Visiting Fort Crowder Conservation Area

Hiking trails on Fort Crowder Conservation Area will be well marked and easy to follow. One of the trails is open to hikers and the other is a multi-use that is open to other modes of travel such as by horseback or bicycle.

Many people don't like to travel long distances when the weather gets as hot as it has been the past several days, so this week's profile will focus on an area that is just a short drive from Nevada. Some readers of this column know the way to Neosho, but if not, it isn't hard to find.

It's only about 75 miles down to the Fort Crowder Conservation Area in Newton County, and most of the trip is on U.S. 71 Highway. Travelers should merge onto 59 Highway just south of Carthage and then, after passing U.S. 60 Highway, be prepared to turn east on Route HH just before reaching Neosho. The area is only two or three miles down the road.

This area was once part of the World War II Camp Crowder Army Base. Visitors to the area can still see some of the old foundations, fruit trees, small fields and other remains of the hundreds of small farms purchased by the government when it created the 60,000 acre base, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation Web site.

Camp Crowder, Fort Crowder and Crowder College are all named after the former Judge Advocate General and U.S. Ambassador to Cuba Enoch H. Crowder. Thousands of soldiers received training at the camp before it was closed in the 1950's. One of those soldiers was Mort Walker. Walker brought the camp to life for millions of readers who knew it simply as Camp Swampy from the syndicated comic strip "Beetle Bailey."

Fort Crowder is a good sized area that is more than 60 percent forested. The primary tree species on the area are white, black, post and red oaks, hackberry, elm, black cherry, black walnut and ash. This diverse forest provides food and habitat for a wide variety of animal species.

The large amount of timber on the area means that specific forest management techniques are employed to maintain a healthy forest environment that provides the maximum amount of food and wildlife cover and outdoor recreation. Timber harvest is an important tool in the successful management of large tracts of forest.

Other methods of managing the property are creating small ponds to be used as watering holes for various wildlife species and habitat for amphibians and aquatic species. Some of the fields are also manipulated in order to provide food and cover for a multitude of species.

As with most areas profiled, this 2,362 acre parcel of public land will provide birders with many opportunities to add species to their sighting lists. Viewers should expect to find forest and grass land species living on the area all year and other species migrating through in the fall and spring.

There are no fishing opportunities on this area, but any or all of the 15 ponds constructed for wildlife may offer the chance to catch a few bullfrogs or green frogs. Anyone frogging on this area should keep in mind that it is illegal to harvest either species of frog with a firearm on this area. Almost all conservation areas have that rule in effect. Check the regulations board on arrival.

Hunting is a different story. Fort Crowder holds large numbers of deer and turkey. The area is open to hunting under statewide seasons and regulations. Deer hunters should bear in mind that all of the parking lots on this area are on the perimeter. That means that if you are hunting in the middle of the area, it is going to be nearly a mile to any parking lot. That is a long way to drag a deer, even a small deer. Unless a turkey weighs more than 25 pounds they're not to hard to pack out.

Small game hunting on the area should be good. There are 100 acres of crop fields, 200 acres of native warm season grasses and 600 acres of fields that are kept in early successional stages of growth. Those conditions are ideal for small game species like rabbits. Quail and doves should thrive on this area and provide many good hunting opportunities. Of course, all that timber means there will be a good number of squirrels to hunt.

Other things to do at Fort Crowder include nature photography, primitive camping and hiking. Seasonal closures may be in effect for camping, but there are more than 11 miles of trails and service roads for the hiker, biker or horse rider to take advantage of during their visit. The camping/picnic area is located near Gibson Spring which has a daily output of more than 5,000 gallons.

Fort Crowder also has a firearms shooting range featuring 25, 50 and 100 yard targets. An informal shotgun field is also available to the shooter that doesn't mind providing their own clay pigeons and thrower. An archery range on the area offers a static range as well as a walk through field range. Both ranges are unmanned.

This area has very few amenities. There is plenty of parking in the 10 lots on the area and there is a privy located near the archery range and one near the shooting range and that's it, but don't let that discourage you from visiting this nearby public land.

For local information contact: Missouri Department of Conservation, 2630 North Mayfair, Springfield, MO 65803 or call (417) 895-6880, or check out the area online on the Department's Web site at www.mdc.mo.gov. All of the areas profiled in this column can be found in the online version of the Conservation Atlas and in the original "Missouri Conservation Atlas" if one is available. The online version will provide links to a map and brochure, give the area rules and regulations and provide some basic information pertaining to the Fort Crowder Conservation Area.