Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area: hunting and access
Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area is 5,819 acres of MDC land in Crawford and Phelps counties, 3 miles from St. James. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery only, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 3,667 deer in Crawford 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 sitesOther state landCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landWoodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 5,819 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Crawford County and Phelps County |
| Deer harvest unit | Crawford County, Phelps County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 7103 |
| MDC region | Ozark |
| Nearest towns | St. James (3 mi), Steelville (7 mi) and Cuba (8 mi) |
What is Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area like?
Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area, located off Highway 8, near St. James, is one of the most beautiful state-owned properties in Missouri. The area consists of 5,658 acres in Crawford and Phelps counties. The Meramec River and Dry Fork Creek and their tributaries have cut scenic valleys through the area's rugged Ozark hills.
The area was purchased in 1971 with funds from the Conservation Department, the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, and the James H. Woods Foundation. Fishing opportunities abound at Woodson K. Woods. Rainbow and brown trout lurk in the cool waters of the Meramec River and bluegill, catfish, largemouth bass and other warm-water species can be caught from the slow, murky waters of Dry Fork Creek. Access to the Meramec is at Highway 8; the next public access is at Scotts Ford, located nine miles downstream. Deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, quail, great blue herons, eagles, ruffed grouse and many other wildlife species frequent the area, 80 percent of which is forested. The forest is managed to provide food, cover, and water for wildlife and to maintain a healthy forest. Much of the history of Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area is tied directly to the Maramec Spring Ironwork. The area...
In MDC's words, from the Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Woodson K. Woods 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 Woodson K. Woods 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 Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area?
Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters checked 3,667 deer in Crawford County in 2025, against 3,082 in 2024.
| County | Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford County | 3,516 | 3,667 | 3,082 | 4,406 |
| Phelps County | 2,303 | 2,723 | 2,384 | 2,994 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: Southeast of St. James on Highway 8.
Nearest towns: St. James (3 miles), Steelville (7 miles), Cuba (8 miles) and Indian Lake (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-44, MO 68 and MO 8.
What other public land is near Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Scotts Ford Access: 32 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Crooked Creek Conservation Area: 332 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Little Prairie Conservation Area: 340 acres, 6.4 miles away
- John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area: 339 acres, 8.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area
Counting Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area itself, 6,046 of the 60,214 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 5,958 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 43 |
| State parks and historic sites | 29 |
| Other state land | 16 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area?
In Crawford and Phelps counties, 3 miles from St. James.
Can you deer hunt on Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery only, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area?
6,046 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Scotts Ford Access (2.1 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, Woodson K. Woods 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.