James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area

Notice

Attention: Construction on the area has closed portions of the multi-use trail. Please contact the area office for details.

Driving Directions

One mile east of Lee's Summit on Ranson Road and 1 1/2 miles south of Highway 50.

Highlights

Woodlands, old fields, grassland, and wetlands. Facilities/features: boat rental, picnic areas and 3 pavilions, numerous fishing jetties, 2 fishing docks, an archery range, and 11 fishable lakes and ponds (252 acres total).

About This Area

The James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area is located in Jackson County, south of Highway 50, near Lee's Summit. This wildlife area was established in 1952 when Mrs. Nell Reed donated 731 acres of land to the Missouri Department of Conservation in memory of her husband, Senator James A. Reed. Additional tracts were purchased using federal monies and Department funds to bring the area to its present 3,084 acres. Development of the area and lake construction began in 1957. Over 250 acres of water have been impounded to form 12 lakes, ranging in size from 1 to 42 acres. Most lakes contain largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, redear sunfish, and bullheads. Striped bass hybrids have been stocked in several of the lakes. The area also has numerous small ponds. Woodlands, native grass plantings, shrub plantings, and cropfields are managed to provide year-round food for wildlife. Giant Canada geese nest and winter at the Reed Area. The area also supports good numbers of deer. This wildlife area was acquired, developed, and is managed in part through the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

General Information

Kansas City

Jackson

816-622-0900

Owned by MDC

Camping is only for youth groups with special use permits. No general camping on the area.

 For the weekly fishing report (April through September) go to:

http://www.mdc.mo.gov/fish/fishrt/

Activities
Activity
(Activity Explanations)		 Comments
(Population Definition)
Bicycling  Fifteen miles of multi-use trails and on roads open to vehicles. 
Bird Watching  Popular on the area. Area bird list available from office or visit: http://mobirds.org/CACHE/mdcchecklists1.asp?locID=488.  
Camping - Individual Campsites  Camping by Special Use Permit only for Youth Groups. No amenities provided. 
Dog Training  No Permit Required-Special Regulations, times and area's. 
Exhibits/Displays  Interpretive Displays-located throughtout area to provide area users with information about habitat and area management 
Field Trials with Special Use Permit  Contact Area office for details. 
Fishing - Bass Good population.  
Fishing - Catfish Good population.  
Fishing - Crappie Fair population.  
Fishing - Other Fair population. Hybrid Stripers stocked in some of the lakes in some years. Check with office for stocking information. 
Fishing - Sunfish Fair population.  
Fishing - Trout Good population. Winter fishing only (Nov-Mar) in Coot and Plover Lakes and Honker Pond (kids only). 
Hiking  Hiking trail and multi-use trails for horses, bikes, and hikers. Other hiking opportunities on interior access trails. 
Horseback Riding  15 miles of multi-use trails. 
Hunting-Deer Good population. See Area Regulations. Contact office.  
Hunting-Dove Good population.

See Area Regulations.

 
Hunting-Rabbit Fair population.

See Area Regulations.

 
Hunting-Squirrel Good population.

See Area Regulations.

 
Hunting-Waterfowl Fair population. By reservation only, contact area office. 
Nature Viewing   
Trapping with Special Use Permit  Special Use Permit Required 

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Conservation Department Facilities
Facility Item Name Count Comments
Boats for Rent Gopher Lake (4 boats)  1  Boats available April 1st through September 30th. Four boats on the area.  
Camping Area - Individual Campsites Youth Camping Area (by special use permit) 1  Organized youth group camping only. Special use permit required. 
Dock - Fishingaccessible 3  One each at Coot Lake, Jackrabbit Lake and Catclaw Lake.  
Fishing Jetty/Platform  14   
Fishing Jetty/Platformaccessible 5  One each at Lake Nell, Coot Lake, Jackrabbit Lake, Plover Lake and Catclaw Lake.  
Other Archery Range 1  29 station archery range  
Parking Lotaccessible 28  5-Gravel Parking Lot with concrete pads. 
Pavilionaccessible 3   
Picnic Tableaccessible 15   
Privy/Restroomaccessible 8   
Staffed Officeaccessible 1   
Visitor Centeraccessible 1   

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Features
Feature Item Name Count Size Comments
Fishing Lake or Pond Pairie Hollow (reservation only) 1 7.00 acres Group activity educational lake. Closed except by reservation. 
Fishing Lake or Pond Honker Pond (kid's fishing only) 1 1.00 acres  
Fishing Lake or Pond Plover 1 15.30 acres  
Fishing Lake or Pond Jackrabbit 1 31.00 acres  
Fishing Lake or Pond Catclaw 1 42.20 acres  
Fishing Lake or Pond Tanglewood 1 5.00 acres  
Fishing Lake or Pond Bodarc 1 14.50 acres  
Fishing Lake or Pond Bluestem 1 14.70 acres  
Fishing Lake or Pond Coot 1 22.40 acres  
Fishing Lake or Pond Gopher 1 42.00 acres Four rental boats available.  
Fishing Lake or Pond Lake Nell 1 31.00 acres  
Fishing Lake or Pond Cottontail 1 26.60 acres  
Fishless Pond  12 5.00 acres  
Named Wetland Waterfowl Marsh 1 2.00 acres  
Other numbered waterfowl hunt pools 1 0.00 count Waterfowl hunt pools are numbered on area maps. 
Stream - Permanent West Arm Big Creek 1 0.50 miles Creek dries completely some years. 
Stream - Permanent East Arm Big Creek 1 1.75 miles Creek dries completely some years.  

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Land Cover Types
Land Type Acres Comments
Forest and Woodland 650.00  
Crop Land 413.00  
Lakes/Ponds 252.00 Prairie Hollow-7; Tanglewood-5; Bodarc-14.5; Bluestem-14.7; Coot-22.4; Gopher-42; Lake Nell-31; Cottontail-26.6; Catclaw-42.2; Jackrabbit-31; Plover 15.3; Honker Pond 1. 
Wetland 18.00  
Grassland (non-prairie) 650.00 150 acres of native warm season grass plantings with some forb diversity. 
Other 10.00 Parking lots and roads. 
Glade 5.00  
Old Field 600.00  
Total Area Acres:3083.98 

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Designated Trails
Trail Name Trail Type Length
Shawnee Trace Nature Trail Hiking (Non-Interpretive) 2.50 
multi-use trail Multi-Use (Hike/Bike/Horse) 15.00 

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Shooting Range General Information

94*14W

38*59N

Privy

UnManned

Varies

1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset, unless otherwise posted

Click Shooting Ranges for more information.

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