Our Own Little Slice of …Yellowstone

On November 28th, 2012 at 7:11pm cardem said:

Mr. Corley, Thank you for your support on the Ozark Trail at Peck Ranch Conservation Area (PRCA) but we’re sorry you didn’t enjoy your time here. Peck Ranch has played an important role in the history of conservation of our state. Consisting of a 23,048 acre conservation area with a 12,000 acre refuge located in the center, it continues to provide recreational opportunities to those who visit. With some of the last remaining wild turkey and deer in Missouri, PRCA provided stock for restoration efforts of deer and turkey in the early days of conservation. It was important to protect these remaining populations from hunting pressure but today, it is just as important to protect them from starvation and disease. Managed hunts conducted in the fall are an important management technique to provide that protection. Although the area outside the refuge is open to statewide regulations throughout the year, the interior refuge is closed during the firearms deer season. According to local conservation agents who patrolled the area on several different occasions, four citations were written on the area for various reasons during the firearms season. Again firearms hunting of deer can occur outside of the signed refuge portion which could account for the shots that you heard on the area. We are fortunate to have the Ozark Trail that crosses PRCA. The portion that crosses the refuge is closed only during managed hunts and special times due to elk reintroduction. These closures are posted on the PRCA web site and on the Elk Hotline. We regret any inconvenience these closures cause and do so only when necessary. I’m sorry you didn’t see any elk while you were here but they tend to stay within the refuge near the open fields and are most visible early morning and late in the evening. There is a self-guided driving tour which is open most of the year – closed only as mentioned earlier. We hope you are able to visit again and do see some elk. For more information or closures call (Elk Hotline 855-263-2355 or Twin Pines 573-325-1381) or go check out PRCA in the Places to Go section of our web site. -Preston Mabry Wildlife Biologist

On November 26th, 2012 at 12:27pm jared said:

The elk are still not worth it.

On November 26th, 2012 at 11:46am Paul V Corley said:

I am a volunteer for the Ozark Trail Ass. & have my adopted trail in Peck Ranch! It is not a wildlife refuge in any way! I think it is farcical to call it that as when I stayed there at the beginning of deer season; I could hear semi automatic rifle shots all through the park! I did see some deer the day before the season started but none on the first day of the season. Did not see any Elk! I am sure that the Elk will be on the list for hunting there as soon as they can! How ironic & naive to call this a wildlife refuge!!! Change it to a state park as it should be & it could be! Cheers, Paul