The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area: hunting and access
The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area is 356 acres of MDC land in Taney County, next to Merriam Woods. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery only, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 2,452 deer in Taney 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 areasFederal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakesCounty, city and regional landThe Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 356 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Taney County |
| Deer harvest unit | Taney County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel and Dove |
| MDC area number | 201302 |
| MDC region | Southwest |
| Nearest towns | Merriam Woods (next to it), Bull Creek (next to it) and Rockaway Beach (next to it) |
What is The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area like?
This 362 acre Conservation Area was generously donated by the late David D. Lewis in 2012. Mr. Lewis was a lifelong resident of Taney County. It was his wish to keep this property intact for others to enjoy.
Bull Creek runs through the southern portion of the area for a length of approximately one-half mile. Habitat communities on the area are diverse with a mix of upland and bottomland forest, as well as woodlands, savannas, grasslands, and glades. A 40 acre portion of this area, on the east side, is within the Village of Merriam Woods. Hunting is allowed, but note that firearms that fire a single projectile are prohibited. A 3.3 mile out and back hiking trail starts at the parking area and leads to Bull Creek.
In MDC's words, from the The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area?
MDC's page for The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery only, antlerless permits allowed; Bear: archery only; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove.
What are the rules on The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area?
MDC's standard conservation area rules (Chapter 11 of the Wildlife Code) apply; the area's rules on MDC's site list any it adds.
How many deer are taken around The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area?
The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area lies in Taney County. Hunters checked 2,452 deer in Taney County in 2025, against 2,057 in 2024.
| County | The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taney County | 356 | 2,452 | 2,057 | 2,805 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Highway 465/Highway 65/Route F intersection, on the north side of Branson, take Route F east 3.40 miles, then Highway 160 southeast 0.25 mile, then Highway 176 south 0.67 mile to the parking lot on the west side of Highway 176.
Nearest towns: Merriam Woods (next to it), Bull Creek (next to it), Rockaway Beach (next to it) and Forsyth (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 65, US 160, MO 465 and MO 176.
What other public land is near The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Boston Ferry Conservation Area: 170 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Bull Shoals Lake Management Lands: 35,896 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area: 1,537 acres, 4.9 miles away
- Cooper Creek Access: 49 acres, 6.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area
Counting The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area itself, 576 of the 26,593 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 535 |
| County, city and regional land | 41 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area?
In Taney County, next to Merriam Woods.
Can you deer hunt on The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery only, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area?
576 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Boston Ferry Conservation Area (0.7 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, The Lewis Family, Dean, Anna Mae and David D. Lewis Memorial 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.