Neosho Wildlife Area
Located on the broad, flat flood plain below the junction of Flat Rock Creek and the Neosho River, the wildlife area is a man-made marsh developed by the Department in 1960. The area covers 3,246 acres. The five largest pools on the area represent 1,675 acres of the 1,787 of intensively managed wetlands. There are sixteen independently managed wetlands throughout the area. The area was primarily designed, and is managed to furnish a resting and feeding place for migratory waterfowl.
Three of the sixteen pools are managed in a moist soil environment through a water level manipulation plan. Four green tree marshes ranging in size from five to fifteen acres offer a different type of hunting opportunity for the sportsman using the area. Area personnel plant an average of 400 acres of corn, milo, buckwheat or millet in the hunting pools. The grain is left in the field and inundated in the fall.
The 800-acre refuge pool is closed to all hunting, foot and vehicle traffic during the waterfowl season. The water level of this pool fluctuates naturally throughout the seasons and provides good aquatic habitat for waterfowl. Fishing is allowed from March 31 until August 31. Good fishing can be found at times in the Neosho River, Flat Rock Creek and Brogan Creek, existing in part on the wildlife area.
Manager: Monte Manbeck
Assistant Manager: Travis Ratliff
Phone: (620)-449-2539
From St. Paul travel east on Highway 47 2 miles to Wallace Rd.; turn south and travel approximately 1.25 miles. Office on west side of road
Area News
Neosho Wildlife Area
2021 Habitat conditions:
Habitat wise this year looks really good!!! 230 acres of corn was planted across the entire area in June. The rain following the planting was hard on it but staff managed to save around 175 acres. Replant was tried in the middle of July with no success as it was followed by another large rain and was a total loss. The corn that made it is not the best we have ever raised but with the conditions that were dealt we have to be happy. Planted around 100 acres of Millet in July and most of it was destroyed by Army worms. Luckily we had good conditions for growing moist soil plants and everything looks very promising for a great waterfowl season.
Moist soil production in last years Corn strips was outstanding, with wild millets and annual smartweed being the predominate species.
DAILY HUNT PERMIT:
Hunters can check-in / check-out here, https://ksoutdoors.com/checkin using your licensing login credentials.
There are two new regulations for the 2021-2022 hunting season. First, NO centerfire rifles or handguns will be allowed for hunting. Second, NO ACCESS (FOOT, BOAT, ETC.) into the wetlands BEFORE 5:00AM, and MUST be out of the wetlands within an HOUR AFTER SUNSET (LEGAL SHOOTING HOURS).
Other regulations to keep in mind are parking in designated parking areas ONLY, boats must operate at no wake speeds in the boating canals, and watercraft are not permitted within the hunting pools until the day of waterfowl season at 5:00am. Also Pools 4A and 4B are open to NON-MOTORIZED boats only (Note: An electric trolling motor is a motor and will not be allowed).
South Unit
No new news to report
Pool 9 Construction -Construction of a new 35 acre wetland is complete. This wetland will be located just east of the "Tin Barn" and south of 47 Hwy. Parking WILL NOT be allowed along Hwy 47. Parking will be allowed at the "tin barn" or along the road going to the "tin barn". This wetland will rely heavily on rainfall BUT we will be able to supplemental pump from Brogan creek when conditions allow
Hunting Pool Habitat 2021-2022
| Pool | Acres | Beans | Corn | Millet mix | Moist Soil | Greentree | Buckwheat |
| 1 | 350 | 60 | 50 | 70 | 205 | 65 | 0 |
| 2A | 155 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 85 | 30 | 0 |
| 2B | 190 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 160 | 30 | 0 |
| 4A | 90 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| 4B | 65 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | 85 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 45 | 20 | 0 |
| 6 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 33 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 40 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| South Unit | 100 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 40 | 0 |
As always, if you have questions please feel free to call the office at 620-449-2539. We are always happy to take your calls and please keep in mind that this is a field office, so if we do not answer please leave a message and we will get back in touch with you as soon as we can.
- Pool 8 is restricted to waterfowl hunters accompanied by a youth hunter, 16 years of age or less on weekends and holidays. The adults may hunt with the youth hunter.
- Non-toxic shot is required for all hunting.
- All hunters must obtain a free daily hunting permit utilizing the new isportman checkin prior to the hunt and checkout after the hunt is completed.
Here is a complete list of Public Land Regulations or you can download the regulation summary.
In 1959, the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission purchased the initial 2,975.5 acres. In 1988 an additional 270 acres were purchased through a fifty percent cost share agreement with Ducks Unlimited Inc. The area was first opened to waterfowl hunting in the fall of 1962.
- Type of Facility: Primitive camping
- Location of Facility: N37 30 38.475 W95 8 3.920
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- Type of Facility: Primitive camping
- Location of Facility: N37 28 47.403 W95 7 47.013
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- Type of Facility: Primitive camping
- Location of Facility: N37 30 1.196 W95 9 11.662
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- Type of Facility:
- Location of Facility: N37 30 35.356 W95 7 31.186
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- Type of Facility: Information center
- Location of Facility: N37 25 15.265 W95 7 28.138
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- Type of Facility: Boat Ramp
- Location of Facility: N37 29.430 W95 08.894
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- Type of Facility: Boat Ramp
- Location of Facility: N37 29.140 W95 07.480
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- Type of Facility: Boat Ramp
- Location of Facility: N37 28.797 W95 07.789
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- Type of Facility: Boat Ramp
- Location of Facility: N37 29.567 W95 08.944
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- Type of Facility: Boat Ramp
- Location of Facility: N37 30.036 W95 09.434
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- Type of Facility: Information center
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: N37 30 49.903 W95 8 33.935
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| Waterfowl numbers | Hunters can check in here, https://ksoutdoors.com/checkin using your licensing login credentials. Check-in / check-out is required for all hunters! NEW REGULATION IN EFFECT FOR 2021-2022 WATERFOWL SEASON: NO ENTRY (by foot, boat, etc) INTO THE MARSH (water) BY ANY HUNTER UNTIL 5:00AM AND MUST BE OUT OF THE MARSH BY 1 HOUR AFTER SUNSET (LEGAL SHOOTING TIME). Average numbers of birds. Spring migration is well underway
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| Water level | Most of the acres of water represented below will be 12-18" deep or less in very tall, thick rank, smart weed and wild millet. Boats are not required to hunt Neosho. Walk-in hunting is readily available with very few areas over knee deep. Hunters should take caution wading the boat lane (south end) in Pool 1 (tractor roads/foot crossings are in place); the very east side of 2A, and the oxbow area of 2B. Water levels are ideal for foraging waterfowl. Water has been dropped out of the hardwood trees and a few ag fields on the higher elevations. Draw downs will begin towards the end of the month through mid May. Pool 1- 250 acres 98% Pool 2A- 120 acres 98% Pool 2B- 150 acres 100% Pool 3 (Refuge)- 600+ acres FULL Pool 4A- 90 acres 95% Walk in and non-motorized boat hunting only Pool 4B- 50 acres 95% Walk in and non-motorized boat hunting only Pool 5- 80 acres 98% (Lower Pool- 95% Middle Pool- 90% Upper Pool- 95%) Pool 6- 15 acres 100% Pool 7- 7 acres 100% Pool 8- 25 acres 95% Pool 9- 35 acres 90% South Unit- 95 acres 98%
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| Hunting conditions | Good mixture of moist soil plants and Corn are currently flooded. Things look really good for the season!! Please see the area news page for a breakdown of habitat types within each pool.
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| Expected hunting success | Conservation Light Goose season is from February 14 - April 30 , 2022 2021-2022 Regular Waterfowl Season: 4,449 Hunters Harvested 7,395 Birds for a 1.66 BPH avg. Last season ranked 13th highest in number of Hunters; 8th highest in number of birds harvested; and 18th highest in BPH based on 55 years of data. This was our highest harvest and highest number of hunters since 2010-2011 season. Overall a fantastic season! We want to thank everyone for the continued cooperation with utilizing our electronic check-in/out system. We encountered very few issues with compliance during this hunting season. However, there are still around 70 people checked in and in order to compile and complete the data we need you to please check out. Area staff look at and manipulate this data in many different ways to make management decisions for upcoming years and to also look at what management strategies worked during the hunting season. |
| Comments | ATTENTION: Federal waterfowl stamps purchased online are only valid for 45 days after purchase. After 45 days of being purchased the actual stamp must be in your possession, signed across the face of the stamp, while hunting! Reminder: Motorized watercraft are prohibited on the wildlife area until the day season opens. (5:00am, November 6,2021 for regular duck season.) DAILY REGULATION: NO ENTRY INTO THE MARSH (water) BY ANY HUNTER UNTIL 5:00AM AND MUST BE OUT OF THE MARSH BY 1 HOUR AFTER LEGAL SHOOTING TIME. All Boating regulations are enforced! (Lifejackets must be out and accessible, navigation lights, etc.) All boats must operate at no wake speeds within boating canals (signs are posted) No shooting is allowed from interior dikes Legal shooting hours are 1/2 hr before sunrise to SUNSET! Required Licenses/stamps: Hunting License, Federal Waterfowl Stamp, Kansas State Stamp, and Kansas H.I.P. Stamp. It is your responsibility to make sure you have the required licenses/stamps. You MUST also check in and check out here, https://ksoutdoors.com/checkin using your licensing login credentials. Waterfowl hunting in Pool 8 is restricted to youth hunters and their mentor on weekends and holidays. There must be at least one youth per adult if the adult is hunting. (You can't have 5 adults and one youth). Atv's of any kind are not allowed on the area (side by sides, utv's, amphibious vehicles, "argos") Campgrounds on the area are Primitive campground. (No electric, No water) Take your trash with you!! 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, each individual hunter needs to check in/out and report his/her harvest totals. i.e., NOT A GROUP HARVEST TOTAL. |