Poosey Conservation Area

Driving Directions

From Chillicothe, travel west five miles on Highway 190 to Route A. Travel five miles north to the Route W junction. Continue on Route A, one mile west to the area entrance.

Highlights

This area contains forests, grasslands, croplands, prairie/savanna and old field habitats. Numerous upland game species are present in addition to fishing opportunities and an extensive trail system. This area has been designated an Audubon Society Important Birding Area (IBA).

About This Area

Poosey Conservation Area is in northwest Livingston County, six miles southeast of Jamesport, nine miles northeast of Lock Springs, 12 miles southwest of Trenton and 13 miles northwest of Chillicothe.

The Conservation Department purchased the original 814-acre tract for Poosey Conservation Area in 1979 from Robert Daugherty. Additional purchases have increased the area to its current size.

The area contains unique fern-draped rock bluffs, heavily-timbered hills of oak and hickory, rolling grass expanses, and a variety of wildlife. The foliage provides brilliant and showy fall colors.

This portion of the Grand River Valley was one of the last parts of Missouri yielded by the American Indians. In 1833, the last remnants of the Shawnee tribe left the area, opening the area to settlement by people of European extraction, who came here via Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. The settlers, who preferred forested tracts to open prairies, were attracted by plentiful natural supplies of food, fuel, water, and building materials. The area's rugged landscape reminded some of the settlers of the Poosey region in Kentucky, giving rise to the areas name. The area continues to be known as the "Kingdom of Poosey," and travelers asking directions to it are usually informed that it is "just ahead over the next hill."

With its combination of hardwood forests and tallgrass prairie, the area supports a thriving plant and animal community. Deer, turkey, raccoons, squirrels, quail, rabbits, coyotes, foxes, and many other small animals and birds are commonly seen here.

Nestled among the steep, tree-covered hills in the southern portion of Poosey Conservation Area is 192-acre Indian Creek Community Lake, which was constructed in 1987. The lake features a disabled-accessible floating fishing dock.

The area also contains a shooting range, which features 25-, 50- and 100-yard firearms targets. The range is located in the northwest portion of the area.

General Information

Northwest

Grundy,Livingston

660-646-6122

Owned by MDC

Activities
Activity
(Activity Explanations)		 Comments
(Population Definition)
Bicycling  All trails are open to bicycling.  7.0 mile Green Hills Trail designed for mountain bikes south of Route A.  Trail closed during spring turkey and all portions of the firearms deer season.   
Bird Watching  Audubon Important Bird Area designation - bird list available at area parking lots and Chillicothe Office 660 646 6122. Get the Missouri Audubon Conservation Area Bird List.  
Camping - Primitive Area  In any area parking lot only during firearms deer and spring turkey seasons. 
Camping - Primitive Area  Found at parking lots 6, 11 and 20.  
Fishing - Bass Good population.  
Fishing - Catfish Good population.  
Fishing - Crappie Good population.  
Fishing - Sunfish Good population. Redear and Bluegill 
Hiking  13 trails (24 miles) available. Multi-use trails north of Route A, 7.0 miles bike/hike only south of Route A.  Trails closed during spring turkey and all portions of the firearms deer season.  
Horseback Riding  Allowed north of Route A only. 12 Loop trails of 17 miles. Designated trails closed during spring turkey season and all portions of the firearm deer seasons.  
Hunting-Deer Good population. Click on link to area regulations.  
Hunting-Dove Fair population. Areas designated for dove management.  Fields vary year to year.  See dove management map.  
Hunting-Pheasant Fair population.  
Hunting-Quail Fair population.  
Hunting-Rabbit Fair population.  
Hunting-Squirrel Fair population.  
Hunting-Turkey Fair population.  
Tours  Fall Driving Tour (usually the 3rd Sunday in October). The tour features a seven-mile drive highlighting resource management.  
Trapping with Special Use Permit   

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Conservation Department Facilities
Facility Item Name Count Comments
Boat Ramp - Lake - Concrete Indian Creek Lake 1   
Boat Ramp - Lake - Other Pike's Lake 1  Gravel 
Camping Area - Individual Campsites Parking Lot #20 1  Located by parking lot #20, south of Route A, this camping area contains rock graveled pads, fire rings and a privy. Ocassionally reserved for quail trials.  
Camping Area - Individual Campsites Parking Lot #6 1  Equestrian camping allowed. Pike's Lake has trailer pull-offs, privy, and equestrian tie rails. It is located at Pikes Lake.  
Camping Area - Individual Campsites Parking Lot #11 1  Indian Creek camping has fire grates, privy, and gravel camping pads.  
Dock - FishingaccessibleIndian Creek Lake 1   
Fish Cleaning StationaccessibleIndian Creek Lake 1  Indian Creek Lake. 
Other Rifle Shooting Range 1   
Parking Lotaccessible 18  Includes 1-Gravel Parking Lot with ADA concrete pad. 3 disabled accessible on Indian Creek Lake, 1 at Pike's Lake, and 1 at parking lot #20 on Route A.  
Pavilionaccessible 1  West side of Indian Creek Lake.  
Picnic Tableaccessible 3   
Privy/Restroomaccessible 5  Disabled accessible privies at parking lots #6 & #20.  

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Features
Feature Item Name Count Size Comments
Fishing Lake or Pond Pikes Lake 1 18.00 acres Electric motors only. 
Fishing Lake or Pond  9 45.00 acres Ponds contain largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, and redear sunfish. 
Fishing Lake or Pond Indian Creek Lake 1 192.00 acres  
Stream - Intermittent  6 18.00 miles  
Wildlife Watering Hole  100 15.00 acres  

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Land Cover Types
Land Type Acres Comments
Old Field 739.00 72 fields 
Lakes/Ponds 255.00  
Forest and Woodland 3161.30  
Grassland (non-prairie) 528.00 Warm season grasses. 38 fields 
Savanna 29.00  
Crop Land 734.00 Corn, wheat, beans rotation, 108 fields. Food plots are usually milo. Mean field size is 6.5 acres 
Other 42.00 Food Plots - 21 fields. 
Other 76.00 Alfalfa and legumes, 7 fields 
Grassland (non-prairie) 64.00 Cool season grasses, 6 fields 
Native Prairie 235.00  
Total Area Acres:5863.31 

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Designated Trails
Trail Name Trail Type Length
Green Hills Trail (Moderate) Multi-Use (Hike/Bike) 7.00 
Multi-use trail (Moderate) Multi-Use (Hike/Bike/Horse) 17.00 

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Shooting Range General Information

39*56.765N

93*43.393W

n/a

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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