Wilhelmina Conservation Area: hunting and access
Wilhelmina Conservation Area is 1,559 acres of MDC land in Dunklin and Butler counties, 4 miles from Qulin. MDC lists deer hunting here (muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits not allowed). Hunters checked 496 deer in Dunklin 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 sitesWilhelmina Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,559 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Dunklin County and Butler County |
| Deer harvest unit | Dunklin County, Butler County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 8013 |
| MDC region | Southeast |
| Camping (MDC) | open camping - walk-in/float-in/backpack |
| Nearest towns | Qulin (4 mi), Campbell (5 mi) and Broseley (9 mi) |
What is Wilhelmina Conservation Area like?
Wilhelmina Conservation Area is located aboutsix miles southeast of Qulin and lies in both Butler and Dunklin counties. The Butler County portion of the area liestwo miles south ofHighway 53 and is accessible off County Road 220 via an unimproved dirt road. The Dunklin County land is bisected byRoute DD and several county roads.
This 1,519-acre conservation area is named after the small town of Wilhelmina, which is partially surrounded by Department-owned land. Purchased between 1980 and 1987 with Conservation Department funds, Wilhelmina Conservation Area fills a void in a region that previously had very little public land. Part of the area lies along the channel of the St. Francis River. The river has been diverted into the Wilhelmina Cutoff and the old river channel has become a backwater slough. The cutoff also passes through the Wilhelmina Conservation Area. Forested areas are dominated by bottomland hardwood tree species including bald cypress, water tupelo, red maple, water hickory, green ash, willow, pin oak, overcup oak, and willow oak. During your visit to the area, you may see various forest improvement practices designed to improve wildlife habitat and to maintain watershed quality. Any disturbance...
In MDC's words, from the Wilhelmina Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Wilhelmina Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Wilhelmina Conservation Area lists: Deer: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits not allowed; Bear: archery and firearms; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove; Quail.
What are the rules on Wilhelmina Conservation Area?
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.
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 Wilhelmina Conservation Area?
Wilhelmina Conservation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters checked 496 deer in Dunklin County in 2025, against 477 in 2024.
| County | Wilhelmina Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunklin County | 1,308 | 496 | 477 | 540 |
| Butler County | 251 | 1,852 | 1,490 | 2,045 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Wilhelmina Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Campbell, take Highway 53 north for 1.5 miles, then turn left onto Highway DD and head west for 4.50 miles to the area.
Nearest towns: Qulin (4 miles), Campbell (5 miles), Broseley (9 miles) and Malden (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 53, MO 51 and US 62.
What other public land is near Wilhelmina Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Chalk Bluff Trail Access: 83 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Coon Island Conservation Area: 3,179 acres, 7 miles away
- Otter Slough Conservation Area: 4,784 acres, 8.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Wilhelmina Conservation Area
Counting Wilhelmina Conservation Area itself, 1,644 of the 42,409 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 1,642 |
| State parks and historic sites | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Wilhelmina Conservation Area?
In Dunklin and Butler counties, 4 miles from Qulin.
Can you deer hunt on Wilhelmina Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits not allowed.
How much public land is around Wilhelmina Conservation Area?
1,644 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Wilhelmina Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Chalk Bluff Trail Access (1.9 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, Wilhelmina 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.