| Waterfowl numbers | Hunters can check in here, https://ksoutdoors.com/checkin using your licensing login credentials or download the "GoOutdoors KS" app. Check-in / check-out is required for all hunters! 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). Duck species present consist of Shovler, Green Wing Teal, Blue Wing Teal, Pintail, Wigeon, Gadwall, and a mix of divers. |
| Water level | Talking with locals this seems to be the worst drought seen in this area since the 1950's. Management planning and purchases have already begun for the 2023-2024 waterfowl season. Water levels will begin to fall very slowly in preparation for the months of March and April when spring bird use is very high and shallow water and mud flat foraging is very important. Please see area news for habitat conditions 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. Hunters should expect much shallower than normal water levels for this waterfowl season. This means boat accessibility including mud motors will be tougher than normal, boats will be able to use the ditches or boating lanes, but hunters should expect to have to push their boat (this includes boats with mudmotors!) or walk outside of the boat lane. We have had several boats stuck this year as the substrate is heavy clay soil and is hard. PLEASE UTILIZE CAUTION AS OPEN WATER DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN DEEP WATER. Pool 1- 180 Acres Pool 2A- 90 acres Pool 2B- 150 acres Pool 3 (Refuge)- 300+ acres Pool 4A- 90 acres Walk in and non-motorized boat hunting only Pool 4B- 45 acres Walk in and non-motorized boat hunting only Pool 5- (Lower Pool- Dry Middle Pool- Dry Upper Pool- Dry ) Pool 6- Dry Pool 7- Dry Pool 8- 20 acres Pool 9- 15 acres South Unit- Dry Filled two pools (55 Acre Feet) in July to flood irrigate and had a great moist soil response. Unfortunately, pumping will not occur again on this property without significant rainfall.
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| Hunting conditions | DUCK SEASON CLOSED Focus over the next month will be on creating optimum foraging conditions for spring migrating waterfowl and shorebirds. Please see the area news page for a breakdown of habitat types within each pool.
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| Expected hunting success | DUCK SEASON CLOSED
Please be respectful of other hunters and allow space between hunting parties. We want to thank everyone for the continued cooperation with utilizing our new electronic check-in/out system. The agency continues to work diligently on improving the new system and are confident it will be working for the upcoming waterfowl season. 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 5,2022 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 or download the "GoOutdoors KS" app. 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"; this includes electric bicycles) 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. |
