River 'Round Conservation Area: hunting and access
River 'Round Conservation Area is 314 acres of MDC land in Franklin County, 5 miles from Parkway. MDC lists deer hunting here (muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 6,751 deer in Franklin 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 areasState parks and historic sitesCounty, city and regional landRiver 'Round Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 314 acres (330 by MDC's page) |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Deer harvest unit | Franklin County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel and Dove |
| MDC area number | 7831 |
| MDC region | St. Louis |
| Nearest towns | Parkway (5 mi), St. Clair (6 mi) and Lake St. Clair (6 mi) |
What is River 'Round Conservation Area like?
River 'Round Conservation Area is located in Franklin County. The Conservation Department purchased the land for River 'Round Conservation Area in 1978.
The Meramec River borders the area for 3.30 miles. The area includes many sandbars, upland, bottomland forest, and fields. Facilities include a parking area and boat ramp.
In MDC's words, from the River 'Round Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on River 'Round Conservation Area?
MDC's page for River 'Round Conservation Area lists: Deer: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove.
What are the rules on River 'Round 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 River 'Round Conservation Area?
River 'Round Conservation Area lies in Franklin County. Hunters checked 6,751 deer in Franklin County in 2025, against 6,199 in 2024.
| County | River 'Round Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 314 | 6,751 | 6,199 | 7,397 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to River 'Round Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From St. Clair, take Route TT east, then Mill Hill Road east about 0.25 mile, take Old Cove Road north, and then River Round Road east.
Nearest towns: Parkway (5 miles), St. Clair (6 miles), Lake St. Clair (6 miles) and Villa Ridge (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-44, MO 30 and MO 47.
What other public land is near River 'Round Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Redhorse Access: 46 acres, 5.6 miles away
- Little Indian Creek Conservation Area: 4,153 acres, 7.1 miles away
- Catawissa Conservation Area: 216 acres, 7.8 miles away
- LaBarque Creek Conservation Area: 1,284 acres, 8.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of River 'Round Conservation Area
Counting River 'Round Conservation Area itself, 405 of the 26,314 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 331 |
| State parks and historic sites | 74 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is River 'Round Conservation Area?
In Franklin County, 5 miles from Parkway.
Can you deer hunt on River 'Round Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around River 'Round Conservation Area?
405 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, River 'Round Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Redhorse Access (5.6 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, River 'Round 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.