 2025, against 2,584 in 2024.
| County | R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dent County | 513 | 2,659 | 2,584 | 3,865 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area?
MDC's directions: From Salem take Highway 72 north, then a left on Route C west 5 miles, then right on Route O north 2 miles, and a left on Route OO west 3.50 miles.
Nearest towns: Edgar Springs (5 miles), Newburg (12 miles), Rolla (13 miles) and Doolittle (14 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 63.
What other public land is near R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Beaver Creek Conservation Area: 147 acres, 7.1 miles away
- Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area: 191 acres, 7.3 miles away
- White River Trace Conservation Area: 2,043 acres, 7.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area
Counting R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area itself, 2,490 of the 26,891 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 |
|---|---|
| National forest | 1,977 |
| MDC conservation areas | 513 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area?
In Dent County, 5 miles from Edgar Springs.
Can you deer hunt on R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area?
2,490 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Beaver Creek Conservation Area (7.1 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, R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife 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.