John Redmond Wildlife Area
The 1637 acre John Redmond Wildlife Area lies on both sides of Otter Creek which flows into John Redmond Reservoir along its southwest shoreline. There are approximately 200 acres of riparian area and 465 acres of cropland. Approximately 970 acres that are native grass or have at sometime been planted to native grasses. Up to 75 percent of the wildlife area is very heavily flood proned and it is difficult to sustain a good permanent cover such as native grass on the area.
The management objective for John Redmond Wildlife Area is to provide the public with a quality outdoor experience, managing the wildlife and wildlife habitat with an ecological based approach, while providing quality hunting, fishing and other outdoor opportunities. Species managed for include deer, turkey, quail, doves, and waterfowl .
Manager – John Johnson
Phone - (620) 637-2748
Area News
- Starting this Fall (2007), deer hunting will be restricted to Shotgun and Archery Only.
- Off Road vehicles, including ATV’s and horse use is prohibited.
- Only Steel Shot may be used on the area.
Special Features: John Redmond Wildlife Area is bordered on the west by the Fish & Wildlife Services, Flinthills Wildlife Area, and on the southeast by Corps of Engineers property. The user needs to be aware of these boundaries, as hunting regulations do differ from agency to agency.
Here is a complete list of Public Land Regulations or you can download the regulation summary.
The Kansas Fish and Game Commission entered into a lease agreement with the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1964 to lease 1637 acres along the southwest side of John Redmond Reservoir .
| 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. |