Conservation Areas

The Drovers Prairie Conservation area offers bird watching and deer hunting opportunities.

Friendly Prairie features unplowed native prairie. More than 260 species of plants have been identified in the area.

Grandfather Prairie is an 80-acre native prairie remnant named after the Osage Indians' traditional name for the sun. The area offers birdwatching, prairie wildflower viewing, and deer, quail, rabbit, squirrel, and turkey hunting opportunities.

The Hartwell Conservation area consists primarily og cool and warm season grass interspersed with trees, mostly Osage orange and Black locust.

The Kahrs-Boger area contains cropland, forest, grassland, old fields, fishable pond (1 acre), permanent stream (Lake Creek).

The W. R. Kearn Memorial tract was named for William R. “Ted” Kearn, who donated this 120acre tract in 1987. Management of the area is primarily for upland wildlife species. The terrain is gently rolling open fields. Area managers use prescribed fire, grazing, and other management practices to maintain healthy grasslands, simulate disturbances, and limit the negative impacts of invasive species. High quality grasslands are important habitat for many species. The W. R. Kearn Memorial Conservation area is being intensely managed for prairie chickens. Crop fields have been converted to native warm-season and cool-season grasses to provide both nesting and brood-rearing cover for prairie chickens. Many species of grassland wildlife, including Northern Harriers, Upland Sandpipers, and Shortear Owls are commonly seen on this area.

The 1,674 acres of the J. N. "Turkey" Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area features a variety of habitat types including wooden hills, bottomlands, crop fields, and native grass fields. The area offers bird watching, fishing, and hunting opportunities.

The 74 acres of the Paint Brush Prairie Natural Area offer bird watching and hunting opportunities.

The 4 acres of the Pinhook Access offer access to Muddy Creek. There is a Pettis County historical marker here commemorating St. Helena, the first Pettis County seat.

Spring Fork Lake offers birdwatching and bass, catfish, crappie, and sunfish opportunities.