El Dorado Wildlife Area
The reservoir has a combination of steep rocky shoreline and shallow mudflats. Three boat ramps provide access to waters near the upper ends of the reservoir. Fair to excellent populations of walleye, channel catfish, smallmouth bass, crappie, largemouth bass, flathead catfish, white bass, bluegill, and wiper are found in the lake. Blue catfish have also been recently introduced into the lake. Wildlife area lands primarily consist of native grass prairie with some large tracts of woodlands and crops. Hunting is allowed and hunters may find fair to excellent populations of white-tailed deer, wild turkey, quail, prairie chicken, squirrel, rabbit, dove, and waterfowl. Ring-necked pheasants are present but populations are generally low.
Manager: Tyler Burt
Phone: (316) 322-7513
El Dorado Reservoir is located in north-central Butler County, just north and east of the City of El Dorado at the edge of the scenic Flint Hills.
Area News
Want Current Lake Condition Information? It’s Just a Click Away!
It can be argued that technology is not always a good thing. But for outdoor recreationists wanting to know current information about El Dorado Lake, technology can be good because the information is available and can be accessed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by visiting the internet on your computer or smart phone.
For those interested in learning more about current or historic lake levels, precipitation amounts, lake inflow, or lake releases, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates a convenient web site providing this information. Whether you are an angler interested in lake conditions to determine if it might be right for pursuing your favorite species of fish or are a boater or camper wondering how lake conditions have been impacted by recent drought or rains, the website can be a valuable trip planning tool. To access this information simply visit:
http://www.swt-wc.usace.army.mil/ELDR.lakepage.html
Shooting Range Open at El Dorado State Park:
The El Dorado State Park shooting range is located adjacent to the park office, near the east end of the lake dam. The range provides shooters with several different distance options including 30 lanes within a 15-yard pistol range, 14 lanes within a 25-yard rifle/pistol range, and 12 lanes within a 100-yard rifle range. Range safety is paramount at the facility. The range is staffed and supervised by trained Range Safety Officers. The facility is fully baffled and bermed, with concrete side and end walls to enhance bullet and sound retention. To view details on hours and pricing, please visit www.eldoradostateparkrange.com or contact El Dorado State Park at #316/321-7180.
Please remember that target practice is not allowed on the El Dorado Wildlife Area. Agency regulation (115-8-1), allows target practice only in areas designated as open for target practice. The El Dorado Lake Shooting Range is the only area designated for firearm target practice on public lands at El Dorado Lake. An existing archery range, also within El Dorado State Park, is the designated area for archery target practice. Both facilities provide quality shooting opportunities for area hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts.
- Special length and creel limits may apply for some fish species at El Dorado Reservoir. Please consult the El Dorado Fishing Information Page or area information signs for posted notices prior to fishing.
- Vehicles are restricted to established maintained roads.
- Off-road vehicle use is prohibited.
- Camping is not allowed on the wildlife area.
- Excellent camping facilities can be found at El Dorado State Park. Contact #316/321-7180 for more information.
- A “No Trash Policy” is in effect. Trash barrels and dumpsters are not provided and area visitors are asked to take all trash with them.
- No target practice is allowed.
Here is a complete list of Public Land Regulations or you can download the regulation summary.
The 8,000 acre reservoir was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1981. That same year, a license agreement was granted to the Kansas Fish and Game Commission (predecessor of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism) from the Corps of Engineers to establish the wildlife area. The wildlife area consists of approximately 4,000 acres of land and is primarily managed to provide public hunting and fishing opportunities.
- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 57 19.6 W096 45 05.3
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 57 19.0 W096 46 50.6
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- Type of Facility: Boat Ramp
- Location of Facility: N37 54 42.4 W096 47 33.2
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 56 00.4 W096 47 17.0
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 56 52.1 W096 47 27.2
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 56 52.6 W096 47 08.1
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 56 53.4 W096 46 37.1
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 56 34.4 W096 46 36.9
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- Type of Facility: Boat Ramp
- Location of Facility: N37 55 40.9 W096 46 15.5
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 55 22.7 W096 46 19.3
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 55 35.1 W096 45 46.6
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 55 33.8 W096 44 35.2
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 55 18.1 W096 44 56.9
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 55 03.2 W096 44 57.0
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- Type of Facility: Boat Ramp
- Location of Facility: N37 54 38.8 W096 46 11.3
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 53 49.9 W096 46 28.4
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 52 47.9 W096 46 04.5
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 53 11.2 W096 44 58.0
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 52 58.8 W096 44 18.6
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 50 37.0 W096 44 57.3
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 50 22.0 W096 44 55.7
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 50 22.1 W096 44 23.7
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 50 39.7 W096 43 51.1
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 51 09.5 W096 43 51.2
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- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: N37 51 14.3 W096 44 24.0
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- Type of Facility: Office
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: N37 51 14.1 W096 44 51.2
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| Waterfowl Numbers | Waterfowl numbers have been low on the area. Approximately 50 ducks observed and 350 Canada geese. |
| Water level | At 1336.19', approximately 2.81' below conservation elevation (1339'). |
| Hunting conditions | Poor but improving with recent rains. Cover is limited due to the low lake level. Moist soil vegetation established over the summer on exposed lakebed. |
| Expected hunting success | Poor |
| Comments | NOTE: El Dorado Lake is located within the Low Plains Southeast Zone. |