Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area: hunting and access
Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area is 383 acres of MDC land in Wright County, 10 miles from Grovespring. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery only, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 3,625 deer in Wright 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 areasNational forestWilbur Allen Memorial Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 383 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Wright County |
| Deer harvest unit | Wright County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 8112 |
| MDC region | Ozark |
| Camping (MDC) | individual campsites |
| Nearest towns | Grovespring (10 mi), Hartville (11 mi) and Plato (12 mi) |
What is Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area like?
Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area is located on a gravel road off Highway 95 about 20 miles northeast of Hartville in Wright County.
The area was named in honor of Mr. Wilbur Allen, the inventor of the compound bow. To commemorate Mr. Allen's contribution to archery, his family in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Conservation, established this area in 1981. Its purpose is to promote the sport of bow hunting by providing a place where deer are hunted exclusively by bow. (Other wildlife species may be taken with firearms during the prescribed season.) The 380-acre tract is half forested. The remainder is planted with native grasses and other plants to benefit a large number of wildlife species. One mile of the Gasconade River runs through the area, affording many recreational opportunities. This river is well known for its excellent smallmouth bass and goggle-eye fishing. During your visit, you may view various forest improvement practices designed to improve tree growth, quality, and species composition....
In MDC's words, from the Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery only, antlerless permits allowed; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove; Quail.
What are the rules on Wilbur Allen 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 Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area?
Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area lies in Wright County. Hunters checked 3,625 deer in Wright County in 2025, against 3,079 in 2024.
| County | Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wright County | 383 | 3,625 | 3,079 | 3,926 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Manes, take Highway 95 north 1 mile, then Radford Drive west 1.50 miles.
Nearest towns: Grovespring (10 miles), Hartville (11 miles), Plato (12 miles) and Evergreen (14 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 95.
What other public land is near Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Buzzard Bluff Access: 90 acres, 4 miles away
- Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area: 1,716 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Camp Branch Access: 22 acres, 9.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area
Counting Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area itself, 472 of the 25,907 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 383 |
| National forest | 89 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area?
In Wright County, 10 miles from Grovespring.
Can you deer hunt on Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery only, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area?
472 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Buzzard Bluff Access (4 miles).
Get a Missouri hunt plan when they open
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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, Wilbur Allen 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.