MDC seeks public input on towersites across central Missouri

Public can comment through Aug. 31 on draft management plan. 

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is in the multi-year process of updating Conservation Area Management Plans and is seeking public input on how conservation areas are important to Missourians.  A draft management plan for the Department’s Central Region Towersites is available for public review through Aug. 31. To preview this draft management plan and share comments online, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/areaplans. 

Towersites provide MDC a means for detecting wildfires and allow the public limited access for hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities. Towersites covered in this management plan include Branch Towersite, Camdenton Conservation Service Center, Freeburg Towersite, Proctor Towersite, and Rocky Mount Towersite. 

Statewide, MDC conservation areas cover almost one million public acres for the purpose of restoring and conserving forest, fish and wildlife resources, and for providing opportunities for all citizens to use, enjoy and learn about these resources. Most Missourians are within a 30-minute drive of an MDC conservation area.

Conservation Area Management Plans focus on natural resource management and public use on conservation areas. The plans do not address regulations on hunting, fishing and other area uses, which are set by the Conservation Commission and enforced under the Wildlife Code of Missouri. MDC will consider all ideas received and will work to balance the issues and interests identified with the responsibility of managing areas for the present and future benefits to forest, fish, wildlife, and people. Decisions on which ideas to incorporate into area plans and on how to best incorporate them will be based on the property’s purpose, its physical and biological conditions and capabilities, the best roles of the property in its local, regional and state-wide context, and on the professional expertise of MDC staff.

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Finding the right place to hunt on Missouri Conservation Areas - Adair County

SPECIES TO HUNT:

deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, pheasant, waterfowl, quail

Adair County in north-central Missouri

Adair County is in the northern-central region of Missouri, and has been part of the central location for Missouri's hottest region for deer hunters seeking trophy Missouri whitetails.  This status for the region has been placed in a small degree of peril by the CWD outbreak, but is still a good deer hunting location.  It is also a region where there are some other great options for hunting other species.

There are four conservation

Adair County CA's...for links click HERE

areas in Adair County, Union Ridge being the largest at almost 8,000 acres.  All four have good deer populations.  Big Creek comes in second at 1064 acres, followed by Montgomery Woods and Shoemaker at 348 and 259 acres respectively.

BIG CREEK CONSERVATION AREA

This area borders Thousand Hills State Park, ad is predominantly grasslands and savanna.

Hunting for deer and squirrel are considered good on this property, while turkey and rabbit just fair. To arrive at this location from Kirksville, take Business Highway 63 south 0.50 mile, then take Highway 11 west 1.70 miles, then take Route H north 1.70 miles, and take Rainbow Basin Trail west 1 mile.

If you get tired of hunting, there are several ponds with some decent catfish and bass fishing as well.

Here is a link to Big Creek Conservation Area on Google Maps.

MONTGOMERY WOODS

This area is a little less than 20 miles west of Kirksville.

Of the 348 acres in the area, it is nearly all forested with relatively rough terrain.  Deer, turkey, and squirrel hunting are all good at Montgomery Woods. This might be one of those areas that gets overlooked a bit because it's on the smaller size. Keep in mind that were this private lad, 348 acres is a pretty good sized chunk or real estate.

Here is a link to Montgomery Woods on Google Maps.

SHOEMAKER

Shoemaker is west of Kirksville, and a little east of Unio Ridge Conservation Area.

Of the approximately 260 acres at Shoemaker, all but about 10 are forested.  Deer, turkey, and squirrel hunting are all good here.  In terms of the size of this area, again, don't discount it as too small. Also, it might be a good alternative from Union Ridge, as it's close by and Union can get crowded during deer ad turkey seasons.

Here is a link to Shoemaker on Google Maps.

Union Ridge 

Union Ridge is the largest and best known conservation area in Adair County, and it gets crowded during certain hunting seasons. Because of its popularity, deer regs and perhaps others have been adjusted to handle the pressure it gets. We used to frequent the area ad have kind of put it on the back burner as of late. Having said that, it's a beautiful area and our tolerance level for company when hunting is very low.

There are lots of hunting options at Union Ridge. Deer, dove, rabbit, and squirrel are all good. Pheasant, quail, waterfowl, and turkey are fair.

Of the approximately 8300 acres, about 5400 are wooded while the rest is grassland, savana, old fields, etc.

We have had some great times here, ad it's probably worth a visit at some point if you like hunting northern Missouri. We would just advise advance scouting during deer season, and if willing to get away from trails and do some walking you will probably be okay.

Here is a Google Map of the area.

MDC offers hundreds of crop fields around state for dove hunting

Get more information on hunting doves and other early migratory birds in MDC's "2015 Migratory Bird Hunting Digest" available where hunting permits are sold, at MDC offices and nature centers, and online at mdc.mo.gov.

More than 180 MDC areas offer dove hunting with nearly 100 providing crop fields.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – With dove hunting season opening Sept. 1, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds dove hunters of its more than 180 conservation areas around the state that allow dove hunting, including nearly 100 planted in multiple crop fields that attract the popular game birds. Crops include sunflower, corn, millet, wheat, and buckwheat.

A list of conservation areas that offer dove hunting and maps of areas that have dove fields are available from MDC online at mdc.mo.gov/node/8905.

Weather conditions can impact the quality of field crops so MDC encourages dove hunters to check field conditions ahead of time.

Mourning doves, Eurasian collared doves, and white-winged doves may be taken from Sept. 1 through Nov. 9 from one half hour before sunrise to sunset with a combined daily limit of 15 and a combined possession limit of 45 for all three species.

Get additional information on hunting doves and other early migratory birds in MDC's "2015 Migratory Bird Hunting Digest" available where hunting permits are sold, at MDC offices and nature centers, and online at mdc.mo.gov.

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