Resource Enhancement and Protection
Turkey Run Wildlife Area is located on Osage Ave in south-central Jefferson County.
The Cedar Creek provides canoe access. This is the largest public hunting area
in Jefferson County, and is a popular place for fishing.
Turkey Run Wildlife Area
Turkey Run Wildlife Area is located on Osage Ave. in south-central Jefferson County. The area is bounded by Cedar Creek on the north and the Van Buren county line on the south.
The original 265 acres of Turkey Run was purchased in 1974 with HCRS matching funds. Since then four different parcels of land totalling 140 acres have been purchased which increases the size of the area to 405 acres.
Turkey Run Wildlife Area is the largest public hunting area in Jefferson County.
See the Hunting page.
In 1991, a five acre wetland area was developed for waterfowl habitat and a canoe access was constructed on Cedar Creek. Canoeists can put in at Turkey Run and take out 6 miles downstream at Round Prairie Park. Learn more about Cedar Creek.
Turkey Run Wildlife Area is 90% timberland providing excellent wildlife habitat for wild turkey, deer, squirrels, rabbits and upland game birds. Approximately 40 acres of native prairie grass, pine tree plantings and wildlife food plots have been established in the area.
Details here about turkey restoration.
An equestrian primitive camp area and six miles of horseback riding trails have been recently established at Turkey Run Wildlife Area. Horse back riding is prohibited during deer and turkey hunting seasons (October through mid-January, and early April through mid-May).
An eighty-yard shooting lane that can be used for target practice has been established at Turkey Run. The facility is just west of the existing parking lot.
