Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area: hunting and access
Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area is 2,225 acres of MDC land in Boone County, 4 miles from Hallsville. MDC lists deer hunting here (muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 3,439 deer in Boone 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 landRocky Fork Lakes Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,225 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Boone County |
| Deer harvest unit | Boone County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel and Quail |
| MDC area number | 7912 |
| MDC region | Central |
| Shooting range (MDC) | shotgun and rifle or pistol |
| Nearest towns | Hallsville (4 mi), Columbia (8 mi) and Harrisburg (9 mi) |
What is Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area like?
The Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area is located in Boone County approximately six miles north of Columbia on Highway 63 and one-half mile east on Peabody road.
Because the area is located near a population center of 100,000+ people, its 2,200 acres are heavily used by many people for a variety of outdoor activities. The shooting range is open Wednesday through Sunday and the hours are 10am - 4pm October through March and 12pm - 6pm April through September. The terrain is extremely rugged due to strip mining, which occurred prior to acquisition by the Department. The mined area has broad ridge tops and generally steep slopes. Approximately 1,150 acres were strip mined with the balance of the acreage being oak-hickory forest cover and upland fields. One field of 25 acres is mainly bluestem prairie. Approximately 70 percent of the strip mined area has been planted with a mixture of trees and shrubs. The remaining areas were seeded with fescue which developed into excellent ground cover on the seeded area, but is not very favorable for wildlife....
In MDC's words, from the Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area lists: Deer: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Quail.
What are the rules on Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area?
Target Shooting and Shooting Ranges: A staffed shooting range is located on this department area. Target shooting is not allowed anywhere on this area except for designated shooting range(s). Shooting range(s) on this area are open to public use only as authorized by posting. Ranges may be opened or closed 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...
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.
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 Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area?
Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area lies in Boone County. Hunters checked 3,439 deer in Boone County in 2025, against 3,174 in 2024.
| County | Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boone County | 2,225 | 3,439 | 3,174 | 3,644 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Columbia, take Highway 63 north 7 miles, then Peabody Road east 1 mile to the area.
Nearest towns: Hallsville (4 miles), Columbia (8 miles), Harrisburg (9 miles) and Sturgeon (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 63, MO 124 and MO 763.
What other public land is near Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Lick Creek Conservation Area: 295 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Tri-City Community Lake: 100 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Henry Jackson Waters and C. B. Moss Memorial Wildlife Area: 110 acres, 8.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area
Counting Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area itself, 3,324 of the 38,331 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 2,260 |
| State parks and historic sites | 1,059 |
| County, city and regional land | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area?
In Boone County, 4 miles from Hallsville.
Can you deer hunt on Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area?
3,324 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Lick Creek Conservation Area (5.4 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, Rocky Fork Lakes 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.