| Waterfowl numbers | Updated 11-7-24 Bi-weekly Waterfowl surveys are conducted on Clinton Reservoir every year from Sept. to March. Waterfowl numbers are still relatively low. 11/7/24 Survey Results: Mallard- 76 Gadwall-7 Pintail-4 Green/Blue-winged Teal- 221 Canada Geese -161 Coots- 6 Total waterfowl- 469 |
| Lake level | Lake Level is 875.94 (0.44 feet high) Conservation Pool is 875.50 Clinton Wildlife Area Refuge is CLOSED TO ALL ACTIVITIES (Closed October 1-January 15) |
| Hunting conditions | Wetland Pools Coblentz - SE, SW, and middle pool are full, north pool is almost full. Good millet and smartweed with perimeter rows of standing corn. Pumping is completed. East Coblentz- Full. Food sources in pool are beggar's ticks and smartweed with some millets. Deep, open pool north side of marsh. Shadden- Sheet water in lower areas- filled by rainfall only. Millet in marsh south of river; millet and standing corn on perimeter of newly constructed marsh on the North side of the river. Open to hunting, needs rainfall for more huntable water. Elk Creek- Elk Creek pools 1, 2, and 3 are full. The Refuge pool is CLOSED (3/4 filled to full). Elk creek marsh pools are numbered from West to East, with pool 1 next to Elk Creek boat ramp and parking lot. Food: moist-soil vegetation- millets, smartweed, and beggar's ticks with a few strips of milo in pool 3. Pumping is completed. All wetland pools that can be pumped are full. Additional rainfall and colder weather may change rain-filled marsh conditions as well as local waterfowl numbers rapidly. There have been a limited number of hunters finding success with several species of ducks at both Elk Creek and Coblentz marsh pools and on the reservoir. Lake- Lake level is just above normal pool. There are many shallow areas of the lake that offer mudflats for waterfowl hunting opportunities. Staff observed a few dozen ducks utilizing some areas of shallow, open water on the reservoir in addition to mudflats within the refuge (CLOSED). REFUGE CLOSED FROM OCTOBER 1ST TO JANUARY 15TH. Please look for signage and the mowed line indicating the Western Refuge boundary. It runs North and South along the back side of pool 3. The East Refuge boundary extends half a mile east of County Rd. 1023, running parallel to the road, across the Wakarusa arm of Clinton reservoir. KDWP 2024-2025 Online Hunting Atlas Clinton contains miles of creeks, rivers and oxbows on the wildlife area; each of which has unique conditions and frequently hold waterfowl when weather and/or hunting pressure pushes them from marsh pools.
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| Expected hunting success | Poor to fair |
| Comments | IMPORTANT! Clinton Wildlife Area is utilizing an electronic check-in system required of all hunters. To check-in / check-out, please go to https://ksoutdoors.com/checkin using your licensing login credentials. Please remember that trapping is also allowed on the Wildlife Area. Elk Creek (Wakarusa River) and Coon Creek (Lake) boat ramps are open. Rock Creek Boat ramp is closed; a gravel launch area for canoes and kayaks is available when lake is near normal pool. |
