Cherokee Lowlands Wildlife Area
Cherokee Lowlands Wildlife Area is owned and managed by Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. The wildlife area currently consists of eight different tracts of land totaling 2,519 acres. Seven of these tracts are located North and East of Chetopa, in Labette and Cherokee counties, on the Neosho River Floodplain. One tract is located along Cow Creek, in Northeast Cherokee County, south of Pittsburg. Most of the wildlife area is in the physiographic region of Kansas known as Cherokee Lowlands, hence the name.
Wildlife
Waterfowl, white-tailed deer, eastern turkey, fox squirrel, gray squirrel, rabbit and dove can be found throughout the area. Many furbearers can also be found including coyote, bobcat, raccoon, opossum, skunk, beaver, otter, muskrat and mink.
Dove management at the Perkins tract attracts doves and provide a food plot for other wildlife. Wetlands are managed for early successional vegetation to provide resting and feeding areas for migrating waterfowl. Water levels in the wetlands are dependent on runoff from rain events. The native grasslands are frequently burned utilizing prescribed fire to provide quality habitat.
Fishing
Limited angling opportunities may be found in deeper pools of Fly Creek that runs through Mitchelson and Chesnutt tracts and Cow Creek that runs through Buche tract. The low head dam on the Neosho River at Chetopa’s East River Park provides excellent fishing for channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish and rough fish at different times throughout the year. White bass and crappie can be caught in good numbers during early spring, depending on river flow and water clarity. Paddlefish snagging is also allowed during season in a designated area below the dam and is a unique and popular angling opportunity.
Other Opportunities
Birdwatching, furharvesting, hiking, wildlife viewing and photography. Please be respectful of all public land users to ensure everyone has a high-quality outdoor experience. Please follow all rules, regulations and posted notices.
Ryan Good
Cherokee Lowlands Wildlife Area / NRDA Property Manager
(620) 827-6301
Things To Remember
- Refuge areas are closed to all activities year-round
- Archery-only for deer and turkey hunting
- Non-toxic shot only
- Vehicles are restricted to maintained parking areas
- Off-road vehicle use is prohibited
- No trash policy is in effect, please take your trash with you, including shotgun hulls
- Camping is not allowed on the wildlife area
- Cherokee Lowlands Wildlife Area is subject to all state laws and regulations regarding hunting, fishing and public use. Pertinent information is posted. For further information about the area, contact the office listed on front of brochure.
Here is a complete list of Public Land Regulations or you can download the regulation summary.
The Cherokee Lowlands Wildlife Area lies on lands located near the former Cherokee County Superfund site – an area that was once a mining region within the broader Tri-State Mining District. The area played a significant role in zinc and lead production in the United States from 1850 to 1970. Unfortunately, extensive mining activities have left thousands of acres of land and numerous stream miles heavily contaminated. In 1995, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), initiated the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) program. Over the years, they have managed to recover several million dollars for the purpose of restoring the natural resources impacted by the Superfund site. Initially, the FWS, KDHE, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) joined forces to use the recovered NRDAR funds to purchase properties and rehabilitate the native habitat. KDWP acquired three properties
in 2012, one in 2014, and another in 2021. FWS and KDHE took advantage of a unique opportunity to establish a partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in 2016, resulting in the acquisition of another property. In 2018, Ducks Unlimited (DU) also came on board as a partner, using NRDAR funds from previous acquisitions as matching funds for a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grant. These properties were part of KDWP's Walk in Hunting Access (WIHA) program until they were eventually donated to KDWP in 2021. The collaborative efforts between FWS, KDHE, KDWP, TNC, and DU have successfully transformed these properties into what is now known as the Cherokee Lowlands Wildlife Area. Most of the lands within the wildlife area were previously used for row-crop agriculture, which offered limited resources for wildlife. These properties had been enrolled by previous owners into the Natural Resource conservation Service (NRCS) Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) program. Under this program, wetlands were constructed, shallow depressions were created, and native grasses and forbs were sown to enhance the area's grassland and wetland habitats.