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Otter Slough Conservation Area

Driving Directions

In Stoddard County, travel west of Dexter on Highway 60, then 10 miles south on Route ZZ to County Road 675. Turn west on 675 and travel two miles to the area entrance.

Highlights

This area contains 2,200 acres of wetlands as well as cropland, forest and old fields. Facilities/features: a concrete boat ramp, 21 unimproved boat ramps, primitive camping, picnic areas, 3 fishing jetties, fishing dock, Otter Lake (250 acres), Cypress Lake (100 acres), Otter Lake Natural Area and Bradyville Natural Area.

About This Area

Otter Slough is in Stoddard County. When early explorers were making their way across what would be southeastern Missouri, they saw a seemingly endless expanse of bottomland hardwood timber and an interconnecting complex of sloughs and St. Francis River oxbows. The New Madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 caused Otter Slough, Fish Slough, Lick Creek and the Glades Swamp to combine into the large wetland now visited by thousands of migrating waterfowl. Amos Stoddard, whom the county was named for, described the region in 1812: "Nearly half of the lands... are covered with swamps and ponds, and periodically inundated. These swamps, filled with cypress, are mostly dry in the summer;... Many creeks or bayous take their rise in them, and... it is calculated that there are as many as 1 to every 15 miles." As the explorers moved on, westward expansion and settlement followed. Agricultural development was inevitable, and wetlands were converted to croplands. During the 1960s and 1970s, much of the land on and around Otter Slough was cleared, drained and graded for crop farming, resulting in the decline of both resident and migratory wildlife. Of the estimated original 320,000 acres of wetlands that once existed in Stoddard County only 6,884 acres remain today. Otter Slough is now one of only a few examples of a cypress/tupelo swamp left in Missouri. The cypress swamp, open marsh and flooded timber provide acorns, natural seeds, tubers, and invertebrates, all important waterfowl foods. Corn, wheat and sunflowers and other row crops are all used to maintain an open marsh condition and provide high energy food during winter months to sustain waterfowl during their long, migratory journeys. Duck numbers have reached 60,000 in the past. An average of 150,000 snow geese arrive annually with as many as 250,000 recorded in some years. Although the 4,886-acre area is managed primarily for migratory and wintering waterfowl, many wading birds, shorebirds, eagles, and wetland mammals make Otter Slough Conservation Area their home.

General Information

Region: Southeast

Counties: Stoddard

For more information call: 573-290-5730

Status: Owned by MDC

Additional Information: Area headquarters is frequently not open to the public due to area staff being out in the field.

Activities
Activity (Activity Explanations)	Comments (Population Definition)
Bird Watching	Birding highlights include spring and fall songbird and waterbird migration, post-hunting season waterfowl observation, and late summer/early fall shorebird use. For a list of area birds, visit http://www.mobirds.org/CACHE/mdcchecklists1.asp?locID=179.
Camping - Individual Campsites	Primitive camping is available at 3 areas: St Francis River bridge, Cul-de-Sac, and Pool 14. There is room for 2-4 units at each camping area. There are no amenities. The camping areas are used primarily by hunters during waterfowl season and occasionally by anglers, and are not recommended as camping destinations.
Fishing - Bass	Good population. Regulations differ between streams and impoundments.
Fishing - Catfish	Good population. Regulations differ between streams and impoundments. Channel catfish stocked annually in Cypress Lake. Also commonly caught in St Francis River and area ditches.
Fishing - Crappie	Good population.
Fishing - Sunfish	Good population.
Hiking	The Otter Slough Nature Trail is an excellent hiking and wildlife viewing trail that includes boardwalks through cypress-tupelo swamps. Hiking takes about an hour. It is open daylight hours year round. Early summer and fall are the best times to view native plant life. Songbird and waterfowl migrations in spring and fall are also good times to visit.
Hunting-Deer	Good population. Deer hunting by managed archery hunts only.
Hunting-Dove	Good population. Non-toxic shot only, hunters required to check-in at Area headquarters before entering the field, Special Regulations apply, contact Area headquarters for information.
Hunting-Rabbit	Good population. Non-toxic shot only, hunters required to check-in at Area headquarters before entering the field, Special Regulations apply, contact Area headquarters for information.
Hunting-Squirrel	Fair population. Non-toxic shot only, hunters required to check-in at Area headquarters prior to entering the field, Special Regulations apply, contact Area headquarterd for information.
Hunting-Waterfowl	Good population. This area is in the Middle Zone. Daily drawing during duck season and during goose season as hunter numbers dictate. Area close at 1:00 p.m., Hunters should contact Area headquarters for other Special Regulations.
Trapping with Special Use Permit	A Special Use Permit is required

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Conservation Department Facilities
Facility Item	Name	Count	Comments
Boat Ramp - Lake - Concrete	Cypress Lake	1
Boat Ramp - Lake - Other		21	Access to hunting pools for waterfowl hunters to launch boats.
Camping Area - Individual Campsites		3	No amenities provided.
Dock - Fishingaccessible	Cypress Lake	1	Fishing dock is ADA accessible and is equipped with a fish cleaning station.
Fishing Jetty/Platform		3	Located at Cypress Lake.
Hunting Blind - Waterfowlaccessible		13	One blind is disabled accessible. For more information visit, http://www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/wtrfowl/reserve/procedure.htm#disacc
Parking Lotaccessible		10	Three parking areas are disabled accessible, one at the Area headquarters, one at Cypress Lake and the other at Beaver Lake viewing platform.
Privy/Restroomaccessible		2	Located on Cypress Lake and at Area Headquarters.
Staffed Officeaccessible	Area Headquarters	1	Office is staffed only in mornings during duck season.
Viewing Blindaccessible	Beaver Lake	1
Viewing Deck/Tower	Beaver Lake	1

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Features
Feature Item	Name	Count	Size	Comments
Designated Natural Area	Bradyville NA	1	139.00 acres	For more information, visit http://www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/natareas/p132-1.htm.
Designated Natural Area	Otter Lake NA	1	20.00 acres	For more information, visit http://www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/natareas/p132-2.htm.
Fishing Lake or Pond	Cypress Lake	1	93.00 acres	Fishing closed from October 15th through February 1. Open 1 PM to sunset during September teal season.
Named Wetland	Otter Lake	1	250.00 acres	Remnant slough system now being managed to enhance regeneration of cypress and tupelo trees. This system is drained annually and contains few sport fish.
Named Wetland	Beaver Lake	1	1.00 acres	Remnant slough system now being managed to enhance regeneration of cypress and tupelo trees. This system is drained annually and contains few sport fish.
Other	Shallow marshes and borrow areas	1	0.00 count	Marsh and borrow areas, locations and number vary annually, impoundment fishing regulations apply. Fishing closed from October 15 through February 1.
Stream - Permanent	Cypress Ditch	1	2.00 miles	Access very difficult and banks are steep.
Stream - Permanent	St. Francis River	1	3.50 miles	Bank fishing at Cul-de-sac and bridge on County Rd. 691; banks are steep.
Stream - Permanent	Ditch 12	1	5.00 miles	Banks are steep. Bank fishing access at bridge on County Rd. 691.