Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area: hunting and access
Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area is 6,373 acres of MDC land in Pemiscot County, 3 miles from Hayti. MDC lists deer hunting here (muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits not allowed). Hunters checked 169 deer in Pemiscot 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 areasCounty, city and regional landStephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 6,373 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Pemiscot County |
| Deer harvest unit | Pemiscot County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer and Turkey |
| MDC area number | 200510 |
| MDC region | Southeast |
| Nearest towns | Hayti (3 mi), Hayti Heights (4 mi) and Hayward (5 mi) |
What is Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area like?
The Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area is enrolled in the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), which is a program through the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), which is designed to restore and protect wetlands.
The Stephen C. Bradford Unit consists of a recent abandoned river channel of the Mississippi River. Twenty wetland pools were created, and will be managed for waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds. The remaining portion of the area contains a mix of open fields, food plots and bottomland/riverfront forest. All public use is prohibited, except fishing and waterfowl hunting by boat only, when the Mississippi River water level is at or above twenty eight (28) feet on the Caruthersville gauge.
In MDC's words, from the Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area lists: Deer: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits not allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms.
What are the rules on Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area?
Closings: This department area is closed during periods of high water.
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 Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area?
Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area lies in Pemiscot County. Hunters checked 169 deer in Pemiscot County in 2025, against 227 in 2024.
| County | Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pemiscot County | 6,373 | 169 | 227 | 220 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Hayti I-55 exit, take Highway 84 east, then County Road 337 north, and County Road 338 east to the area.
Nearest towns: Hayti (3 miles), Hayti Heights (4 miles), Hayward (5 miles) and Caruthersville (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-55, US 61, US 412, MO 84 and I-155.
What other public land is near Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Gayoso Bend Unit of Black Island Conservation Area: 953 acres, next to it
- Wolf Bayou Unit of Black Island Conservation Area: 349 acres, next to it
- DeSoto Unit of Black Island Conservation Area: 737 acres, next to it
- John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area: 680 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Twin Borrow Pits Conservation Area: 74 acres, 3.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area
Counting Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area itself, 8,461 of the 62,235 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (13.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 8,452 |
| County, city and regional land | 9 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area?
In Pemiscot County, 3 miles from Hayti.
Can you deer hunt on Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits not allowed.
How much public land is around Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area?
8,461 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Gayoso Bend Unit of Black Island Conservation Area (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island 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.