| 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). IF THE WATERFOWL REPORT HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED THAT MEANS THAT THE CONDITIONS ON THE AREA HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE THE LAST UPDATE Duck species present Wood Ducks, Blue and Green-Winged Teal, Pintail, Gadwall, Widgeon, Shoveler, and Mallard. Canada and White-fronted goose numbers are also increasing. |
| Water level |
Flood irrigation or first stage up began in the hunting pools on July 29th and finished up August 8th, second stage up was Sept 4th through the 13th and third stage up started Oct 7th and is ongoing. This was done to help preserve habitat, promote seed production, invertebrate production and keep moist soil plants from burning up. Food is done and we are trying to get water to opening day elevations, but pumping is extremely slow and we are continuing to lose water to evaporation. The Neosho River Basin is now fairly flush with water. Water levels are in good shape in all pools with levels being around that 12 to 18" average. Boat hunters should still utilize caution when navigating through the hunting pools as there is still extremely shallow water and getting stuck could be a real possibility. Please utilize common sense and respect to other hunters. 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 during the regular waterfowl season 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. Pool 1- 250 Acres Pool 2A- 120 Acres Pool 2B- 165 acres Pool 3 (Refuge)- 475 acres Pool 4A- 90 Acres Walk in and non-motorized boat hunting only Pool 4B- 40 Acres Walk in and non-motorized boat hunting only Pool 5- 60 Acres Pool 6- Dry Pool 7- Full Pool 8- 25 Acres Please remember that this pool is youth/mentor ONLY on weekends and holidays. Pool 9- 25 Acres South Unit- ALL POOLS FULL 100 Acres
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| Hunting conditions | SE Zone Regular Waterfowl season is OPEN until Jan 5, 2025 Pumping and stage ups are continuing. Habitat looks extremely good, seed production for moist soil and row crops was good and the vegetation is tall and rank, so what water we have will be hard to see until vegetation begins to break down. Pool elevations are good as can be expected for this time of year with 12 to 18" water in most of pools. Looking like we will have ice by the weekend with temps dropping into the low 20's at night.
Please see the area news page for a breakdown of habitat types within each pool.
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| Expected hunting success | SE ZONE REGULAR SEASON CURRENTLY OPEN Fair success expected. Ducks are stale and movement has been limited with warmer than normal weather patterns. 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 sort 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 still required to be accessible to provide proof of purchase by the hunter if asked for by Law Enforcement! 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. DRONES ARE NOT ALLOWED ON PUBLIC LAND IN KANSAS 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). This applies during the Youth and Veterans season, this pool is for youth only during youth and veterans season, unless the veteran is taking a youth hunting. 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. |
