Bolton Wildlife Area
The Bolton Wildlife area is located in Wabaunsee county 2 1/2 miles north and 1 1/2 miles west of Paxico. The area is a continuous tract of land one-half mile wide by two miles long. The 640 acre area consists of primarly native prairie with a small amount of timber located in the northeast corner of the property. Food plots have also been established in the northeast corner of the property and are managed for dove harvest. Hunting opportunities include prairie chicken, bob-white quail, turkey, deer, mourning dove, and squirrel. There are several small ponds that are periodically stocked by the department. Largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish can be found in these ponds.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism has begun to intensively manage for greater prairie chicken habitat on the property. The Department implemented a patch-burn grazing system in the spring of 2011. Cattle are allowed to freely graze the 600 acres of native range during the months of May-August. Approximately 1/3 of the grazed acres are burned each year. The first documented prairie chicken lek on Bolton Wildlife Area was observed in the spring of 2011!
Manager: Bryon Brown
Phone: (785) 539-9999
Area News
Special Regulations Now in Effect on the Food Plots.
The food plots will now be non-toxic shot only. To hunt opening day of dove season hunters must put in and be selected by drawing for a special hunt (located on the ksoutdoors.com website under special hunts). Hunters may put in for a morning or afternoon hunt and if selected will be able to bring one individual with them. This will limit the number of hunters for the morning and afternoon hunts to 20 individuals per time slot. All hunters must still sign in to the area while hunting at the following link: https://license.gooutdoorskansas.com/Event/WMASignIn.aspx After the opening day of dove season, normal hunting will resume, however hunters must still check-in / check-out to be on the area.
Area dove fields are fair to good this year. The sunflowers will be mowed prior to season and wheat fields will be burned around 2 weeks before season depending on weather conditions.
Mulberry Creek is flowing again and has sunfish in some of the pools.
- Hunting, trapping, and fishing are allowed on the area.
- Camping, off-road vehicle use, horse riding, and target shooting are prohibited.
SPECIAL NOTE: Individuals hunting on the area with the use of a dog should be up to date on popular trapping methods, how each type of trap releases and be able to recognize signs of trapping to help reduce the chance of a dog/trap encounter.
Here is a complete list of Public Land Regulations or you can download the regulation summary.
Bolton Wildlife Area was donated to the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks by the Bolton family through the Wildtrust Program in 1995.
- Type of Facility: Fishing Pond
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- Type of Facility: Fishing Pond
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- Type of Facility: Fishing Pond
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- Type of Facility: Parking Area
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- Type of Facility: Information Center
- Location of Facility: 39.10887 -96.19711
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