Ted Shanks Conservation Area: hunting and access
Ted Shanks Conservation Area is 6,801 acres of MDC land in Pike County, next to Ashburn. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery only, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 4,848 deer in Pike 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 landLand trusts and other open landTed Shanks Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 6,801 acres (4,026 by MDC's page) in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Pike County |
| Deer harvest unit | Pike County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 7011 |
| MDC region | Northeast |
| Camping (MDC) | designated camping sites |
| Nearest towns | Ashburn (next to it), Louisiana (2 mi) and Saverton (8 mi) |
What is Ted Shanks Conservation Area like?
This 6,705-acre area contains bottomland hardwood timber, open marsh, mixed shrub/scrub/emergent wetlands, row crop, oxbow lakes and sloughs, old fields, and upland woods. The area consists of 3,827 acres of MDC lands and 2,878 acres of lands managed under a cooperative agreement between the Conservation Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Pittman-Robertson funds from the federal excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition were used for 75% of the purchase cost of the original area. The area was acquired in 1970 to 1971. Ted Shanks Conservation Area borders 8.75 miles of Mississippi River frontage, 4.75 miles of the Salt River and 2.25 miles of river bluffs. Zebulon Pike charted the mouth of the Salt River in 1805. The area was a hunting and battle ground for Sac and Fox Indians from the north and the Osages from the south. The land was granted to Saucier in 1799 and in turn to his son-in-law's brother, Auguste Chouteau (one of the founders of St. Louis), then to Neree Valle (associated with the founding of Ste. Genevieve). The area contains 35 miles of levees, three pump stations, nine miles of water canals and 45 water control structures. The area is divided into 25 management units. A concrete boat ramp provides access to the Salt River.
In MDC's words, from the Ted Shanks Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Ted Shanks Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Ted Shanks Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery only, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove; Quail.
What are the rules on Ted Shanks 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.
Waterfowl Hunting: Waterfowl hunting is prohibited after 1:00 p.m. on designated portions of this area (one of several MDC lists for this rule).
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 Ted Shanks Conservation Area?
Ted Shanks Conservation Area lies in Pike County. Hunters checked 4,848 deer in Pike County in 2025, against 4,425 in 2024.
| County | Ted Shanks Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pike County | 6,801 | 4,848 | 4,425 | 4,855 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Ted Shanks Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Hannibal, take Highway 79 south 17 miles, then Route TT east to the area.
Nearest towns: Ashburn (next to it), Louisiana (2 miles), Saverton (8 miles) and Frankford (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 79 and US 54.
What other public land is near Ted Shanks Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Upper Mississippi Conservation Area: 12,715 acres, next to it
- Dupont Reservation Conservation Area: 1,345 acres, next to it
- Edward Anderson Conservation Area: 1,067 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Ranacker Conservation Area: 1,832 acres, 8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Ted Shanks Conservation Area
Counting Ted Shanks Conservation Area itself, 10,268 of the 60,152 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (17.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 10,221 |
| County, city and regional land | 45 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Ted Shanks Conservation Area?
In Pike County, next to Ashburn.
Can you deer hunt on Ted Shanks Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery only, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Ted Shanks Conservation Area?
10,268 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Ted Shanks Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Upper Mississippi Conservation Area (next to it).
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, Ted Shanks 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.