Poosey Conservation Area

Driving Directions

13 miles northwest of Chillicothe on Route A, 1 mile west of the Route W junction. The area is also marked with a cantilever sign on Route A, 1 mile east of the Route U junction.




Highlights

This area contains forests, grasslands, croplands, prairie, old fields, and savanna. Facilities/features: boat ramps, picnic area and pavilion, fishing dock, firearms and archery ranges, numerous fishing ponds, Indian Creek Community Lake, and Hawthorn Natural Area. This is a designated Important Birding Area. Equestrian riding is allowed north of HWY A, only.

About This Area

Poosey Conservation Area is in northwest Livingston County, six miles southeast of Jamesport, 9 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's size to 5,738 acres.

The area contains unique fern-draped stone walls, 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  5.5 mile Green Hills Trail designed for mountain bikes south of Hwy. A.  
Bird Watching  Audubon Important Bird Area designation - bird list available at area parking lots and Chillicothe Office 660 646 6122. For a list of area birds, visit http://www.mobirds.org/CACHE/mdcchecklists1.asp?locID=414. 
Camping along Roads and Parking Lots  In any area parking lot only during firearms deer and spring turkey seasons. 
Camping in Designated Areas  3 designated camping areas, equestrian camping only north of Hwy. A. Campground at parking lot #11 located on east side of Indian Creek lake.  Campground at parking lot #20 located south of Hwy. A.  Campground located at parking lot #6 at Pike's Lake.  This campground is an equestrian campground with a privy and tie rails.  
Demonstrations  Forest management, Quail and dove management.  
Field Trials with Special Use Permit   
Fishing - Bass Good population.  
Fishing - Catfish Good population.  
Fishing - Crappie Fair population.  
Fishing - Sunfish Good population. Redear and Bluegill 
Hiking  13 trails (30 miles) available. Multi-use trails north of Hwy. A, 5.5 miles bike/hike only south of HWY A.  
Horseback Riding  Allowed north of Hwy. A only. 12 Loop trails of 25 miles. Trails closed during firearms deer season and spring turkey season.  
Hunting-Deer Fair population. There is a designated archery only hunting area around Indian Creek Lake. 
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.  
Other  Mushroom Hunting 
Tours  Fall Driving Tour (usually the 3rd Sunday in October). The tour features a 7-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 - Primitive Parking Lot #11 1  Indian Creek camping has fire grates, privy, and gravel camping pads.  
Camping Area - Primitive 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 - Primitive Parking Lot #20 1  Located by parking lot #20, south of HWY A, this camping area contains rock graveled pads, fire rings and a privy. Ocassionally reserved for quail trials.  
Dock - FishingaccessibleIndian Creek Lake 1   
Fish Cleaning StationaccessibleIndian Creek Lake 1  Indian Creek Lake. 
Other Rifle Shooting Range 1   
Other Archery Shooting Range 1   
Parking Lotaccessible 21  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 Hwy A.  
Pavilionaccessible 1  West side of Indian Creek Lake.  
Picnic Tableaccessible 3   
Privy/Restroomaccessible 6  Disabled accessible privies at parking lots #6 & #20. 

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Features
Feature Item Name Count Size Comments
Fishing Lake or Pond  9 45.00 acres Ponds contain largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, and redear sunfish. 
Fishing Lake or Pond Pikes Lake 1 18.00 acres Electric motors only. 
Fishing Lake or Pond Indian Creek Lake 1 192.00 acres  
Other Natural features 1 4.00 count Moist sandstone cliffs, mesic sandstone forbs, limestone/dolomite savanna 
Stream - Intermittent  6 18.00 miles  
Wildlife Watering Hole  100 15.00 count  

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Land Cover Types
Land Type Acres Comments
Old Field 575.00 40 - 50 fields 
Lakes/Ponds 266.00  
Forest and Woodland 3312.30 3 compartments 
Grassland (non-prairie) 406.00 Warm season grasses. 38 fields 
Savanna 128.00  
Crop Land 684.00 Corn, wheat, beans rotation, 104 fields. Food plots are usually milo. mean field size is 6.5 acres 
Other 91.00 Alfalfa and legumes, 3 fields 
Grassland (non-prairie) 177.00 Cool season grasses, 19 fields 
Native Prairie 224.00  
Total Area Acres:5863.31 

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Designated Trails
Trail Name Trail Type Length
Green Hills Trail Multi-Use (Hike/Bike) 5.50 
multi-use trail Multi-Use (Hike/Bike/Horse) 25.00 

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Shooting Range General Information

39*54.133N

093*42.079

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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