Region 5

Waterfowl numbers

Numbers changing daily. Estimated number of ducks on 1/22/13 is 2,500 with most of the birds leaving during the day.

Water level

792 after a high of 797 this spring and summer.

Hunting conditions

Poor. Exposed mud flats with little shoreline vegetation due to drought and high temperatures. Quaker Road is open during duck season but low water levels makes small boat use difficult at the boat launch. The boat ramp is available in Elk City State Park. Marshes are dry. The main body of the reservoir is ice free as of 1/22/13.

Expected hunting success

Fair. Most of the birds are leaving the reservoir during the day to feed.

Comments

For updated waterfowl numbers and weather conditions call (620) 331-6820. Individuals utilizing the wildlife area need to be aware of the refuge boundaries. Maps can be obtained at the Fisheries & Wildlife office (below the dam) or at the State Park (on the lake side). Renovation work continues in existing wetlands with dry weather conditions.

Waterfowl numbers

0 ducks or geese seen today. Numbers may be highly variable throughout the day as birds move to and from cropfields to feed.

Water level

approximately 2.8' below conservation pool

Hunting conditions

Reservoir is about 20% covered with ice. All boat ramps at the reservoir are open water.

Expected hunting success

Poor.

Comments

For other questions call: 620-583-6783.

Waterfowl numbers

3500 Light Geese. 1200 ducks. Mostly mallards but ring-necks, gadwall and shovler mixed in.

Water level

Current level 1035.17

Conservation Pool 1039.0.

Hunting conditions

Poor, only one boat ramp is usable under the low water conditions. Flinthills NWR is holding water in two marshes.

Expected hunting success

Poor

Comments

For updates please call: 620-637-2748.

Waterfowl numbers

Few snow geese most days, but highly variable.

Mallard migration rank

MMR = 0.

0 = No Mallards, 1 = Very Few Mallards, 5 = Moderate Numbers, 10 = Peak

Water levels

>900 acres currently flooded in hunting pools. Unit E has 20 ac flooded (no way to pump water into this unit) + 15 ac in Boicourt Lake. Unit F-South is at 40% and F-North nearly dry--vegetation mostly failed due to drought in these units and no additional water will be pumped this year. Unit "D5" cannot be pumped because of junior water rights.

Hunting/ Habitat conditions

Hunting success

Duck season: 4,884 ducks / 3,449 hunters = 1.42 success. This is a little over the average of the most recent 10 years.

Comments

Snow goose hunters must register before hunting and report harvest after the hunt. Marais des Cygnes WA waterfowl hunters are required to register daily at headquarters before hunting and report harvest after the hunt (KAR 115-8-1). Notice: You must fill out reports completely and accurately. False reports will be prosecuted.

Outboard motors are restricted on this wildlife area and are allowed in Unit G and in the boat lane only in Unit A-East. Outboards are not allowed in any other wetland units. Electric trolling motors are unrestricted. Boats must be operated at wakeless speed.

Waterfowl numbers

6,500. Approximately 50% dabblers and 50% divers. Dabblers mostly mallards with a few shovelers, gadwall, and. Divers mostly goldeneye with a mix of other species. Approximately 1,000 Canada geese and 500 snow geese.

Water level

Lake level is 1031.94, conservation pool is 1036.0

Hunting conditions

Most shallow water areas on the reservoir are ice-covered. Open water and all the waterfowl observed were located in the deeper water areas of the lake or those areas more exposed to wind/wave action. Ice cover on everything west of Lowman's Cove. Some shallow water areas are beginning to open up with warmer weather and may provide some shoreline opportunity by the Saturday opener for ducks. Please exercise caution on and around ice.

No water is available within managed marshes on the wildlife area. All waterfowl observed were located on the reservoir. Current river and lake levels and water right restrictions will prevent any pumping without significant rainfall that creates a run-off event. All boards are installed in water control structures to capture any rainfall events.

Due to drought conditions throughout the summer, habitat within the managed wetlands is poor-fair. Most wetlands were planted to a combination of millet and corn/milo or allowed to establish moist soil vegetation. There was some seed production from the row crops but millet production was non-existent. Some moist soil plants and pigweeds did survive and the recent rains will help to provide some additional production from these plants.

Expected hunting success

Fair

Comments

Mallard migration: 5

Beginning with the 2012 hunting season, all hunters utilizing Melvern Wildlife Area will be required to obtain a free daily hunt permit. Waterfowl hunters utilizing the main lake are only required to obtain a permit when hunting west of Hoch Rd. Permits will be available at 10 locations across the property including Willow and 3-duck marshes. Maps illustrating locations to obtain permits are available at the kiosks on Hoch Rd and Highway 170, the Melvern Wildlife Area office, the Emporia office, and the website

Youth waterfowl season is October 20-21. Regular waterfowl season opens October 27, 2012.

Refuge Area is CLOSED Oct. 1st, 2012 through Jan. 15th, 2013

Waterfowl numbers

15 to 20,000 mixed ducks including Teal, Pintail, Mallard, Shoveler, Gadwall and many diver species. 2500 Canada Geese, 1000 White Fronts and 1500 Snows, but are starting to fluctuate daily.

Mallard Migration Rank

MMR=4

0= No Mallards, 1= Very Few Mallards, 5= Moderate Numbers, 10= Peak

Water level

Refuge pool is 2.5 foot low. Pool 1, 2 and 4 all have decent water and are accessible by boat. Pumping is basically done for the year. Lower Pool 5 water control structure is experiencing some issues and it is likely that there will be no water in that pool for this season.

Hunting conditions

Fair

Expected hunting success

Fair

Success from Nov 15 to Jan 27 is 2964 hunters/harvested 4187 ducks for a 1.4 BPH Average. Harvest was down 2500 ducks over last year and hunter numbers were down by 600 hunter trips.

Success for the Youth weekend was really good. We had 39 hunters / harvested 139 ducks for a 3.6 BPH average.

Comments

ALL WATERFOWL HUNTERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A DAILY PERMIT AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO FILL OUT BOTH PORTIONS OF YOUR CARD WITH ACCURATE INFORMATION. FILL OUT ONLY YOUR INDIVIDUAL HARVEST EFFORTS, i.e., NOT A GROUP HARVEST TOTAL.

PUT THE TOP HALF OF THE CARD IN THE BOX BEFORE YOU HUNT AND THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE BOX FOLLOWING YOUR HUNT. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE INFORMATION ON THESE CARDS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF THE AREA.

Waterfowl hunting in Pool 8 is restricted to youth hunters and their mentor on weekends and holidays. Waterfowl hunting at the South Unit ends at 1 PM daily. Waterfowl numbers and habitat conditions can change on a daily basis. Hunters are encouraged to contact the wildlife area by calling 620-449-2539 for updated conditions on the answering machine. For upcoming projects and news on the Neosho Wildlife Area please visit our website at www.kdwp.state.ks.us.

For additional area news please visit the area website at: http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/Locations/Wildlife-Areas/Region-5/Neosho/Area-News or call (620)-449-2539 to speak with Monte or Bryan. If we are unavailable please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Waterfowl numbers

Very few ducks or geese seen today. However local reports of several thousand mallards seenon the reservoir at times have been reported this week.

Water level

2.3 feet below conservation pool.

Hunting conditions

Lake is mostly open and boat ramps are open

Expected hunting success

Fair-Good.

Comments

For more info. call 620-583-6783.

Waterfowl numbers

Very few ducks have been seen on area. Mainly teal and a few mallards

Water level

Lake is 972.73 ft. conservation pool is 974

Hunting conditions

fair

Expected hunting success

poor

Comments