Hunting & Fishing

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• Conservation Areas in Dallas County
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Bear Creek Conservation Area is located in Laclede County, northeast of Lebanon. The area was purchased from the University of Missouri in 1965. Bear Creek Conservation Area contains a total of 720 acres divided among four separate tracts.

These tracts are: Harrill Ford Tract (40 acres), Squatter Tract (120 acres), Bear Creek Tract (320 acres), and the Hermit Tract (240 acres).

These tracts are mostly mixed oak forest with small openings and old fields. Various phases of multiple use management are often conducted on the area. Forest improvement practices (which could include selective harvests), regeneration of forest stands, watershed protection, and wildlife habitat improvement are among the cultural practices utilized by area managers.

Goose Creek CA contains a total of 880 acres and is divided into five separate tracts. They are the Phillipsburg Tract (160 acres), Charity tract (240 acres), Oak Summitt Tract (200 acres), Frisco Tract (240 acres), Phillipsburg Towersite (40 acres). This forest lies in both Laclede and Dallas Counties close to I-44 and is accessible by County Roads. See Area map.

These tracts are mostly mixed oak forest with small openings and old fields.

Various phases of multiple use management are often conducted on the area. Forest improvement practices which could include selective harvests, regeneration of forest stands, watershed protection, and wildlife habitat improvement are among the cultural practices utilized by area managers. Some glade restoration has been accomplished.

Barclay Conservation Area is in northeastern Dallas County, 40 miles south of Lake of the Ozarks, seven miles north of Bennett Spring State Park and 21 miles northeast of Buffalo. The area provides 1.7 miles of Niangua River frontage. A 0.4 mile spring branch also originates there. The area also has two wildlife watering ponds.

The Conservation Department purchased the area in 1996 from a willing seller with Conservation Department funds to provide public access to the Niangua River.

In addition to the river frontage, Barclay CA also contains 426 acres of land appropriate for hunting and hiking. This land has excellent examples of dolomite glade communities, oak-hickory uplands, river bottom forest, and clear-running springs. Deer, turkey, raccoon, squirrel, rabbit, coyote, and many other small animals and birds are commonly seen from the gravel roads and forest trails and along field edges.

Wildlife habitat management includes manipulating fields within the forest to provide additional food sources. Timber harvesting is also an important element in habitat management as it provides forage and cover for forest wildlife and a diversity of habitat types.

The Barclay Conservation Area Access was dedicated in 2001 and provides a concrete, boat launching ramp, canoe launching area (gravel, and parking lot). Sport Fish Restoration funds were used to develop this access area and will assist with future operation and maintenance costs. These funds are made available through a special excise tax collected on fishing equipment and motor fuel.

This access is within a White Ribbon Trout Stream. This area offers opportunities to catch and harvest large trout. In addition, the area will provide the opportunity for the Conservation Department to enhance the Niangua River's riparian corridor, protecting both the river and the spring branch. This will help ensure a quality experience for future generations to enjoy.

This access provides wade fishing and float fishing access to the Niangua River.

Both brown trout and rainbow trout are stocked in portions of the Niangua River.

Lead Mine Conservation Area is in northeastern Dallas County, 40 miles south of Lake of the Ozarks, 12 miles north of Bennett Springs, five miles east of Tunas, and 21 miles northeast of Buffalo.

The area provides about two miles of Niangua River frontage and has a 3.5-mile stretch of Jakes Creek running through it. The area also has several wildlife watering ponds and seven springs and is composed mainly of forest land.

The Conservation Department purchased the original 600 acres for the Lead Mine Conservation Area in 1965 through a University of Missouri land grant. Additional land was acquired with Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson funding, and the state conservation sales tax, increasing the area to 7,761 acres.
During early settlement in the late 1800s and early 1900s, some lead mining did take place near the area. However, evidence of this is hard to find.

Many people made their living and raised their families on small farms that now make up Lead Mine Conservation Area. The town of Lead Mine, just one-quarter mile west, is a small community known for its country atmosphere, hand-made goods and horse drawn buggies.

Lead Mine Conservation Area contains many excellent examples of dolomite glade communities, oak-hickory uplands, and clear running springs. Deer, turkey, raccoon, squirrel, rabbit, coyote, and many other small animals and birds are commonly seen from the gravel roads and forest trails.

Wildlife habitat management includes the creation of watering ponds and manipulation of fields within the forest to provide added food sources. Timber harvesting is also an important element in habitat management. It produces forage and cover for forest wildlife.

There are five primitive camping areas. One is for groups by special use permit only and one is only open October 1 through January 15. The main campground has 51 sites with 26 of them able to accommodate trailers. Camping is all on a first come first served basis.

This area has an unmanned shooting range. The Range is Closed on Monday's for Maintenance.