Southeast
This a collection of all the Southeast Waterfowl Reports.
1JOHN REDMOND - Last Updated: 1/26/2021
| Waterfowl numbers | 8,500 mixed ducks, majority divers. 1,500 Dark Geese and 5,000 Light Geese |
| Water level | Current Level: 1041.3 Conservation Pool Level: 1041 |
| Hunting conditions |
Teal - Low Plains 09/12/2020 - 09/27/2020 Location: East of Hwy. U. S. 283 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
Duck Season - Youth/Veteran/Active Military (Low Plains Southeast) 11/07/2020 - 11/08/2020 Daily Bag Limit: Youth may hunt ducks, geese, coots, and mergansers with same daily bag limits as during the regular seasons. Possession Limit: same as regular seasons. Stamps/Permits Required: Resident youth hunters do not need any stamps or permits. Nonresident youth need a nonresident hunting license, a Kansas HIP Permit and State Waterfowl Permit.
Ducks - Low Plains Southeast Zone 11/14/2020 thru 01/03/2021 and 01/9/2021 thru 01/31/2021 Daily bag limit: 6 Six ducks is the daily bag limit, which may include no more than two canvasbacks, two redheads, one pintail, three wood ducks, three scaup and five mallards (only two of which may be hens). The daily bag may comprise six of any other duck, such as six teal, six gadwall, or six wigeon. Possession limit: Three times the daily limit.
Dark Geese Season (First Segment) 10/31/2020 - 11/01/2020 (Second Segment) 11/04/2020 -02/14/2021 Area open: Statewide Daily bag limit: 6 (including Brant) Possession limit: 18 Kansas HIP Stamp, State Waterfowl Stamp, Federal Waterfowl Stamp Required
White-fronted Geese Season (First Segment) 10/31/2020- 01/03/2021 (Second Segment) 01/23/2021 – 02/14/2021 Location: Statewide Daily bag limit: 2 Possession limit: 6 Kansas HIP Stamp, State Waterfowl Stamp, Federal Waterfowl Stamp Required
Light Geese Season (First Segment) 10/31/2020- 11/01/2020 (Second Segment) 11/04/2020- 02/14/2021 Location: Statewide Daily bag limit: 50 Possession limit: Unlimited Kansas HIP Stamp, State Waterfowl Stamp, Federal Waterfowl Stamp Required
Light Geese Conservation Order NOTE - During this period, there will be no bag or possession limit on light geese. In addition, participants will be allowed to use unplugged shotguns and electronic calls and take light geese from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset during the period of the conservation order. 02/15/2021- 04/30/2021 Location: Statewide Possession Limit: Unlimited Stamps Required: Kansas HIP Stamp, State, Waterfowl Stamp, Federal Waterfowl Stamp John Redmond and Otter Creek Wildlife Area Fall 2020 Conditions- There was no spring flooding issues this year, and vegetation around reservoir looks superb. I expect excellent habitat conditions this year for waterfowl. Otter Creek Marshes, located below John Redmond Dam- excellent vegetation, but no water. Water control structures are closed and ready to hold water, but we have not been able to catch any substantial precipitation events as of yet. Will keep page updated if conditions change. Edges starting to thinly ice, creeks starting to ice up, boat ramps still accessible and open, but going to be temperature dependent. Thin ice, thicker on on south end of open water. The Sedimentation Basins located on west side, below dam, are not open for hunting, and are privately owned and operated. |
| Expected hunting success | Good |
| Comments | For information on Flint Hills National Wildlife Area and the marshes on the upper end of the lake please contact FHNWR @ 620-392-5553. |
ELK CITY RESERVOIR/WILDLIFE AREA - Last Updated: 2/16/2021
| Waterfowl numbers | Several thousand ducks have been seen on and around the reservoir this week. Ice has concentrated ducks and geese in open water areas. 20-30 thousand snow geese on the reservoir as well. The waterfowl numbers are expected to fluctuate with migration, hunting pressure, and changing habitat conditions. |
| Water level | Most of the marshes are full or near full. For current Reservoir levels visit http://www.swt-wc.usace.army.mil/ELKC.lakepage.html |
| Hunting conditions | There is a lot of sesbania around the lake this year. It will provide some cover but please try not to transport the plants or seeds away from the reservoir because it is a non-native, invasive species that we spend a lot of time trying to control in the wetlands. Wetland food production was great this year. |
| Expected hunting success | Fair. REGULAR DUCK SEASON IS NOV. 14-JAN. 3 AND JAN. 9-31 |
| Comments | For updated waterfowl numbers and weather conditions call (620) 331-6820. Individuals utilizing the wildlife area need to be aware of the refuge boundaries. Maps can be obtained at the Fisheries & Wildlife office (below the dam) or at the State Park (on the lake side). Japanese Millet was planted around the area wetlands with good results, and there was a very good natural response of wild millet (barnyard grass) and smartweed in most wetlands. Overall, there should be plenty of food to attract waterfowl. |
FALL RIVER RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 1/8/2021
| Waterfowl numbers | 01/08/21 Waterfowl numbers remain low. There are always several small groups of divers on watersheds and pasture ponds as well as the reservoir. Because of the lack of flooded vegetation birds are not lingering in the area. There have been a few large groups of ducks on agricultural fields, however, most of the ducks have been on private fields and not on the wildlife area. A few large groups of divers (mostly mergansers) have been observed on the river recently. Goose numbers have been fair with birds focusing on cut corn fields with wheat drilled in. |
| Water level | Water levels have risen slightly with recent rains, but still fall short of flooding vegetation along shore lines. |
| Hunting conditions | |
| Expected hunting success | Hunters can expect the see waterfowl and perhaps do some shooting, however, a limit would be hard to come by. |
| Comments | Waterfowl reports will be updated on a bi-weekly basis during the fall and winter waterfowl seasons. Updates will be made when significant changes in waterfowl numbers are observed. For information pertaining to the Fall River Wildlife Area call 620-583-6783. |
MARAIS DES CYGNES - Last Updated: 2/10/2021
| Waterfowl numbers | 99% Frozen. Very few geese using the area. |
| Water levels | Good water can be found in all major units. Smaller units have been pumped. Boat ramp at A-East has been deepened. Unit G is more shallow now than it has been in recent years. Unless a significant rain event occurs, Unit E and Unit H will have little to no water. "Flooded timber" units will not have water this year. |
| Hunting/ Habitat conditions | Very good moist-soil vegetation in major wetlands, some Japanese millet planted in A North, very little corn in small wetlands. Approximately 100 acres of wheat planted across the area. Levee renovation project was completed on portions of Unit E. |
| Hunting success | |
| Comments | Project Update: The willows have been harvested for the stabilization project at the river pump station where the bank is being repaired. Construction continues. Please drive slowly when going through the construction zone. NOTE: Legal shooting hours are 1/2-hour before sunrise to SUNSET. Late shooters (shooting after sunset) will be prosecuted. All hunters must check-in daily using iSportsman electronic check-in from a PC, smartphone, or by phone before hunting and check out at the end of the hunt regardless of harvest. We now have a zero tolerance policy on failure to comply with iSportsman and check station requirements. Please remember to fill out the check-out report with accurate information. THIS INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CURRENT AND FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF THE AREA. FILL OUT ONLY YOUR INDIVIDUAL HARVEST EFFORTS, i.e., NOT A GROUP HARVEST TOTAL. Go to: Outboard motors are restricted on this wildlife area and are allowed in Unit G and in the boat lane only in Unit A-East. Outboards are not allowed in any other wetland units. Electric trolling motors are unrestricted. Boats must be operated at wakeless speed. Boats must have sufficient PFDs for occupants. Go to MDCWA and click the "News" icon near the top for more information on general waterfowl habitat. Waterfowl report is updated only if there are significant changes in waterfowl numbers or hunting conditions. |
MELVERN LAKE/WILDLIFE AREA - Last Updated: 1/6/2021
| Waterfowl numbers | Waterfowl counts given on this report are based on what was observed on the day the report is updated. Waterfowl numbers vary greatly from day to day and weather conditions and hunting pressure will affect the number of waterfowl on the area. Mallard Migration Rank = 1 (0 = no mallards and 10 = peak migration) 01/04/2021 ( 10:00 a.m. )--- ALL WETLAND UNITS ARE FULL 3 Duck Marsh- 10 mallards Willow Marsh- Iced over Sundance Marsh- No birds observed Lowman's Cove- none Shoveler Slough- No birds LOCATION:South parking lot is at the intersection of W 317th St. & S Davis Rd. (NOTE: Motorized boats are prohibited) Refuge- Snow geese |
| Water level | Lake level = 1034.67; Conservation pool = 1036.00; Target goal for the lake is 1034.00. 0% Ice cover on Melvern Lake. |
| Hunting conditions | Moist soil vegetation had great production in all units providing ample amounts of natural food for waterfowl once flooded. Warm weather has slowed migration and waterfowl numbers are low. |
| Expected hunting success | Poor - Fair |
| Comments | All hunters utilizing Melvern Wildlife Area are required to obtain a free daily hunt permit through the new electronic permit system. Hunters can register now to begin using the electronic system at https://kdwpt.isportsman.net/ For more information (click here). Waterfowl hunters utilizing the main lake are only required to obtain a permit when hunting west of Hoch Road. Please remember to fill out the permit with accurate information. THIS INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CURRENT AND FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF THE AREA. FILL OUT ONLY YOUR INDIVIDUAL HARVEST EFFORTS, i.e., NOT A GROUP HARVEST TOTAL. The Refuge Area is CLOSED October 1st through January 15th. |
NEOSHO WILDLIFE AREA - Last Updated: 2/24/2021
TORONTO RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 1/8/2021
| Waterfowl numbers | 01/08/21 Ducks remain present in small numbers. Most groups of birds observed have been limited to roughly one to two dozen birds. Most of the birds observed have been divers. Most pasture ponds and water sheds are holding small groups of birds. If conditions are right for ponds to ice up, expect birds to concentrate on the reservoir. |
| Water level | Water levels have risen slightly, however, water is still short of flooding any vegetation. Area marshes remain dry. |
| Hunting conditions | |
| Expected hunting success | With mostly divers being observed hunters could have some success on the reservoir, however, a limit of birds may be hard to come by. |
| Comments | Waterfowl reports will be posted on a bi-weekly basis throughout the fall and winter waterfowl seasons. Updates will be made when a significant change in bird numbers is observed. For information pertaining to the Toronto Wildlife Area call 620-583-6783. |