Driving Directions

In St. Charles County, south on Hwy 94 from Hwy 40/61, then 1.5 miles on Route D.

This 6,987-acre area contains 3,000 acres of forest in addition to grassland, cropland, old fields, prairie, and wetlands. Facilities/features: boat rentals, picnic areas, pavilion, hiking trails, 43 fishing jetties, fishing docks, staffed firearms range, archery range, 5 viewing blinds, and a visitor center. The area also has 32 fishable lakes and ponds totaling 550 acres.

The Department encourages recreational use of the area by the public, while furnishing fish and wildlife with the resources necessary to be healthy and abundant. We encourage you to walk the hiking trails, drive the auto tour, photograph the wildlife or simply sit under a tree and enjoy the sights and sounds of the outdoors.

Hunting for a variety of wildlife species is allowed on the area. Special regulations exist for most of the hunting activities, please check the Area Regulations section or with the office for current regulations.

Activities

Activity (Activity Explanations)	Comments (Population Definition)
Bird Watching	Area offers easy access for year-round birding opportunities. For a list of area birds, visit http://www.mobirds.org/CACHE/mdcchecklists1.asp?locID=846.
Dog Training	Dog Training PROHIBITED during managed firearms deer hunts and dog training restricted to certain areas during managed archery deer hunts. Contact Busch office at 636-441-4554 for details and maps.
Exhibits/Displays	Regional office has displays to represent habitat types on the area, includes 1300 gallon aquarium.
Field Trials with Special Use Permit	September 1 - March 31 by Special Use Permit only
Fishing - Bass	Good population.
Fishing - Catfish	Good population. Catfish (14inch) stocked in lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 24 May-September. Special regulations apply.
Fishing - Crappie	Good population.
Fishing - Other	Good population. Carp fishing at Lake 33 is good in the warmer months. Muskie fishing opportunities are available on Lake 35 in late spring and fall.
Fishing - Sunfish	Good population.
Fishing - Trout	Good population. Trout stocked November - February in lakes 21, 22, 23, 24, and 28. Special regulations apply.
Highlighted Activities	Family Fishing Fair each year on the 3rd Saturday in May. Wetlands For Kids each year in mid-April.
Hunting-Deer	Good population. Managed hunts only, applications available in July
Hunting-Dove	Fair population. Special regulations apply. See Area Regulations section.
Hunting-Rabbit	Good population. Special regulations apply. See Area Regulations section.
Hunting-Squirrel	Good population. Special regulations apply. See Area Regulations section.
Hunting-Turkey	Good population. Spring Season is managed hunt only, applications available in February.
Hunting-Waterfowl	Good population. Managed hunts only
Nature Viewing	Area road network provides good viewing opportunities for deer, turkey, and other wildlife.
Other	Staffed shooting range and unmanned field and static archery ranges.
Trapping with Special Use Permit	By Special Use Permit only, contact area manager.

 

Conservation Department Facilities

Facility Item	Name	Count	Comments
Boats for Rent		120	Boats and electric trolling motors are available to rent, and bait, tackle, and permits are available for purchase at the main office. No private boats allowed.
Dock - Fishingaccessible		4	Fishing docks located on lakes 6, 33, and 34 are all disabled accessible. The ADA fishing dock at Lake 15 is available for educational disabled groups.
Fishing Jetty/Platform		43
Other		1	Picnic area with grills and picnic tables near headquarters.
Parking Lotaccessible		47	Includes gravel parking lot with concrete pads at lakes 6, 15, 33, and 34. Concrete pads also located at shooting range. Concrete parking lots with disabled accessible parking located at refuge lake, pavilion, and main office.
Pavilionaccessible		1	The pavilion is on a first come-first serve basis and cannot be reserved.
Picnic Tableaccessible		15	Three disabled accessible tables located at Lake 15, and 2 disabled accessible tables located in the pavilion.
Privy/Restroomaccessible		20	Disabled accessible privies located at Lakes 6, 15, 33, and 34, and also at the shooting range. Disabled accessible restrooms are also available at the main office.
Staffed Officeaccessible		1	Staffed office open M-F 8am-5pm.
Viewing Blindaccessible		6	Disabled accessible viewing blinds located at refuge lake and on the Fallen Oak Trail.
Visitor Centeraccessible		1	Visitor Center is also the Regional Office and open M-F 8am-5pm. Programs and exhibits at office. Boat rental and bait located at office.

 

Features

Feature Item	Name	Count	Size	Comments
Fishing Lake or Pond		32	0.00 acres
Fishless Pond		20	7.00 acres
Spring		2	0.00 # gallons per day
Stream - Intermittent		8	8.00 miles
Stream - Permanent	Dardenne Creek and Kraut Run Creek	1	6.00 miles

 

Land Cover Types

Land Type	Acres	Comments
Forest and Woodland	3000.00
Crop Land	1000.00
Grassland (non-prairie)	200.00	Restored prairie.
Lakes/Ponds	550.00
Wetland	40.00
Old Field	1141.00
Grassland (non-prairie)	1000.00
Other	20.00	Roads and parking lots
Total Area Acres:	6951.08

 

Designated Trails

Trail Name	Trail Type	Length
Fallen Oak Nature Trail	Hiking (Interpretive)	0.70
Dardenne Creek Trail	Hiking (Non-Interpretive)	0.40
Pine Trail	Hiking (Non-Interpretive)	0.20
Woodland Trail	Hiking (Non-Interpretive)	0.20
Wildlife Management Trail	Hiking (Non-Interpretive)	0.40
Prairie Trail	Hiking (Non-Interpretive)	0.20
Busch Hiking and Biking Trail	Multi-Use (Hike/Bike)	3.20
Hamburg Trail	Multi-Use (Hike/Bike)	2.00

 

Shooting Range General Information