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Chillicothe, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will host the 31st annual fall driving tour through the Poosey Conservation Area Noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15. The free tour gives the public a chance to drive on roads and trails not normally open to the public for vehicles. Rugged, forested hills will be in fall colors and visitors will find conservation education stopping points along the tour route.
The tour begins at Pike’s Lake on the northeast side of the conservation area, which is reached off Route W and County Road 502 northwest of Chillicothe in Livingston County. Gates will open at noon and the last vehicles will be allowed to begin at 4 p.m. This tour guides visitors through a historical site once known as the Poosey community. Visitors can stop at exhibits or take a walk in the woods, such as on the trail that leads to the Panther’s Den, a sandstone bluff above a scenic creek.
MDC is celebrating 80 years of conservation in 2017. Visitors can provide comments about conservation programs, regulations, and issues at one of the tour stops. MDC staff members will also be stationed along the route to explain habitat management practices benefiting wildlife and native plants. Visitors can learn about grassland restoration, forest management, healthy habitat for wildlife, and tips for providing better fishing in ponds and lakes.
The tour route winds up hill and down. All roads are graded and graveled. However some sections of the tour route involve steep slopes and crossings in low areas. Four-wheel drive and high-clearance vehicles are recommended. Visitors should allow time for stops to enjoy scenery and discussions at exhibit areas.
A mix of natural areas and farm fields on the 5,863-acre Poosey Conservation Area is similar to much of northwest Missouri. The driving tour winds through a hilly area that is mostly forest and woodland. But Poosey also offers lakes and ponds.
For tour information, contact MDC Resource Forester Samantha Anderson, 660-646-6122. Maps and information about Poosey Conservation Area are at http://bit.ly/2wSBSsD.
To learn more about conservation in Missouri, http://www.mdc.mo.gov.
