The Missouri Department of Conservation reports about 950 visitors in motor vehicles, horse-drawn wagons, and carriages as well as on bicycles and horseback attended the 31st Annual Fall Driving Tour at the Poosey Conservation Area northwest of Chillicothe Sunday.
The tour route traveled on service roads normally closed to the public for vehicle traffic through the conservation area’s more than 5,800 acres.
Missouri Department of Conservation staff greeted visitors at the Pike’s Lake starting point before visitors started the tour, which went through forests, past crop fields, and over streams. Visitors could stop at thirteen interpretive stations along the route, hike to the limestone bluff formation known as Panther Den, and provide comments about conservation programs and issues in Missouri.
Themes for the stops included fishing, tree identification, multi-use trails at Poosey, agriculture and invasive species management, a prairie maze, a walnut tree plantation, healthy waters, wildlife food plots, upland forest and timber harvest management, and the value of diverse habitats.
Staff stationed at several locations answered questions and discussed wildlife habitat improvements as well.
