Roaring River Conservation Area: hunting and access
Roaring River Conservation Area is 434 acres of MDC land in Barry County, 3 miles from Eagle Rock. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 2,538 deer in Barry 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 forestFederal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakesState parks and historic sitesOther state landRoaring River Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 434 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Barry County |
| Deer harvest unit | Barry County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit and Squirrel |
| MDC area number | 8623 |
| MDC region | Southwest |
| Camping (MDC) | designated camping sites |
| Nearest towns | Eagle Rock (3 mi), Chain-O-Lakes (5 mi) and Washburn (6 mi) |
What is Roaring River Conservation Area like?
This area consists of two tracts. The eastern tract is located just east of Roaring River State Park. A parking lot off of highway F is provided. From the parking lot, access to Roaring River can be found by walking southwest down a short trail to the river. The western tract is only accessible by walking in through Mark Twain National Forest. Hunting is allowed and there are opportunities for wildlife viewing.
In MDC's words, from the Roaring River Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Roaring River Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Roaring River Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel.
What are the rules on Roaring River 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 Roaring River Conservation Area?
Roaring River Conservation Area lies in Barry County. Hunters checked 2,538 deer in Barry County in 2025, against 2,446 in 2024.
| County | Roaring River Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry County | 434 | 2,538 | 2,446 | 2,855 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Roaring River Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: Roaring River Conservation Area consists of two tracts. The main tract is two miles east of Roaring River State Park on Route F.
Nearest towns: Eagle Rock (3 miles), Chain-O-Lakes (5 miles), Washburn (6 miles) and Seligman (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 112, MO 86 and MO 37.
What other public land is near Roaring River Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- John Baumgardt Memorial Conservation Area: 490 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Flag Spring Conservation Area: 3,990 acres, 8.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Roaring River Conservation Area
Counting Roaring River Conservation Area itself, 17,284 of the 35,368 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (48.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National forest | 12,815 |
| State parks and historic sites | 3,805 |
| MDC conservation areas | 603 |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 58 |
| Other state land | 3 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Roaring River Conservation Area?
In Barry County, 3 miles from Eagle Rock.
Can you deer hunt on Roaring River Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Roaring River Conservation Area?
17,284 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Roaring River Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is John Baumgardt Memorial Conservation Area (2.7 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, Roaring River 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.