Settle's Ford Conservation Area: hunting and access
Settle's Ford Conservation Area is 7,325 acres of MDC land in Cass and Bates counties, 2 miles from Creighton. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery only, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 2,731 deer in Cass 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 areasSettle's Ford Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 7,325 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Cass County and Bates County |
| Deer harvest unit | Cass County, Bates County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 8515 |
| MDC region | Kansas City |
| Nearest towns | Creighton (2 mi), Urich (5 mi) and Garden City (6 mi) |
What is Settle's Ford Conservation Area like?
Settle's Ford Conservation Area is located on both sides of the South Grand River in southeast Cass and northeast Bates Counties and is easily accessed from Cass County Route B.
This 7,364-acre area was purchased from willing sellers, primarily using federal funds provided as compensation for the Trimble Wildlife Area, which was inundated by the Smithville Reservoir. Southern Cass and Bates Counties were hotbeds of border violence before and during the Civil War. Eventually all residents were evacuated by federal troops under General Ewing's infamous Order No.11. Shortly after resettlement was permitted, a family with the name of Settle operated a mill and ford in the center of what is currently the conservation area. Settle's Ford is rich in diversity and contains about 3,100 acres of bottomlands and 4,200 acres of uplands. Native warm season grasses, grain crops, and trees have been planted to provide winter cover and nesting habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. Water control structures are used in the bottomlands to provide shallow water for wetland...
In MDC's words, from the Settle's Ford Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Settle's Ford Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Settle's Ford Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery only, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove; Quail.
What are the rules on Settle's Ford Conservation Area?
Closings: Portions of this department area are closed to protect waterfowl from October 15 through March 1.
Hunting: Nontoxic shot is required for all hunting with a shotgun on this area. Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited.
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 Settle's Ford Conservation Area?
Settle's Ford Conservation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters checked 2,731 deer in Cass County in 2025, against 2,496 in 2024.
| County | Settle's Ford Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County | 3,887 | 2,731 | 2,496 | 2,662 |
| Bates County | 3,438 | 2,316 | 2,212 | 2,397 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Settle's Ford Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Creighton, take Route B west 4 miles, then Index Road south 1 mile to the area's main entrance.
Nearest towns: Creighton (2 miles), Urich (5 miles), Garden City (6 miles) and Adrian (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 7.
What other public land is near Settle's Ford Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Urich Conservation Area: 470 acres, 7.4 miles away
- James R. Harter Conservation Area: 463 acres, 9.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Settle's Ford Conservation Area
Counting Settle's Ford Conservation Area itself, 7,326 of the 63,115 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (11.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 7,326 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Settle's Ford Conservation Area?
In Cass and Bates counties, 2 miles from Creighton.
Can you deer hunt on Settle's Ford Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery only, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Settle's Ford Conservation Area?
7,326 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Settle's Ford Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Urich Conservation Area (7.4 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, Settle's Ford 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.