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Missouri conservation area
LaBarque Creek Conservation Area, a hunter guide
1,284 acres of conservation area in Jefferson County: area rules, season dates and nearby land.
Photo: Paul Sableman (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to LaBarque Creek Conservation Area
LaBarque Creek Conservation Area basics
LaBarque Creek Conservation Area measures 1,284 acres on the map and sits in Jefferson County. Jefferson County has 5 conservation areas on our list; this one is the 2nd largest. MDC lists LaBarque Creek Conservation Area in its Gateway district, St. Louis Region.
Non-hunting activities on the area page: trails (hiking) and trapping (special use permit).
The area page says: LaBarque Creek Conservation Area is one of the finest outdoor destinations in Jefferson County. Its rugged, forested hills and steep, narrow valleys, and canyons offer a brilliant hiking experience along its trail, which is approximately three miles long. The bluffs and shelter caves youll see are carved into St. Peter sandstone. Visit after a rain to catch some beautiful water flows or in midwinter for spectacular ice formations. The LaBarque Creek watershed is a true aquatic gem, with 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.
Species named: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Squirrel.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around LaBarque Creek Conservation Area
How LaBarque Creek Conservation Area may be hunted
Area methods and permits for LaBarque Creek Conservation Area, condensed from MDC.
| Game | How | Extra rule |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery only | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Black Bear | Archery only | Zone permit |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
The deer rule for LaBarque Creek Conservation Area is archery methods only, and antlerless permits may be used here. Turkey on LaBarque Creek Conservation Area: archery and firearms under the area listing. Black bear methods here: archery only, with a zone permit from the drawing. Booklet code A for LaBarque Creek Conservation Area means antlerless permits allowed. Only areas on the MDC deer list allow deer hunting; LaBarque Creek Conservation Area made the list.
Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.
LaBarque Creek Conservation Area: the Jefferson County rules
| Rule | Jefferson 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 |
The county is the deer unit here. Jefferson County allows 4 firearms antlerless deer this year. Jefferson County is one of the 100 counties open during the antlerless portions. The year-round feed and mineral ban covers Jefferson County. Jefferson County lies in Black Bear Management Zone 2, where 750 permits were issued against a quota of 22. Three older rules are gone for 2026: the CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point rule.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Dates that apply at LaBarque Creek Conservation Area
7 rows for LaBarque Creek Conservation Area (4 species), cut down to its game list.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open 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 | |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 2 | Bear zone 2 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 |
Archery is the only deer method on LaBarque Creek Conservation Area, so firearms rows are gone. Hunter orange (hat plus vest, coat or shirt) is required during the firearms deer portions.
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.
Public places ringing LaBarque Creek Conservation Area
Head north about 2.3 mi and you reach Myron and Sonya Glassberg Family Conservation Area, the nearest listed neighbor of LaBarque Creek Conservation Area.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | County | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myron and Sonya Glassberg Family CA | Conservation area | 634 | Jefferson | 2.3 mi | north |
| Young CA | Conservation area | 1,300 | Jefferson | 2.8 mi | northeast |
| Pacific Palisades CA | Conservation area | 695 | Jefferson, St. Louis | 4.7 mi | north |
| Catawissa CA | Conservation area | 199 | Franklin | 4.8 mi | northwest |
| Robertsville State Park | State park hunt | 1,231 | Franklin | 6.4 mi | west |
| Rockwoods Range | Conservation area | 1,453 | St. Louis | 7.8 mi | north |
| River 'Round CA | Conservation area | 330 | Franklin | 10 mi | west |
| Jay Henges Range and Education Center (MDC nature center or range) | Nature center or range | – | St. Louis | 11 mi | northeast |
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.
What hunters took around LaBarque Creek Conservation Area
MDC reports by county.
Deer checked in Jefferson County: 5,173 in 2025 and 4,890 in 2024. Spring 2026 turkey harvest in Jefferson County: 421, with 9 from public ground. Jefferson County CWD testing: 5,930 samples in the years shown, 70 positives; first positive year 2016-2017.
| Year | Antlered | Buttons | Does | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,440 | 455 | 2,278 | 5,173 |
| 2024 | 2,219 | 459 | 2,212 | 4,890 |
| 2023 | 2,530 | 497 | 2,730 | 5,757 |
| 2022 | 2,398 | 435 | 2,133 | 4,966 |
| 2021 | 2,449 | 508 | 2,199 | 5,156 |
| 2020 | 2,157 | 477 | 2,216 | 4,850 |
| Year | Spring | Spring, public land | Spring youth | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 421 | 9 | 59 | – | – |
| 2025 | 487 | 13 | 43 | 14 | 25 |
| 2024 | 483 | 26 | 33 | 25 | 21 |
| 2023 | 468 | 17 | 25 | 19 | 44 |
| 2022 | 356 | – | 31 | 21 | 27 |
| 2021 | 437 | – | 45 | 24 | 67 |
| Sample year | Tested | Detections |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 54 | 0 |
| 2025 | 371 | 13 |
| 2024 | 1,440 | 23 |
| 2023 | 1,432 | 15 |
| 2022 | 1,384 | 7 |
| 2021 | 1,249 | 12 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Nearest help for LaBarque Creek Conservation Area hunters
1.1 mi separates LaBarque Creek Conservation Area from LaBarque Creek. Wildwood tops the population column at 35,082. MDC directions: From Eureka, take Highway 109 south to Route FF west, then Route F south approximately 100 feet, then Doc Sargent Road west, then Valley Drive south about 0.50 mile to the parking lot. Eureka hosts the MDC office nearest LaBarque Creek Conservation Area (Jay Henges Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center, 11 mi).
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaBarque Creek | Jefferson | – | 1.1 mi | northeast |
| Eureka | St. Louis | 13,277 | 6.8 mi | northeast |
| Wildwood | St. Louis | 35,082 | 12 mi | north |
| Hillsboro | Jefferson | 3,489 | 14 mi | southeast |
| Parkway | Franklin | 642 | 16 mi | west |
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.
LaBarque Creek Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
Jay Henges range is the nearest public range to LaBarque Creek Conservation Area, about 11 miles away. 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.
LaBarque Creek Conservation Area legal shooting light
Legal light for deer at LaBarque Creek Conservation Area runs 30 minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; for ducks it starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends at sunset.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game legal | Waterfowl legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Images near and like LaBarque Creek Conservation Area
LaBarque Creek Conservation Area, quick questions
What county deer limit applies at LaBarque Creek Conservation Area?
The county rule is 4 antlerless deer with firearms; the antlerless portions are open.
What CWD rules apply at LaBarque Creek Conservation Area?
Jefferson County has no mandatory sampling this year and a year-round feed and mineral ban.
How may turkeys be hunted on LaBarque Creek Conservation Area?
Yes, by archery and firearms; fall firearms turkey runs Oct. 1-31 here.
Does a bear zone include LaBarque Creek Conservation Area?
BMZ 2, 750 permits drawn. Bear hunting is listed here.
When can I shoot at LaBarque Creek Conservation Area on opening day?
Opening day of the November portion runs 6:14 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. there.
What backup public land is near LaBarque Creek Conservation Area?
Within reach: Myron and Sonya Glassberg Family Conservation Area (2.3 mi), Young Conservation Area (2.8 mi) and Pacific Palisades Conservation Area (4.7 mi).
Closest community to LaBarque Creek Conservation Area?
The closest town page is LaBarque Creek (1.1 mi).
How large an area is LaBarque Creek Conservation Area?
1,284 acres in all; the manager is Missouri Department of Conservation.
When may I be on LaBarque Creek Conservation Area?
4 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. No camping listed.
Which Missouri permits do I need at LaBarque Creek Conservation Area?
Statewide MDC permits apply; managed hunts need the drawn permit as well.
Does LaBarque Creek Conservation Area allow hunting?
Yes, for deer, black bear, turkey and squirrel; deer hunting is allowed because the area is on the MDC list.
How may deer be hunted on LaBarque Creek Conservation Area?
MDC lists archery methods only for deer. Antlerless permits are allowed.
LaBarque Creek Conservation Area: checks before you go
Use this page to plan, then reread the agency page for LaBarque Creek Conservation Area shortly before the trip.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Dave Herholz (CC BY-SA 2.0); Jay Shouldol (CC BY-SA 2.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0).