Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area: hunting and access
Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area is 4,353 acres of MDC land in Lawrence County, 2 miles from Stotts City. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only). Hunters checked 2,088 deer in Lawrence 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 areasRobert E. Talbot Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,353 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Lawrence County |
| Deer harvest unit | Lawrence County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 8037 |
| MDC region | Southwest |
| Camping (MDC) | individual campsites |
| Nearest towns | Stotts City (2 mi), Miller (3 mi) and Mount Vernon (6 mi) |
What is Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area like?
Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area is in north-central Lawrence County, 12 miles northwest of Mt. Vernon. In 1980, the Conservation Department purchased 246 acres to maintain and protect riparian habitat along Spring River. Between 1980 and 1986, an additional 4,113 acres were purchased from six landowners, increasing the area to its present size. Originally named after Spring River, which flows unchannelized through the area's southern portion, the area was renamed in 1983 in honor of the late conservation commissioner, Robert E. Talbot from Joplin.
Talbot CA lands vary from the rich bottomland soil along Spring River to rocky, upland soils. Presently, the area is 69 percent open land and 31 percent wooded. Fishing opportunities can be found at the four acre or seven acre lake. Numerous smaller ponds can also be found on the area. The Conservation Department has sharecrop agreements with local farmers to provide food for wildlife. Harvested crops also benefit the local farm economy. Some of the timbered areas on Talbot CA have been thinned in recent years to restore the savanna and woodland natural communities that historically existed there. Periodic prescribed burning is used to maintain these restored natural communities. Prescribed burning is also an important management tool used on the area to benefit quail, rabbit, wild turkey, and a host of other wildlife species.Cattle grazing occurs from April - August on portions of the...
In MDC's words, from the Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove; Quail.
What are the rules on Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area?
Field Trials: Field trials are allowed on this department area only by special use permit. To obtain a special use permit, contact the area manager at the phone number listed for this area in the area details section.
Dove Hunting: Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited for hunting doves on this area.
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 Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area?
Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area lies in Lawrence County. Hunters checked 2,088 deer in Lawrence County in 2025, against 2,161 in 2024.
| County | Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County | 4,353 | 2,088 | 2,161 | 2,116 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Stotts City, take Highway 97 north, then Highway 96 east 1 mile.
Nearest towns: Stotts City (2 miles), Miller (3 miles), Mount Vernon (6 miles) and Hoberg (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-44, MO 97, MO 96 and MO 39.
What other public land is near Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Kickapoo Prairie Conservation Area: 157 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Providence Prairie Conservation Area: 190 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Mount Vernon Prairie: 40 acres, 5.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area
Counting Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area itself, 4,513 of the 49,083 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 4,513 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area?
In Lawrence County, 2 miles from Stotts City.
Can you deer hunt on Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, archery antlerless permits only.
How much public land is around Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area?
4,513 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Kickapoo Prairie Conservation Area (2.1 miles).
Get a Missouri hunt plan when they open
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, Robert E. Talbot 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.