Young Conservation Area: hunting and access
Young Conservation Area is 1,278 acres of MDC land in Jefferson County, next to LaBarque Creek. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery only, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 5,173 deer in Jefferson 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 areasCounty, city and regional landYoung Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,278 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Deer harvest unit | Jefferson County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit and Squirrel |
| MDC area number | 8605 |
| MDC region | St. Louis |
| Nearest towns | LaBarque Creek (next to it), Lake Tekakwitha (2 mi) and Eureka (3 mi) |
What is Young Conservation Area like?
Young Conservation Area is another one of three conservation areas within the outstanding LaBarque Creek watershed, which has at least 54 species of fish and a diversity almost three times greater than that of any of the 15 other tributaries of the Meramec River below LaBarque. You'll cross a small bridge over the creek at the start of your hike. Enjoy a diverse and secluded hiking experience between the area's six miles of trail, including the lowland Taconic Loop, and jaunt among the uplands of the LaBarque Hills Trail. Two small ponds close to the parking lot hold sunfish, black bass and white bass for angler anxious to dip a line.
In MDC's words, from the Young Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Young Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Young Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery only, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel.
What are the rules on Young 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 Young Conservation Area?
Young Conservation Area lies in Jefferson County. Hunters checked 5,173 deer in Jefferson County in 2025, against 4,890 in 2024.
| County | Young Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 1,278 | 5,173 | 4,890 | 5,757 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Young Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Eureka, take Route W south, then Route FF west 3 miles.
Nearest towns: LaBarque Creek (next to it), Lake Tekakwitha (2 miles), Eureka (3 miles) and Scotsdale (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 30, I-44, US 50 and US 66.
What other public land is near Young Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Myron and Sonya Glassberg Family Conservation Area: 628 acres, next to it
- LaBarque Creek Conservation Area: 1,284 acres, 1 mile away
- Pacific Palisades Conservation Area: 732 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Rockwoods Range: 1,461 acres, 4.2 miles away
- Catawissa Conservation Area: 216 acres, 4.6 miles away
- Forest 44 Conservation Area: 989 acres, 6.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Young Conservation Area
Counting Young Conservation Area itself, 3,246 of the 33,646 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 3,234 |
| County, city and regional land | 12 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Young Conservation Area?
In Jefferson County, next to LaBarque Creek.
Can you deer hunt on Young Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery only, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Young Conservation Area?
3,246 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Young Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Myron and Sonya Glassberg Family Conservation Area (next to it).
Get a Missouri hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Missouri are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Young 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.