South Central
This is a collection of all the South Central Waterfowl Reports
CHENEY - Last Updated: 12/19/2024
| Waterfowl numbers | Most ducks have pushed out of the area. More geese have been seen using private land around the lake. |
| Water level | Lake level 7.55 ft. low |
| Hunting conditions | Marginal With the recent rainfall the rive at the upper end of the reservoir has started to get water into moist soil habitat. The wetland and low areas around the reservoir are holding huntable water. |
| Expected hunting success | Marginal |
| Comments | Vehicles are not to be driven on the lakebed. This includes UTV, ATV, and E-Bikes. Hunters, please remember there is Phragmites and Salt Cedar on the lakebed. Do not move these plants for blind material or take them from the lake to brush in layout blinds. 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 about 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: 12/23/2024
| Waterfowl numbers | increasing |
| Water level | Kingman State Lake is still almost 16 inches low. The recent 8+ inches of rain have improved conditions significantly. All the marshes have picked up huntable water. The new headquarters marsh will not be intentionally flooded this fall. |
| Hunting conditions | Improving.
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| Expected hunting success | Fair. Coming cold fronts should bring in new migrants. |
| Comments |
COUNCIL GROVE - Last Updated: 12/19/2024
| Waterfowl numbers | Duck numbers have declined this week but can and have varied each day depending on weather. Some goldeneye, mallards, and mergansers were observed on 12/19/24. Goose numbers have yet to be significant or consistent this fall. |
| Water levels | 1.8 feet below conservation elevation (1,274') on 12/19/24. |
| Hunting conditions | Ice is forming in shallows and wind protected areas on some days. The lake remained relatively full through August. Hot and dry conditions persisted in September and October. Moist soil plants are largely absent along lake fringes. As such, few food resources will be available for waterfowl within lake environments. |
| Expected hunting success | Fair. |
| Comments | Low Plains Late Zone Duck, Coot, Merganser Season is Oct. 26-Dec. 29, 2024, AND Jan. 18-26, 2025. |
EL DORADO - Last Updated: 12/20/2024
| Waterfowl Numbers | Waterfowl numbers have been increasing on the area and are fluctuating daily due to pond ice conditions in the area. Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Goldeneye, and Merganser observed. |
| Water level | At 1337.35', approximately 1.65' below conservation elevation (1339'). 0% lake ice |
| Hunting conditions | Good. Water has come up enough to flood vegetation on mud flats. Lots of food available for waterfowl. Excellent concealing vegetation close to the water. |
| Expected hunting success | Fair |
| Comments | NOTE: El Dorado Lake is located within the Low Plains Southeast Zone. |
KAW WILDLIFE AREA. - Last Updated: 12/19/2024
| Waterfowl numbers | There are some waterfowl using the area at this present time. |
| Water level | Normal |
| Hunting conditions | Fair |
| Expected hunting success | Poor/Fair |
| 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: 12/19/2024
| 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. 19 December 2024: *****THE 2nd SPLIT OF DUCK SEASON OPENS DECEMBER 21ST AND CLOSES JANUARY 5TH, 2025***** Waterfowl species observed this week include green-winged teal, mallards, and pintails, along with a fair number of geese. 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 4.33" of rain in November, and conditions have improved. Scouting will still be critical in determining which wetlands have water. Groundwater pumping efforts are complete in the Big Basin, as our allotment of water for the season has been pumped. At the Little Sinkhole, we have pumped 55% of our allotment, and the pump station is currently broke down. We are working with Purchasing to get repairs in order, and hope to pump the remainder of our water allotment prior to the second split of duck season. Big Basin: Improved conditions, with water in a good share of the wetlands that are open to public hunting, and decent water in the refuges. Chain of Lakes: Water levels have improved in the western unit. Be aware that the vast majority of Steel's Pond on the east boundary of the eastern unit is privately owned. Little Sinkhole Marshes: A good share of the wetlands in this unit now have huntable 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 continue getting rain, conditions will improve even more. |
| Expected hunting success | Fair. |
| 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: 12/19/2024
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Waterfowl numbers | There is some waterfowl on the area at this time. All the pools have decent amount of water in them. |
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Water level | Normal |
| Hunting conditions | Fair |
| Expected hunting success | Poor/Fair |
| 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: 12/12/2024
| Migration | Migration is going and bird numbers are increasing. Watch for cold weather that can push in new waterfowl. Reports of a mixed bag including Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Gadwall, Wood Duck and, some divers like Golden-eye are showing up. Numbers can change daily |
| Ice | 1% |
| Water level | Lake level is at 1350.42 (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 | Good. |
| 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. |