South Central
This is a collection of all the South Central Waterfowl Reports
CHENEY - Last Updated: 10/29/2024
| Waterfowl numbers | Very limited duck numbers with the recent cold fronts. |
| Water level | Lake level 8.81 ft. low |
| Hunting conditions | Poor There is ample food and habitat on the lakebed for waterfowl use. If we get rain for the lake level to come up it could be a great hunting season. However, if we keep missing the rains the hunting conditions will be similar to last season. There is currently no flooded vegetation and 50 yards or more between vegetation and water. |
| Expected hunting success | Poor |
| Comments | Vehicles are not to be driven on the lakebed. This includes UTV, ATV, and E-Bikes. Cheney Wildlife Area is located in the Low Plains Late Zone Daily bag limit: 6 Six ducks is the daily bag limit, with species and sex restrictions as follows: 5 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be females), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 1 pintail, and 1 scaup. The daily bag may comprise six of any other duck, such as six teal, six gadwall, six merganser or six wigeon. Possession limit: Three times the daily limit. The refuge at Cheney Wildlife Area, located on the south side of Pretty Prairie Rd between Obee Rd and Kent Rd, extends out from the shoreline 100 yards into the water. What this means is that water along the shoreline of the refuge is included in the restricted access area and is off limits to hunting. Accessing the refuge by boat or hunting near the refuge shoreline is not permitted. Remember Cheney Reservoir has ZEBRA MUSSELS. Make sure to Clean, Drain and Dry your equipment. Clean all visible vegetation and mud from decoys, bags, waders, etc. Drain water from decoy bags and boats. Allow equipment to Dry for a five day period before using it at another area, OR wash with high-pressure hot water. Many of the roads around the reservoir can get very greasy after rain, or melting snow, please use good judgement about which roads you try to travel on. Area roads have been upgraded with gravel. Please keep vehicles on maintained road and parking areas. Off road vehicle use is strictly prohibited. Please report all wildlife and public lands violations that you witness by calling the area headquarters at (620) 459-6922. Please leave a detailed message with violation specifics. In the event of an emergency, please call 911. |
BYRON WALKER - Last Updated: 10/17/2024
| Waterfowl numbers | |
| Water level | Kingman State Lake is still almost 40 inches low. There is limited water in the huntable portion of the lake. There is no water coming in from the west drainage, thus there is no water in the marshes west and north of the lake at this time. It will take significant rain in the drainage or leaf drop to get water flowing in this drought. Most of the ponds are also at historic lows and will not provide reasonable hunting opportunities. |
| Hunting conditions | Water levels in the lake decreased through out the spring and summer. Dry conditions have continued and prospects of any change in these conditions are not on the foreseeable horizon. The available water will not hold but 1 or 2 groups of hunters without conflict. The oxbows and river may provide more space.
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| Expected hunting success | Very limited. Teal, wood ducks, and some large ducks are on the area. |
| Comments | Please rain! |
COUNCIL GROVE - Last Updated: 10/24/2024
| Waterfowl numbers | Seeing arrival of some early migrants. Mixed species. Waterfowl numbers have not yet become significant. |
| Water levels | 1.9 feet below conservation elevation (1,274') on 10/24/24. |
| Hunting conditions | The lake remained relatively full through August. Hot and dry conditions have persisted since. Moist soil plants are largely absent along lake fringes. As such, few food resources will be available for waterfowl this fall. |
| Expected hunting success | Poor. |
| Comments | Low Plains Late Zone Duck, Coot, Merganser Season is Oct. 26-Dec. 29, 2024, AND Jan. 18-26, 2025. |
EL DORADO - Last Updated: 10/30/2024
| Waterfowl Numbers | Waterfowl numbers have been low on the area. Mixed species of early migrants. |
| Water level | At 1335.15', approximately 3.85' below conservation elevation (1339'). |
| Hunting conditions | Poor- Low lake levels. Cover is limited due to the low lake level. Moist soil vegetation established over the summer on exposed lake bed. If we get rain to raise lake levels expect improved hunting conditions. |
| Expected hunting success | Poor |
| Comments | NOTE: El Dorado Lake is located within the Low Plains Southeast Zone. |
KAW WILDLIFE AREA. - Last Updated: 11/1/2024
| Waterfowl numbers | There are a few waterfowl using the area at this present time. |
| Water level | Low |
| Hunting conditions | Poor |
| Expected hunting success | Poor |
| Comments | TEAL, LOW PLAINS ZONE Season: Sept. 14-29, 2024 Area open: East of Hwy. U. S. 283 Daily bag limit:6 Possession limit:18 Stamps Required: Kansas HIP Stamp, State Waterfowl Stamp, Federal Waterfowl Stamp DUCKS, LOW PLAINS SOUTHEAST ZONE Season: November 09, 2024 - January 5, 2025, AND January 11-26, 2025 Area open: Southeast Zone (see map) Daily bag limit:6 Possession limit: Three times the daily limit |
MCPHERSON VALLEY WETLANDS - Last Updated: 10/22/2024
| Waterfowl numbers | ATTENTION: All hunters MUST check-in / check-out when hunting. Visit https://ksoutdoors.com/checkin using your licensing login credentials to check in and out. 22 October 2024: Waterfowl species observed this week include blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, mallards, shovelers, wood ducks, and pintails. The area has picked up a few new ducks but they are sticking in the refuge pretty tightly. The overall number for this time of year is still below average due to limited water and hot weather. See water level information below. All activities in the north and south refuges in the Big Basin are prohibited. |
| Current Information | Be aware of three new regulations in effect at McPherson Valley Wetlands: (1) The Big Basin has been designated as "youth only" during the youth and military waterfowl weekend, (2) the use of motorized boats is prohibited, and (3) centerfire rifles and handguns are prohibited. |
| Water levels | The wetlands received some beneficial rainfall this summer; however, we are a long way from being out of drought conditions. Scouting will be critical in determining which wetlands have water, as the majority of the wetlands are still dry, and the few that have huntable water are scattered across all three units. Groundwater pumping efforts are currently suspended in the Big Basin and Little Sinkhole units. In the Basin, we have pumped 75% of our allotment. In the Sinkhole, we have pumped 50% of our allotment. Pumping operations will resume in approximately 10 - 14 days. Big Basin: Limited water in the wetlands that are open to public hunting, and very limited water in the south refuge. Chain of Lakes: This unit is almost completely dry. Be aware that the vast majority of Steel's Pond on the east boundary is privately owned. Little Sinkhole Marshes: Limited water. |
| Hunting conditions | We will continue to roller chop / manipulate vegetation to create hunting spots as the season moves forward. Waterfowl food production (native moist soil vegetation) has been exceptionally good across the area this year. The food is here, so if we get some good rains conditions will improve. |
| Expected hunting success | Fair, until we get abundant rainfall. Limited water and crowded conditions will negatively impact waterfowl numbers and hunter success at this point. |
| Comments | **ATTENTION: **THERE IS A "NO TRASH POLICY" IN EFFECT AT MCPHERSON VALLEY WETLANDS. PLEASE CARRY OUT WHATEVER YOU CARRY IN, INCLUDING EMPTY HULLS AND OTHER TRASH. PLEASE TRY TO LEAVE YOUR HUNTING SPOT AS CLEAN OR CLEANER THAN IT WAS WHEN YOU ARRIVED. THANKS!!! **REFUGE AREAS: THE SOUTH REFUGE AREA IN THE BIG BASIN IS OFF-LIMITS TO ALL ACTIVITIES ALL YEAR LONG, AND THIS INCLUDES DUCK HUNTING. THERE IS NO HUNTING OR PUBLIC ACCESS OF ANY KIND ALLOWED IN THE SOUTH REFUGE IN THE BIG BASIN!! THE NORTH REFUGE IN THE BIG BASIN IS A REFUGE-IN-TIME AND IS ONLY OPEN TO PUBLIC ACCESS FROM APRIL 1ST UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH, THEN IT IS CLOSED TO ALL ACTIVITIES FROM OCTOBER 1ST TO MARCH 31ST. The Little Sinkhole/Farland Lake marsh unit is included in the EARLY low-plains duck zone (as is the rest of MPWL). All shotgun hunters at McPherson Wetlands are required to use non-toxic shot for all hunting. This includes upland birds. Throughout all units, please be mindful of farmers and big equipment operators needing to access and maintain roads. Park in designated parking areas when possible, and not on the roadsides. |
SLATE CREEK WETLAND - Last Updated: 11/1/2024
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Waterfowl numbers | There is no waterfowl on the area at this time. Pool 1 has a little bit of water, but the rest of the pools on the area are dry. If you do hunt pool 1, be aware that it has very deep mud and hardly has any bottom to it. |
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Water level | None |
| Hunting conditions | Poor |
| Expected hunting success | Poor |
| Comments | Slate Creek Wetland Hunters can check-in / check-out here, using your licensing login credentials. https://license.gooutdoorskansas.com/ TEAL, LOW PLAINS ZONE
DUCKS, LOW PLAINS LATE ZONE
Also, all shotgun hunters at Slate Creek Wetlands are required to use non-toxic shot for all hunting. This includes upland birds.
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https://license.gooutdoorskansas.com/
MARION - Last Updated: 10/9/2024
| Migration | Migration is underway but so far waterfowl numbers are low. Numbers can change daily |
| Ice | 0% |
| Water level | Lake level is at 1349.89 (Conservation pool is 1350.50) |
| Hunting conditions | Good. The reservoir was low for the early growing season and has a large amount of moist soil vegetation. There is a lot of smartweed along with some barnyard grass, and this moist soil vegetation has been flooded since late summer providing good food and cover. These conditions are on the north end and in several coves and shoreline areas. |
| Expected hunting success | Fair. |
| Comments | The boat ramp at Broken Bridge on the North Cottonwood river has been repaired. The refuge at Marion Wildlife area, located on the south west part of the reservoir along French creek, extends out from the shoreline 100 yards into the water. What this means is that approximately 110 acres of water along the shoreline of the refuge are included in the restricted access area, and are off limits to hunting. Accessing the refuge by boat or hunting near the refuge shoreline is not permitted. Remember Marion Reservoir has ZEBRA MUSSELS. Make sure to Clean, Drain and Dry your equipment. Clean all visible vegetation and mud from decoys, bags, waders, etc. Drain water from decoy bags and boats. Allow equipment to Dry for a five day period before using it at another area, OR wash with high-pressure hot water. Many of the roads around the reservoir can get very greasy after rain, or melting snow, please use good judgement about which roads you try to travel on. |