Whetstone Creek Conservation Area: hunting and access
Whetstone Creek Conservation Area is 5,318 acres of MDC land in Callaway County, 8 miles from Danville. MDC lists deer hunting here only on managed hunts. Hunters checked 5,197 deer in Callaway 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 areasState parks and historic sitesCounty, city and regional landWhetstone Creek Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 5,318 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Callaway County |
| Deer harvest unit | Callaway County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 7601 |
| MDC region | Central |
| MDC managed hunts | deer |
| Camping (MDC) | designated camping sites |
| Shooting range (MDC) | shotgun and rifle or pistol |
| Nearest towns | Danville (8 mi), Auxvasse (9 mi) and Martinsburg (9 mi) |
What is Whetstone Creek Conservation Area like?
Deer hunting by managed hunt only. Consult the Fall Deer and Turkey Booklet, available on MDC's public website, for more information.
The Missouri Department of Conservation purchased the 5,147 acre property in 1976. Approximately 64 percent of the purchase price was supplied from the Pittman-Robertson Act funds administered by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Prior to settlement, the land area of what is today Whetstone Creek CA, had a tallgrass prairie, savanna, woodland, and forest landscape. The woodland and forest slopes on the rolling hills adjacent to the creek gave way to more open savanna and prairie habitats on the flat plains above the creek. Portions of the property have had many owners since the mid-1800's (there were 27 different families owning portions of the land in 1876). It was mostly owned by a few landowners who had relatively large properties by the later 1800's. The area was managed as a cattle ranch through most of the 1900's up until the time when the Department purchased the property. A...
In MDC's words, from the Whetstone Creek Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Whetstone Creek Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Whetstone Creek Conservation Area lists: Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove; Quail. It also lists managed hunts for deer; MDC's managed deer hunt list has the dates and how to apply.
What are the rules on Whetstone Creek Conservation Area?
Target Shooting and Shooting Ranges: An unstaffed range is located on this department area. Target shooting is not allowed anywhere on this area except for designated shooting range(s). Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Ranges may be closed to public use at any time for maintenance or department sponsored events or programs. Possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on all ranges and associated parking lots. Groups of more than 10 people must obtain a special use permit prior to using the range. To obtain a special use permit, contact the area manager at the phone number listed...
Field Trials: Field trials are allowed on this department area only by special use permit. To obtain a special use permit, contact the area manager at the phone number listed for this area in the area details section.
Dove Hunting: Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited for hunting doves on this area.
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 Whetstone Creek Conservation Area?
Whetstone Creek Conservation Area lies in Callaway County. Hunters checked 5,197 deer in Callaway County in 2025, against 4,440 in 2024.
| County | Whetstone Creek Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Callaway County | 5,318 | 5,197 | 4,440 | 5,775 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Whetstone Creek Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From the I-70 Williamsburg Exit 161, take Route D north to the stop sign. Turn west and continue on Route D to County Road 1003. Go north 2 miles on County Road 1003 to the entrance.
Nearest towns: Danville (8 miles), Auxvasse (9 miles), Martinsburg (9 miles) and Wellsville (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 40 and I-70.
What other public land is near Whetstone Creek Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Prairie Fork Conservation Area: 913 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Moores Mill Access: 104 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Marshall I. Diggs Conservation Area: 1,032 acres, 6.4 miles away
- Loutre Lick Access: 155 acres, 6.5 miles away
- Wellsville Lake Conservation Area: 130 acres, 7.1 miles away
- Danville Conservation Area: 3,142 acres, 8.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Whetstone Creek Conservation Area
Counting Whetstone Creek Conservation Area itself, 5,927 of the 46,456 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 5,927 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Whetstone Creek Conservation Area?
In Callaway County, 8 miles from Danville.
Can you deer hunt on Whetstone Creek Conservation Area?
Only on MDC managed hunts, by MDC's page. Managed hunts are applied for through MDC.
How much public land is around Whetstone Creek Conservation Area?
5,927 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Whetstone Creek Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Prairie Fork Conservation Area (1.7 miles).
Get a Missouri hunt plan when they open
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, Whetstone Creek 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.