Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area: hunting and access
Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area is 322 acres of MDC land in Dade County, 5 miles from Lockwood. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery only, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 1,702 deer in Dade 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 areasLand trusts and other open landWade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 322 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Dade County |
| Deer harvest unit | Dade County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit and Quail |
| MDC area number | 200908 |
| MDC region | Southwest |
| Nearest towns | Lockwood (5 mi), Golden City (7 mi) and Greenfield (7 mi) |
What is Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area like?
This 320-acre prairie was purchased in 2009 with funds donated from the Wade and June Shelton Family. The area is mostly open prairie with a small amount of brushy cover. The area is home to a fair number of rabbits and quail, as well as many other species of grassland birds. Hunting is allowed, but please note that firearms that fire a single projectile are prohibited on the area.
In MDC's words, from the Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery only, antlerless permits allowed; Bear: archery only; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Quail.
What are the rules on Wade and June Shelton 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 Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area?
Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area lies in Dade County. Hunters checked 1,702 deer in Dade County in 2025, against 1,593 in 2024.
| County | Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dade County | 322 | 1,702 | 1,593 | 1,787 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Lockwood, take Highway 97 north 4 miles, then Route VV west 2 miles, and Dade 51 north 0.75 mile.
Nearest towns: Lockwood (5 miles), Golden City (7 miles), Greenfield (7 miles) and Arcola (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 97 and US 160.
What other public land is near Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Sons Creek Conservation Area: 299 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Niawathe Prairie Conservation Area: 316 acres, 3 miles away
- Horse Creek Prairie Conservation Area: 77 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Stony Point Prairie Conservation Area: 981 acres, 4.2 miles away
- Stockton Lake Management Lands: 17,023 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Dr. O. E. and Eloise Sloan Conservation Area: 314 acres, 5.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area
Counting Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area itself, 621 of the 24,122 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 621 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area?
In Dade County, 5 miles from Lockwood.
Can you deer hunt on Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery only, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area?
621 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Sons Creek Conservation Area (1.2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, Wade and June Shelton 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.