August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area

Driving Directions

In St. Charles County, south on Highway 94 from Interstate 64, then west 1.5 miles on Route D.

Highlights

This 6,987-acre area contains 3,000 acres of forest in addition to grassland, cropland, old fields, prairie, and wetlands. Facilities/features: boat rentals, picnic areas, pavilion, hiking trails, 43 fishing jetties, fishing docks, staffed firearms range, archery range, five viewing blinds, and a visitor center. The area also has 32 fishable lakes and ponds totaling 550 acres.

About This Area

The August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area was purchased by the Missouri Department of Conservation in 1947 from the federal government. Mrs. August A. Busch, Sr. donated a portion ($70,000) of the cost toward the purchase of the area as a memorial to her late husband.

In the early 1940's, the area was used by the Department of Army as a TNT munitions plant to support the World War II effort. There are still 100 of the old TNT storage bunkers that exist on the area.

The Department encourages recreational use of the area by the public, while furnishing fish and wildlife with the resources necessary to be healthy and abundant. We encourage you to walk the hiking trails, drive the auto tour, photograph the wildlife or simply sit under a tree and enjoy the sights and sounds of the outdoors.

Hunting for a variety of wildlife species is allowed on the area. Special regulations exist for most of the hunting activities, please check the Area Regulations section or with the office for current regulations. 

Portions of the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area were used by the Department of Army in the 1940's for TNT and DNT production and by the Atomic Energy Commission in the 1960's for uranium ore processing. The affected portions were all part of a federal environmental cleanup project and required to meet certain environmental health and safety standards. The area is now considered to be safe for all recreational pursuits allowed on the area, as well as the wildlife found within the area. To find out more about the history of these activities on the area, you can visit the Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center located at 7295 Highway 94 South, St. Charles, MO, 63304.

Features: Spring is 20 gallons per day. Land Cover type: Forest and Woodland 3035 acres.

General Information

St. Louis

Saint Charles

636-441-4554

Owned by MDC

Office is open 8-5 Monday-Friday and closed on weekends.

Activities
Activity
(Activity Explanations)		 Comments
(Population Definition)
Bird Watching  Area offers easy access for year-round birding opportunities. Get the Missouri Audubon Conservation Area Bird List.  
Dog Training  Dog Training PROHIBITED during managed firearms deer hunts. Contact Busch office at 636-441-4554 for details.  Dog Training: The training of hunting dogs by holders of a Missouri hunting permit is permitted in designated areas. Training of dogs is prohibited in agricultural crop fields prior to harvest. Dog training and field trials may take place in area lakes under the following restrictions: Lakes 1, 2, 12, and 15 are closed to all dog training and field trial events. Lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 23 are closed from Aril 15 through September 14. Lakes 3, 21, 22, 23 and 28 are closed from November 1 through March 31. Lakes 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 19, 20, 24, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, and 38 are open year-round.  
Exhibits/Displays  Regional office has displays to represent habitat types on the area, includes 1300 gallon aquarium. 
Field Trials with Special Use Permit  September 1 - March 31 by Special Use Permit only 
Fishing - Bass Good population.  
Fishing - Catfish Good population. Catfish (14-inch) stocked in lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 24 May-September. Special regulations apply.  
Fishing - Crappie Good population.  
Fishing - Other Good population. Carp fishing at Lake 33 is good in the warmer months. Muskie fishing opportunities are available on Lake 35 in late spring and fall. 
Fishing - Sunfish Good population.  
Fishing - Trout Good population. Trout stocked November - February in lakes 21, 22, 23, 24, and 28. Special regulations apply. 
Highlighted Activities  Wetlands For Kids each year in the first Saturday in April.  
Hunting-Deer Good population. Managed hunts only, applications available in July 
Hunting-Dove Fair population. Special regulations apply. See Area Regulations section. 
Hunting-Rabbit Good population. Special regulations apply. See Area Regulations section. 
Hunting-Squirrel Good population. Special regulations apply. See Area Regulations section. 
Hunting-Turkey Good population. Spring Season is managed hunt only, applications available in February.  
Hunting-Waterfowl Good population. Managed hunts only 
Nature Viewing  Area road network provides good viewing opportunities for deer, turkey, and other wildlife. 
Other  Staffed shooting range and unmanned field and static archery ranges. 
Trapping with Special Use Permit  By Special Use Permit only, contact area manager. 

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Conservation Department Facilities
Facility Item Name Count Comments
Boats for Rent  120  Boats and electric trolling motors are available to rent, and bait, tackle, and permits are available for purchase at the main office. No private boats allowed.  Available April through September and in March and October weather permitting.  
Dock - Fishingaccessible 4  Fishing docks located on lakes 33 and 34 are all disabled accessible. The ADA fishing dock at Lake 15 is available for educational disabled groups.  
Fishing Jetty/Platform  43   
Other  1  Picnic area with grills and picnic tables near headquarters. 
Parking Lotaccessible 47  Includes gravel parking lot with concrete pads at lakes 6, 15, 33, and 34. Concrete pads also located at shooting range. Concrete parking lots with disabled accessible parking located at refuge lake, pavilion, and main office. 
Pavilionaccessible 1  The pavilion is on a first come-first serve basis and cannot be reserved. 
Picnic Tableaccessible 15  Three disabled accessible tables located at Lake 15, and 2 disabled accessible tables located in the pavilion. 
Privy/Restroomaccessible 20  Disabled accessible privies located at Lakes 2, 6, 15, 33, and 34, and also at the shooting range. Disabled accessible restrooms are also available at the main office.  
Staffed Officeaccessible 1  Staffed office open M-F 8am-5pm. 
Viewing Blindaccessible 5  Disabled accessible viewing blinds located at refuge lake and on the Fallen Oak Trail.  
Visitor Centeraccessible 1  Visitor Center is also the Regional Office and open M-F 8am-5pm. Programs and exhibits at office. Boat rental and bait located at office. 

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Features
Feature Item Name Count Size Comments
Fishing Lake or Pond  32 550.00 acres  
Fishless Pond  20 7.00 acres  
Spring  2 20.00 # gallons per day Variable flow, ~50-100 gallons per day.  
Stream - Intermittent  8 8.00 miles  
Stream - Permanent Dardenne Creek and Kraut Run Creek 1 6.00 miles  

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Land Cover Types
Land Type Acres Comments
Forest and Woodland 2940.00  
Crop Land 1000.00  
Grassland (non-prairie) 200.00 Restored prairie. 
Lakes/Ponds 550.00  
Wetland 80.00  
Old Field 1141.00  
Grassland (non-prairie) 1000.00  
Other 20.00 Roads and parking lots 
Total Area Acres:6951.08 

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Designated Trails
Trail Name Trail Type Length
Fallen Oak Nature Trail (Easy) Hiking (Interpretive) 0.70 
Dardenne Creek Trail (Easy) Hiking (Non-Interpretive) 0.40 
Pine Trail (Easy) Hiking (Non-Interpretive) 0.20 
Woodland Trail (Easy) Hiking (Non-Interpretive) 0.20 
Wildlife Management Trail (Easy) Hiking (Non-Interpretive) 0.40 
Prairie Trail (Easy) Hiking (Non-Interpretive) 0.20 
Busch Hiking and Biking Trail (Easy) Multi-Use (Hike/Bike) 3.20 
Hamburg Trail (Easy) Multi-Use (Hike/Bike) 2.00 

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Shooting Range General Information

90*46' 973W

38*43'347W

Privy

Manned

Wednesday

Change with seasons/call 636/441-4554 for more information

Click Shooting Ranges for more information.

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