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Conservation area · 2026-27
Rockwoods Reservation hunting guide
What MDC publishes about this conservation area in St. Louis County, in one page.
Photo: Paul Sableman (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Rockwoods Reservation
Rockwoods Reservation: acres, manager and game
The record gives Rockwoods Reservation 1,881 acres in St. Louis County. Among the 11 conservation areas of St. Louis County, it sits 3rd for acres. It belongs to the Gateway management district, MDC St. Louis Region.
General hunting is not offered on Rockwoods Reservation: only hunters drawn for its managed hunts may hunt. Other uses MDC lists for Rockwoods Reservation: trails (biking, hiking), camping (designated camping sites, special use permit required) and rock climbing.
From the MDC area description: It's hard to believe you could find a place like Rockwoods Reservation in busy west St. Louis County. But it's a sample of the Ozarks right in the middle of the suburbs. The area harbors a rich diversity of plant and animal life as well as springs, caves, and rock formations. Cool, moist, north facing ravines and lush creek bottoms contrast with the nearby arid, rocky ridge tops, and south slopes. The terrain is reminiscent of the Ozark hills and many plants and animals found in hill country are also found here. Rockwoods reservation features about 13 miles of foot trails of varying length and difficulty. These convey hikers by caves, along Hamilton Creek which flows during wet weather, scenic overlooks, and a giant historic lime kiln.
Game species: Deer.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Rockwoods Reservation
Neighbors of Rockwoods Reservation on the map
Count on Rockwoods Range as the first fallback, 3.5 mi southwest of Rockwoods Reservation.
| Public land | Type | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockwoods Range | Conservation area | 1,453 | St. Louis | 3.5 mi | southwest |
| Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park | State park hunt | 2,348 | St. Louis | 4.2 mi | northwest |
| Roger Klamberg Woods CA | Conservation area | 67 | St. Louis | 4.7 mi | east |
| Pacific Palisades CA | Conservation area | 695 | Jefferson, St. Louis | 7.0 mi | southwest |
| Howell Island CA | Conservation area | 2,548 | St. Charles, St. Louis | 7.1 mi | north |
| Jay Henges Range and Education Center (MDC nature center or range) | Nature center or range | – | St. Louis | 7.2 mi | southeast |
| Forest 44 CA | Conservation area | 958 | St. Louis | 7.7 mi | east |
| Weldon Spring CA | Conservation area | 8,398 | St. Charles | 8.5 mi | northwest |
Points: MDC Conservation Area Centroids layer (https://gisblue.mdc.mo.gov/arcgis/rest/services/Discover_Nature/MDC_Administrative_Areas/FeatureServer/4). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rockwoods Reservation hunting methods
Rockwoods Reservation follows statewide seasons with the area limits shown here.
| Game | Methods | Note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Managed hunts only | Drawing only |
What the Code adds for Rockwoods Reservation
- Special hours apply on this department area. This area is open to public use only as authorized by posting.
- Equestrian use is prohibited on all portions of this department area, including roads open to vehicular traffic.
The deer hunting quick view is the list that counts for MDC areas, and Rockwoods Reservation appears on it.
Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.
Managed deer hunts on Rockwoods Reservation
The 2026-27 managed deer hunt list gives Rockwoods Reservation 3 hunts and 45 drawn spots. MDC groups them as archery (3). MDC took applications through Jul 31, 2026; results go out from mid-August.
| Hunt | Kind | Dates | Hunters drawn | Limit | Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69 | Archery | Oct. 5–23 | 15 | B | – |
| 70 | Archery | Nov. 2–15 | 15 | D | – |
| 71 | Archery | Nov. 30–Dec. 13 | 15 | B | – |
MDC Managed Deer Hunts List 2026-2027; checked October 29, 2026.
Which county rules govern Rockwoods Reservation
| Rule | St. Louis County |
|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | No |
| Feed and mineral ban | Yes |
| Share the Harvest CWD test | Required |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open |
| Dogs, November portion | No rule |
| Elk county | No |
| Bear zone | Zone 2 |
| Duck zone | Middle |
Missouri sets deer rules county by county, so Rockwoods Reservation follows St. Louis County: up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits. St. Louis County opens for both antlerless portions this year. St. Louis County is one of 85 counties with the year-round feed and mineral ban. Bear Management Zone 2 covers St. Louis County: 750 permits and a 22-bear quota for Oct. 17-30. MDC retired the CWD portion, its management zone and the antler-point restriction for 2026.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Rockwoods Reservation town and service list
Wildwood lies closest, about 0.9 mi as the crow flies. How MDC says to drive in: In Wildwood from Highway 100, take Highway 109 south for 2 miles, then Woods Avenue west 50 yards, and Glencoe Road north to Rockwoods. Need MDC staff? Rockwoods Reservation Field Office in Wildwood is 0.4 mi out.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildwood | St. Louis | 35,082 | 0.9 mi | north |
| Eureka | St. Louis | 13,277 | 4.7 mi | south |
| Weldon Spring | St. Charles | 5,304 | 10 mi | north |
| LaBarque Creek | Jefferson | – | 10 mi | south |
| Dardenne Prairie | St. Charles | 14,407 | 13 mi | north |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024); offices and businesses from services.json (MDC offices and business listings, chain stores and permit vendors left out); straight-line miles. Checked October 29, 2026.
Rockwoods Reservation: deer, turkey and CWD by year
County figures, the smallest unit MDC publishes.
The county total for 2025 was 1,922 deer (808 antlered bucks), the closest MDC figure for Rockwoods Reservation. 10 public-land birds out of 101 in spring 2026, St. Louis County. 1 positive deer in St. Louis County in the sample years shown.
| Permit year | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 808 | 145 | 969 | 1,922 |
| 2024 | 797 | 145 | 975 | 1,917 |
| 2023 | 845 | 167 | 1,003 | 2,015 |
| 2022 | 861 | 174 | 1,109 | 2,144 |
| 2021 | 899 | 184 | 1,101 | 2,184 |
| 2020 | 936 | 224 | 1,179 | 2,339 |
| Year | Spring harvest | Public land share | Youth weekend | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 101 | 10 | 10 | – | – |
| 2025 | 113 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 14 |
| 2024 | 115 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 2023 | 129 | 18 | 3 | 6 | 19 |
| 2022 | 94 | – | 5 | 6 | 17 |
| 2021 | 77 | – | 6 | 5 | 20 |
| Season | Tested | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 31 | 0 |
| 2025 | 300 | 1 |
| 2024 | 129 | 0 |
| 2023 | 147 | 0 |
| 2022 | 113 | 0 |
| 2021 | 107 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Rockwoods Reservation, the event calendar nearby
About 10 straight-line miles out from the area there is 1 upcoming event.
Coming up
| Held on | Event | Mi | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 5–6, 2026 | Trapping: Scout. Set. Skin: A Missouri Trapping Experience · trapping clinic | 7 | Register | Source |
First and last shooting light in Rockwoods Reservation
The times below start from the MDC Jefferson City table and subtract 6 minutes for Rockwoods Reservation, as the booklet directs.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear, elk | Ducks, doves, geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:31 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 8:02 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:43 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 6:58 a.m. | 6:44 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:35 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:43 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:18 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:18 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
Hours rule and the Jefferson City sunrise and sunset table from the MDC Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest (same table in the Fall Deer and Turkey booklet), adjusted 1 minute per 13.5 miles east or west as MDC directs; checked October 29, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Missouri scenes for Rockwoods Reservation
Rockwoods Reservation hunters: public range and clubs
From Rockwoods Reservation, Jay Henges range is the nearest MDC or other public range (7 miles). Nearby gun clubs fill the other cards.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Rockwoods Reservation questions with sourced answers
How large an area is Rockwoods Reservation?
Roughly 1,881 acres, looked after by Missouri Department of Conservation.
Rockwoods Reservation hours and camping?
Area hours: Open sunrise to one-half hour after sunset daily. MDC lists camping.
What paperwork covers a hunt at Rockwoods Reservation?
Buy the matching Missouri permit (Missouri calls them permits); waterfowl also need the federal duck stamp.
Is Rockwoods Reservation open for hunting this season?
Not for walk-in hunters; MDC runs managed hunts by drawing.
What is the antlerless limit for Rockwoods Reservation?
St. Louis County sets a firearms antlerless fill limit of 4, and its antlerless portions are open.
Does the feed ban cover Rockwoods Reservation?
For St. Louis County, sampling is not required and the feed ban applies.
Which bear permits work at Rockwoods Reservation?
The county is BMZ 2; bear is not listed for the area.
Does MDC hold a drawing for Rockwoods Reservation?
MDC lists 3 managed hunts here; the July 1-31 application window decides who goes.
How long is the legal day at Rockwoods Reservation in mid-November?
From 6:14 a.m. until 5:20 p.m. on Nov. 14, by the MDC table with the longitude correction.
Closest public alternatives to Rockwoods Reservation?
The three nearest: Rockwoods Range (3.5 mi), Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park (4.2 mi) and Roger Klamberg Woods Conservation Area (4.7 mi).
Where do I buy gas near Rockwoods Reservation?
About 0.9 mi to Wildwood.
Leaving for Rockwoods Reservation?
Missouri sells permits, not licenses: buy the right one before you hunt Rockwoods Reservation, and wear hunter orange in the firearms portions.
Sources: source · source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); NPS Photo (Public domain); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain).