Compton Hollow Hunting - Webster MO

Location & Size

Compton Hollow Conservation Area is in Webster County, approximately 20 miles east of Springfield and nine miles west of Marshfield. This 840-acre area owned by the Missouri Department of Conservation is a mostly forested area that provides both hunting and nature-viewing opportunities.

Hunting

Hunting for all major game species is permitted in season. It gets hunted quite a bit since it's close to Springfield, but despite being only about 20 minutes from Springfield, Compton Hollow is fairly underused — it is not uncommon to spend a couple of hours there and not see another human. That's a good sign for a hunter.

Species

The area is home to numerous game and non-game species including deer, turkey, squirrel, and raccoon. Deer and turkey are the primary draw. With its location in southwest Missouri and its heavily wooded landscape, it's a popular destination for deer hunters in November.

Terrain

Approximately 90 percent of the area is forested. Non-forested areas are composed of old fields and wildlife food plots. Several small ponds provide wildlife watering holes. Compton Hollow contains two distinct natural features: several small dolomite glades and a dry-mesic chert woodland. The MDC actively manages the habitat with food plots, forest thinnings, and small forest clearings designed to improve wildlife habitat. The terrain itself is relatively gentle — most of the trails are not very challenging and it's pretty flat for the most part, according to the MDC resource management crew leader.

Important Hunting Rules to Know

Trails are closed during all portions of the firearms deer season and during shooting hours of the spring turkey hunting season. Only portable tree stands are allowed, must be labeled with your name, and must be removed before February 1. A special use hunting area for hunters with medical exemptions is in the north-central part of the area, beginning near the northwestern parking lot off Conservation Lane. The boundaries are marked with orange paint.

Bonus Feature for Bowhunters

The area offers a walk-through bow range where targets are placed along a trail so that bowhunters can learn to react quickly — a 6-station archery field course located near the east parking lot off Compton Hollow Road. A great perk for practicing before season.

Access

From Marshfield, take I-44 west to exit 96, then Route B south 5 miles, then Compton Hollow Road east about 1 mile. There are two parking lots on Compton Hollow Road about 0.75 miles apart, plus a third parking lot off Conservation Lane on the northwest end.

Bottom Line

It's a solid, well-managed 840-acre MDC conservation area with active habitat management — food plots, water holes, forest clearings — specifically designed to hold deer and turkey. Given that it's only 20 minutes from Springfield but reportedly sees light pressure, it could be a sleeper spot for a bowhunter willing to do some scouting. Not a destination-level hunting area, but a quality local option with good management behind it.

Property size: 840 acres

Maximum Number of Hunters:

Cattle on Property?

Is fishing allowed?

Are family members allowed?

Are guests allowed?

Can this be used as a corporate lease?

Big Game Limits?

Shared bag limit applied?

Does the landowner require a phone or text notification before hunting?

Electric hookup on property?

Water hookup on property?

Is camping allowed on property?

Greg Willis

• (405) 674-4868
• sales@ushunts.com