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Conservation area · Northwest Region
Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area, a hunter guide
Conservation area in Buchanan County, 236 acres, MDC Northwest Region.
Photo: Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Getting to Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.4 mi from the centreDirections
- River Bluff Trails West Highland Avenue TrailheadTrailhead · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- River Bluff Trails South TrailheadTrailhead · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- River Bluff Trails North TrailheadTrailhead · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area basics
At 236 acres, Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area is part of the public ground of Buchanan County. Among the 11 conservation areas of Buchanan County, it sits 5th for acres. The Loess Hills district (MDC Northwest Region) handles habitat work on Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area.
The atlas entry for Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area also shows camping (individual campsites), fishing (catfish) and trapping (special use permit).
MDC describes the area this way: Arthur Dupree Memorial Conservation Area is in Buchanan County, west of St. Joseph. The Missouri Department of Conservation received an initial donation of 145 acres in 1992. In late 1994, a second donation expanded the area to its current size of 236 acres. The area offers 1.75 miles of Missouri River frontage and a parking lot. The area was cropland until it was transferred to the Conservation Department. It has been allowed to re-vegetate naturally and was planted to supplement the development of a riparian corridor (the area adjacent to the waterway). A healthy riparian corridor helps improve water quality and stabilizes the riverbank. Riparian vegetation slows runoff, reduces erosion, traps sediment, filters pollutants, and provides food and shelter for wildlife. The area is available for a variety of activities.
Hunted here: Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Quail, Waterfowl.
- White-tailed Deer
- Wild Turkey
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Fox Squirrel
- Northern Bobwhite Quail
- Ducks
- Canada Goose
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area
How Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area may be hunted
Read these before a first trip to Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area; posted signs still govern.
| Species | Allowed | Permit note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery only | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
| Northern Bobwhite Quail | Statewide methods | – |
| Ducks | Open Hunting | Nontoxic shot |
MDC allows archery methods only for deer on Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area; antlerless permits may be used. The turkey rule on Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area reads archery and firearms. In the booklet table Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area carries antlerless code A: antlerless permits allowed. Listed or not matters on MDC ground: Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area is on the deer list.
Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.
Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area duck rules
No draw is needed for ducks on Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area; it is open hunting. Use North Zone dates for Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area, but check the digest if you hunt close to a zone line. Federal law makes nontoxic shot mandatory for waterfowl.
| Season | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Youth waterfowl days | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Regular ducks | Oct 31, 2026 | Dec 29, 2026 |
2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest, managed areas; area page; checked October 29, 2026.
County deer rules for Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area
| Topic | Buchanan County |
|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | Mandatory |
| Feed and mineral ban | No |
| Share the Harvest CWD test | No |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open |
| Dogs, November portion | No rule |
| Elk county | No |
| Bear zone | None |
| Duck zone | North / Middle |
There are no deer units in Missouri; Buchanan County is the unit for Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area, with a firearms antlerless limit of 4. The early (Oct. 9-11) and late (Dec. 5-13) antlerless portions are open in Buchanan County. Plan a stop at a sampling station if you tag a deer in Buchanan County on Nov. 14 or 15. The CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point restriction were removed for 2026.
- Agency Community Center, 11351 Hwy. Ff SE., Agency
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area by season
These 18 rows are the 2026-27 seasons that fit Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area and its game list.
| Species | Hunt | Scope | First day | Last day | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery, first part | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, second part | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall firearms | Open county | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery, part 2 | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Youth quail | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Quail | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | Middle Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Regular ducks | North Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Dec 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 1 | Middle Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 2 | Middle Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Early Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | Statewide | Nov 11, 2026 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Conservation order | Statewide | Feb 7, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 |
Gun portions are dropped: deer on Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area are archery only. Youth portions are for hunters 6 to 15 years old.
From the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, the 2026-2027 waterfowl digest and the 2026 hunting and trapping summary (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026. All Missouri seasons.
Harvest numbers near Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area
Totals are for the whole county.
Buchanan County gave up 867 deer in 2025; the table runs back to 2020. In spring 2026, 125 turkeys were checked in Buchanan County, 13 of them reported from public land. For CWD, Buchanan County shows 0 positives over the years listed.
| Season | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | County total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 460 | 54 | 353 | 867 |
| 2024 | 467 | 54 | 323 | 844 |
| 2023 | 488 | 59 | 343 | 890 |
| 2022 | 479 | 65 | 317 | 861 |
| 2021 | 473 | 52 | 282 | 807 |
| 2020 | 479 | 51 | 279 | 809 |
| Year | Spring | Public | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 125 | 13 | 9 | – | – |
| 2025 | 127 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| 2024 | 124 | 11 | 15 | 2 | 2 |
| 2023 | 115 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 4 |
| 2022 | 94 | – | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 2021 | 91 | – | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year | Samples | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 19 | 0 |
| 2024 | 25 | 0 |
| 2023 | 36 | 0 |
| 2022 | 30 | 0 |
| 2021 | 25 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area: the surrounding public ground
The map pins Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area with the 8 closest public areas, led by Sunbridge Hills Conservation Area at 2.2 mi.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunbridge Hills CA | Conservation area | 146 | Buchanan | 2.2 mi | north |
| Caroline Sheridan Logan Memorial WA | Conservation area | 40 | Buchanan | 2.7 mi | north |
| Wilfrid V. and Anna C. Kneib Memorial CA | Conservation area | 40 | Buchanan | 5.2 mi | southwest |
| Worthwine Island CA | Conservation area | 585 | Andrew | 5.8 mi | northwest |
| Bluffwoods CA – Goodell Memorial Annex | Conservation area | 63 | Buchanan | 8.3 mi | south |
| Pigeon Hill CA | Conservation area | 419 | Buchanan | 9.5 mi | southeast |
| Bluffwoods CA | Conservation area | 2,281 | Buchanan | 11 mi | south |
| Monkey Mountain CA | Conservation area | 1,582 | Andrew, Holt | 11 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.
Who is nearby at Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area
The short run for gas and food is St. Joseph, 3.5 mi out. Driving route: From St. Joseph, take Highway 36 west across Missouri River, then north on Airport Road, then 26th Road north 0.75 mile, and DuPree Road east 0.75 mile. MDC permits and advice: Northwest Regional Office, St Joseph, 5.5 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph | Buchanan | 71,098 | 3.5 mi | southeast |
| Savannah | Andrew | 5,076 | 11 mi | north |
| Faucett | Buchanan | – | 13 mi | south |
| Oregon | Holt | 832 | 20 mi | northwest |
| King City | Gentry | 832 | 26 mi | northeast |
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.
Shooting hours in Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area
Sunrise in the Bootheel and in the Kansas City area can be 20 minutes apart, so use the adjusted times for Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area.
| Day | Hunt | Sun up | Sun down | Big game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:49 a.m. | 7:50 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 7:01 a.m. | 7:28 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:16 a.m. | 7:02 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 7:02 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:53 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 7:01 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:36 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:36 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:23 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.
Hunts, classes and dinners by Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area
Near this ground on October 29, 2026: 2 upcoming events.
Dates ahead
| Held on | Event | Away | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 20, 2027 | RMEF Pony Express Chapter Banquet · RMEF chapter dinner | 4 | St. Joseph | Buy tickets | Source |
| Mar 27, 2027 | Platte Purchase NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter dinner | 4 | St. Joseph | Buy tickets | Source |
Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
Riverbreaks CA range (public, free) is 17 miles from Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area. Beside it, two gun clubs within 30 miles.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
A visual feel for Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area
Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area, quick questions
Town nearest Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area?
St. Joseph, 3.5 mi by straight line.
Where is the next public ground after Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area?
Closest public options are Sunbridge Hills Conservation Area (2.2 mi), Caroline Sheridan Logan Memorial Wildlife Area (2.7 mi) and Wilfrid V. and Anna C. Kneib Memorial Conservation Area (5.2 mi).
Open hours at Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area?
Camping is listed on the area page.
How large an area is Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area?
In charge: Missouri Department of Conservation. Acres: 236.
Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area: open to hunters?
It is open to hunting: deer, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, quail and waterfowl, under statewide seasons and the area rules.
Permits needed for Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area?
MDC permits by game: Small Game, Archer's, Firearms Any-Deer or Antlerless, Migratory Bird.
Are antlerless portions open near Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area?
Up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits in Buchanan County; antlerless portions run in October and December.
Which weapons are legal for deer at Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area?
Archery methods only. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Is fall turkey open at Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area?
Archery and firearms for turkey; the October firearms season is open in the county.
Is there mandatory CWD testing near Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area?
Yes, sampling Nov. 14-15, and no feed ban.
First and last shooting light at Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area?
6:31 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. for deer on opening day; ducks end at 5:07 p.m..
Which duck zone covers Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area?
Hunt ducks under open hunting; the county is in the North Zone.
Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area: confirm these first
Area rules, closures and managed hunt notices on Arthur DuPree Memorial Conservation Area can change; posted signs and the agency page have the final word.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); ilouque (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain).