Hunting & Fishing

Warrensburg is situated in the center of Johnson County, Missouri, the state’s 7th largest county. In part because of the county’s size and in part due to the rural nature of our area, we’ve got a great diversity of species. Deer and lots of turkeys of course, but also quail, rabbit and a unique variety of waterfowl; teal and dove are plentiful here, and hunters have come from surrounding states to enjoy this diversity.

Lion's Lake

One of Warrensburg, Missouri's smaller lakes at 12 acres. Boats with trolling motors are allowed and the area is good for bass, catfish, crappie, and sunfish. Read more about Lion's Lake.

Lake Cena

Just south of Lions Lake, and also referred to as Pertle Springs Lake, Lake Cena is owned and managed by the University of Central Missouri. Local fishermen recommend the shaded west end of the lake for catfish. The much smaller Racehorse Lake, at the southernmost tip of Lake Cena across from Par Drive, is also open to the public.

Hazel Hill Lake

The Conservation Department purchased this 502-acre area in 1984, and the 71-acre lake was constructed in 1987-88 and stocked with fish in 1989.

The area is composed of cropland, old fields, native grass plantings, and timbered areas which together create habitat for a variety of wildlife species. Vegetation is managed using prescribed fire, mowing, and cropping to provide year-round food and cover for both upland and forest wildlife. View more about Hazel Hill Lake.

Hunting

The area features disabled-accessible fishing, parking, and toilets. A boat ramp is located on the lake. Area for fishing and hunting deer, dove, quail, rabbit, squirrel, and waterfowl.

Knob Noster State Park

Cast your line into two small lakes, Buteo and Clearfork, or Clearfork Creek. Catfish, bass, bluegill and crappie are some of the fish anglers may catch. Fishing is available sunrise to sunset daily, except during special management activities when the park may be closed. Find out more about Knob Noster State Park.

Ralph & Martha Perry Memorial Conservation Area

This area is named after the late Dr. Ralph Perry and his wife, Martha, who donated both land and money to create the conservation area. The area features a diversity of terrain and habitats, including crop fields, old-field habitat, wetlands, glades, woodlands, and both bottomland and upland forest.

Management of this 4,134-acre area includes mowing and controlled burning to maintain plant diversity in the open areas. Habitat plantings include shrubs, native grasses and trees, including two plantings of the Concordia oak, a rare three-way hybrid. Wetland management includes the seasonal flooding of more than 750 acres. Check out more about the Conservation Area.

Fishing

A hiking trail consisting of two loops travels through varying habitats and provides access to several fishing lakes. Several small ponds, the Blackwater River and two lakes provide fishing opportunities. The Conservation Department stocks selected area waters with catfish, bass, redear sunfish and bluegill.

Seasonal access to the Blackwater River is provided in Unit 1. Over seven miles of the Blackwater River flows through the area.

J.N Turkey Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area

J.N "Turkey" Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area is in Johnson and Pettis counties. J.N"Turkey" Kearn, who delighted many people with his humor and knowledge of local history, lived on this land in harmony with its natural beauty. In 1976, he donated 1,479 acres to the Conservation Department with the wish that the bounty of wildlife his ancestors spoke of when they first settled here be restored and preserved for future generations. The Department purchased an additional 195 acres, bringing the area to its present size of 1,674 acres.

The area features a great variety of habitat types, including wooded hills, bottomlands, crop fields, and native grass fields. Two fishing lakes, covering nine and 25 acres, respectively, were built in 2000. The area contains several small ponds and one two-acre pond, and Muddy Creek crosses the northwest corner of the area. Learn more about the Wildlife Area.