Hillsdale Wildlife Area News
Dove Hunting
Each year, SEVERAL AREAS are specifically prepared for dove hunting. A total of 4 fields in 3 areas at approximately 50 acres of sunflowers will be partially mowed/disked prior to opening day.
New this year-Area 1 Dove Hunting Youth/Mentor area has been developed approximately 1 mile west of the intersection 255th Street and Waverly. The dove hunting in this area is temporarily restricted to Youth/Mentor ONLY. Hunting on this area will be allowed by Youth/Mentor hunters who posses a free daily dove permit issued by the Wildlife Area Manager only on the dates of September 1st and 2nd. After September 2nd the area will open up to all public hunting. A Free daily dove permit will still be required. After September 2nd the permit will be available on site at the field. The primary objective of this "Dove Mentor Area" is to provide additional "out of the rush" hunting opportunities for the Youth-Mentor hunters. A Mentor, in this case, is someone 21 years or older and accompanied by at least one Youth- a youth under 17 years of age or younger. All hunters 16 or older must have hunter education, a hunting license, and a HIP stamp. The amount of Youth/Mentor hunters will be limited in this area due to safety issues on a small amount of acres. The hunters who call first will get their names down to receive a Free Daily Dove Permit that will be required to have while hunting the Youth/Mentor dove field. Once the maximum number of permits have been allocated all other hunters will have to wait until after September 2nd to hunt.
Area 2 East and West Wade Dove Fields- Areas are located North and East of Wade Branch access area. Habitat: The fields are made up of approximately 32 acres of sunflowers/weeds. Sunflowers did very poor due to drought.
Area 3 223
rdSt Dove Field- Area is located approximately 4 miles west of HWY 169 on 223
rdSt. and south of KDWPT parking lot. Habitat: The field is made up of approximately 10 acres of sunflowers. Sunflowers did very poor due to drought.
Unfortunately, The sunflowers had a tough summer growing season with extremely hot dry conditions. The result is less than desirable flowers. We will mow and disc around sunflowers that are available to attract as many doves as practical. Address comments and suggestions to Lucas Kramer at the Hillsdale Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Office (913-783-4507).
See the Hillsdale Wildlife Area web page for detailed aerial photos of all managed dove fields. Click on maps, then click on the little bird symbols for dove fields.
All food plots including sunflowers and corn are planted as early in the growing season as practical each year within the Hillsdale Widlife Area. Planting activities generally start in April. This spring/summer Hillsdale changed area managers and no food plots got planted for 2012. There are beans and corn planted in the area. We will plan on planting wheat this fall and continue planting food plots for 2013 growing season. Thanks for your patience during this transition period. The summer was very dry and hot and caused stress on all growing plants.
A Hunting/Survey Permit All dove hunters hunting the Youth/Mentor dove field after September 2nd are required to obtain a "free" Daily Dove Hunting Permit while hunting doves on this field. Free permits will be available on site. The top half of the permit is completed and deposited into a mailbox (at the hunting area) before hunting. The bottom portion is carried while in the field, data recorded and deposited into the mailbox at the completion of the hunt. A new permit is required for each hunt. This information is being collected from many managed dove fields in eastern Kansas in an effort to evaluate dove management activities on public lands. This information will help us maintain and improve funding for managed dove fields in the future. Thanks for you cooperation and participation with this survey.
I appreciate everyone's cooperation filling out hunter survey cards honestly. The information regarding the number of hunters using the area and the number of doves taken are important factors for evaluating the continued effort to provide Managed Dove Fields. Rest assured we are not looking at how many shots it takes any particular individual to take a dove. However, we are interested in the beneficial economic issues related to hunting doves. We are also interested in how much lead is being deposited on Mange
Waterfowl/Wetland Update
The Hillsdale wildlife area has four managed wetland areas including the Novice area described above. See the Hillsdale Wildlife Area web page maps for aerial views of all managed wetland areas. Click on maps, then click on the wetland symbols. The park manages one wetland area below the dam also.
Pumping water in wetlands for 2012 is not looking good as of now. The wildlife area will need to experience a substantial amount of rain for anything to change. You can check lake levels by following this link http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/DistrictLakes/HillsdaleLake.aspx
Mentor/Novice Area (click to see)
A Mentor/Novice Area has been developed to provide enhanced hunting opportunities for the new or beginning hunters. All hunting activities including Waterfowl, Deer, Turkey, and Small Game in this area are restricted to mentor and novice hunters ONLY. A 20-30 acre wetland, The Big Bull Wetland, has been completed at the dead end of 223rd street east of Spoon Creek Road on the upper west side of Hillsdale Reservoir. The primary objective of this "last wetland" is to provide additional hunting opportunities for the mentor-novice hunters. We hope to recruit and encourage new hunters by the more experienced hunters. A Mentor, in this case, is someone 21 years or older and accompanied by at least one Novice- a youth under 16 years of age or a person who has not possessed a hunting license in the last 3 years. Address comments and suggestions to Lucas Kramer at the Hillsdale Wildlife Parks and Tourism Office (913-783-4507).
Projects
With joint monies and efforts between NWTF and KDWPT, trees are being removed North of Smith Creek Access to provide better access to fields that are being taken over by Eastern Red Cedars and Sericea Lespedeza. Once cedars are removed concentration will be on restoring warm season native grasses to create better nesting and brood rearing habitat for quail, turkeys, and other ground nesting birds. Habitat practices such as chemical spraying, disking,conversions from cool season grasses to warm season grasses, and prescribed fire will be used to complete this project.
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