John Alva Fuson, MD Conservation Area, a hunter guide

John Alva Fuson, MD Conservation Area basics

John Alva Fuson, MD Conservation Area measures 1,534 acres on the map and sits in Wright County. Wright County has 3 conservation areas on our list; this one is the 1st largest. MDC lists John Alva Fuson, MD Conservation Area in its Bryant Creek district, Ozark Region.

Non-hunting activities on the area page: camping (designated camping sites, individual campsites) and dog training.

The area page says: John Alva Fuson, MD Conservation Area is in Wright County, 16 miles northwest of Hartville. The late Dr. Fuson practiced medicine throughout Wright County. To commemorate his years of service, his daughter, Maurine Fuson Raidler, left funds in her estate to purchase this area. This area is approximately 85 percent forested. The remainder of the tract is a mixture of remnant native upland, annual wildlife food plots, and bottomland old field habitat that was historically used as rangeland or cropland. The east side of the area features three caves: Smittle, Little Smittle and Lowell caves. Smittle Cave is one of the largest caves in the state, with over two miles of mapped passages. All caves on this and other Conservation Areas are currently closed or restricted to public access. The fungus that causes White-nose Syndrome in bats was found in Missouri in 2010, resulting in the Missouri Department of Conservations White-nose Syndrome Action Plan that limits public access to protect bats. WNS can be spread from cave to cave by bats or possibly on the gear of explorers.

Species named: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove, Quail.

• White-tailed Deer
• Black Bear
• Wild Turkey
• Eastern Cottontail
• Gray Squirrel
• Fox Squirrel
• Mourning Dove
• Northern Bobwhite Quail

From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.

Public places ringing John Alva Fuson, MD Conservation Area

Head west about 5.3 mi and you reach Rader Access, the nearest listed neighbor of John Alva Fuson, MD Conservation Area.

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.

John Alva Fuson, MD Conservation Area legal shooting light

Legal light for deer at John Alva Fuson, MD Conservation Area runs 30 minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; for ducks it starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends at sunset.

Fall firearms turkey ends at sunset, the same as the bird column.

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.

John Alva Fuson, MD Conservation Area full? Try these four instead

John Alva Fuson, MD Conservation Area: checks before you go

Use this page to plan, then reread the agency page for John Alva Fuson, MD Conservation Area shortly before the trip.

Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.