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A recently completed conservation project in southwest Missouri has breathed new life into the Fort Crowder Conservation Area — a place rich in natural diversity but increasingly choked by invasive plants and woody encroachment. As with many grasslands across the Midwest, this once-thriving ecosystem was at risk of losing the very structure that made it so vital for wild turkeys, wildlife and outdoor recreation. Thanks to the successful restoration efforts, that trajectory has shifted. The Fort Crowder Conservation Area Grassland Restoration Project, now complete, has brought new life to 137 acres of native warm-season grasses and old fields. Specifically, this project focused on treating approximately 40 acres of invasive trees, vines and woody encroachment — including species like Japanese honeysuckle, autumn olive and Bradford pear. Native shrubs such as sumac, plum and buckbrush, though natural to the area, were also managed where their spread was suppressing grassland structure. |
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Fort Crowder Conservation Area pre-restoration work. Photo credit: Missouri Department of Conservation. By using a forestry mulcher, known as a bull-hog, local Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) crews opened up overgrown pockets and restored space for native warm-season grasses and forbs to re-establish. This not only improves the ecological integrity of the grasslands but creates ideal conditions for wild turkeys, bobwhite quail, pollinators and a host of other native species. The Missouri NWTF State Chapter provided Super Fund dollars to assist with the cost of heavy machinery rental needed to do the work. Grasslands like those at the Fort Crowder Conservation Area are essential to the life cycle of the Eastern wild turkey. These open habitats provide nesting and brooding cover critical for reproductive success that drives turkey population growth. |
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Fort Crowder Conservation Area post-restoration work. Photo credit: Missouri Department of Conservation. “This is the kind of work that we need to see more of if we want to seriously address the turkey decline,” said John Burk, NWTF district biologist for Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. “In response to extreme public pressure, the state agency dramatically expanded furbearer trapping and hunting seasons in 2022 and are considering additional liberalizations this summer. Predator removal and expanding seasons and means and methods opportunities is not the answer and will not result in more turkeys. Creating more turkey factories like the one just completed at Fort Crowder Conservation Area is the proper response. Predators are abundant because there is no fur market not because there is not adequate opportunity to trap and hunt them. Restoring quality nesting and brood rearing habitat is how you effectively make more turkeys. Without routine management, the “turkey factories” quickly transition into less productive areas becoming brushier and/or overwhelmed by invasive species, drastically reducing their value for wildlife and recreation.” The benefits of this restoration extend beyond conservation. The revitalized habitat enhances opportunities for hunting and other outdoor recreation activities. By controlling encroachment and promoting native species, the project contributes to a healthier, more diverse ecosystem that supports both game and non-game species and draws visitors year-round. Following the initial aggressive mulching treatment that became necessary because of the advanced state of woody and invasive plant succession on the site, MDC staff will implement follow-up herbicide applications to control regrowth of invasives and woody sprouts. Additionally, the desired grassland condition of the site will be maintained with frequent applications of prescribed fire. Stands will also continue to be monitored for successful regeneration of native plant communities. Depending on observed outcomes, overseeding may be used in the coming years to maintain and enhance these gains. By restoring native grassland structure and composition, the Fort Crowder Conservation Area Grassland Restoration Project ensures the area remains a crucial habitat for wildlife, a destination for outdoor recreation and a shining example of conservation in action. |
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National Wild Turkey Federation |