Trail Guide
Get on the Trail for Hunting Season
East-central Missouri hunters who need to check sight alignment and hone shooting skills have the perfect place to do so at Indian Trail Conservation Area. Located just off Highway 19 between Steelville and Salem in Dent County, this forested 13,503-acre area has one of the nicest unstaffed shooting ranges in the state. With three shooting benches each at 25, 50, 100 and 200 yards, it can accommodate every type of rifle and pistol shooter. Range hours are one-half hour after sunrise until one-half hour before sunset. The range is closed until noon each Monday for cleaning and maintenance. Targets, pushpins and target holders are provided. There are no facilities for shotgunning. Only single-projectile firearms are allowed on the range. Indian Trail CA also has primitive camping sites and a picnic area. The area also offers walk-in/backpack camping, where people wanting even more of a primitive experience may walk into the interior of the area and set up a tent. It has no trails, but it does have 55 miles of walkable interior gravel roads. For more information, call (573) 729-3182 or visit our online atlas, keyword, "Indian".
Dove Hunting Abounds
Choose from more than 800 public fields this season.
Looking for a place to hunt during Missouri’s 70-day dove season? Visit the link listed below and take your pick of 800 specially managed dove fields on approximately 100 conservation areas statewide. Maps also are available from Conservation Department regional offices. Most conservation areas have sunflower or other agricultural crop fields that provide excellent forage for doves and other upland birds. These dove magnets also draw lots of hunters, so mind your manners, and keep safety foremost in mind. Stand at least 50 yards from other hunters, and pass up shots that are not at least 45 degrees above the horizon.
Burr Oak Woods
Fall programs are packed with action for the whole family.
Fall means family fun at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center in Blue Springs. Sample program offerings from the Conservation Department’s popular outdoor skills workshop series at a Discover Nature—Family open house from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 15. Burr Oak Woods will host a family fishing program from 9 to 11 a.m. and an all-day “Deer Hunting 101” class for deer hunters 11 and older on Sept. 26. Teachers won’t want to miss the Project Learning Tree teacher training from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 14. The big autumn event is the Fairy Tale Trail Oct. 16 and 17. On those two days, kids can meet real, live fairy tale characters along the Missouri Tree Trail. The event mixes the myths and mysteries of Grimm Brothers classics with kids’ natural gift for fantasy. The result is relaxed, unstructured outdoor fun. Call (816) 228-3766 for details.
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This Issue's Staff
Managing Editor - Nichole LeClair Terrill
Art Director - Cliff White
Writer/Editor - Tom Cwynar
Staff Writer - Bonnie Chasteen
Staff Writer - Jim Low
Photographer - Noppadol Paothong
Photographer - David Stonner
Designer - Stephanie Thurber
Artist - Dave Besenger
Artist - Mark Raithel
Circulation - Laura Scheuler