Region 2

Waterfowl numbers

There are around 3500 ducks on the refuge, not many using the huntable marshes. Waterfowl Rating - 1

Water level

We are only pumping the large wetland southwest of the shop, and it's at half the normal compacity. All other marshes are dry due to the ability to hold water.

Hunting conditions

Tough hunting conditions. The wetland habitat is great, but thick, which will make hunting difficult.

Expected hunting success

Fair

Comments

The flood from last year allowed the ground water to push up through the bottom of the wetlands and essentially put numerous holes in them, and now the water drains out faster than it goes in. The larger wetland southeast of the main parking area may be the only good water to hunt. If this is the case, it will crowd the three hunting groups together, so be courteous to your fellow hunter

Some of the best wetland vegetation we have ever had, lots of food, but it is so thick it will be difficult to find downed birds. Five foot of vegetation and 1-2 foot of water - not much open water.

October 1 through March 31 the area can only be accessed with a special permit obtained through a drawing. The application and drawing will take place online only in 2011. Look for "Special Hunts" on our home page under HUNTING.

Waterfowl numbers

500-1000 ducks and 2000 geese in the area. Most are mainly on the reservoir or surrounding private land.

Mallard Index (0 - 10) = 8

Lake level

872.6 (3.5 feet below conservation pool).

Hunting conditions

Duck season is now closed. Canada geese can still be hunted until Feb 10th.

Expected hunting success

Poor to fair on the Wildlife Area; Fair to good on the reservoir.

Comments

Remember- a free permit/ survey card is required to hunt in the marsh areas on Clinton Wildlife Area. These are available at all of the marsh parking areas. The information collected and comments received are very useful in establishing future management goals for the area. Only take 1 card per hunter per hunt. Any false information turned in on the survey cards can be prosecuted.

Please remember that trapping is also allowed on the Wildlife Area.

The Refuge area will be closed to ALL activities from October 1st - Janurary 15th, 2011.

Waterfowl numbers

500+ Canada Geese using the area. Season ends on February 10th.

Water level

Current elevation is 913.26 which is over 3.5 feet low. Over 50% frozen. see Corps daily Reservoir information pool is 917.0

Mallard Migration Rank

Current Rank:10

This is a subjective ranking of mallard migration and ranges from 0 (early migration) to 10 (peak migration).

Hunting conditions

Reservoir is 3 + feet below conservation pool. With drought conditions the last two years chances for water being pumped in marshes is looking slim to none. All marshes are mostly dry with small pools of water in Brown marsh and the Mentor Novice Wetland. Will be looking at some repairs on wetlands to get ready for a more average rainfall year. Water level is so low that finding good cover on main reservoir could also be a challenge without a layout boat or blind. A New manager for Hillsdale WA has been hired. If you have any questions please call 913.783.4507

Expected hunting success

Please review this years new hunting regulations on migratory birds; http://www.kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/Hunting/Hunting-Regulations/Migratory-Birds

Some hunters were having some success on Sunday afternoon on main reservoir with front bringing in some new birds.

Refuge closes to all hunting on October 1st through January 15th. Refuge is now open to hunting.

Comments

Notice: Note that waterfowl numbers may vary from one day to the next due to natural movement in and out of the area. See Hillsdale Wildlife Area web page for the Hillsdale brochure or click on maps for detailed aerial maps of wetland areas (Hillsdale Map), click on the wetland symbols. Water levels=(Corps daily Reservoir information). New : The Big Bull Wetland, or "last wetland" built (east of Spooncreek rd on 223rd st.), is for Mentors and Novice Hunters. A Mentor hunter (21 years and older) must be accompanied by at least one Novice hunter. A novice is a youth under 16 or a person who has not possessed a hunting license in the last 3 years. Both may hunt (during regular seasons). Area is reserved for Mentor, Youth, and Novice hunters for all hunting activities.

Waterfowl numbers

Light Geese : 100

Canada Geese: 0

Ducks: 160

Water level

high

Hunting conditions

Poor

Expected hunting success

Poor for ducks and poor for geese.

Comments

Make-up Lake is CLOSED to waterfowl hunting.

Aux- Lake is now CLOSED to waterfowl hunting.

Individuals wishing to hunt Unit #2 of the wildlife area must enter through the main gate and sign in at the guard house. Be sure to have a photo I.D. with you when checking in.

Hunters are required to drive maintained roads only. A map will be provided to all hunters showing open roads as well as parking areas. Vehicles are allowed to park in parking areas only.

Waterfowl numbers

Large and small canada geese and snow geese were seen around the lake, approximately 250 geese total.

Dark goose season closes February 10.

Lake level

1137.78 Conservation Pool 1144.4 The dam is releasing 100 CFS. Republican River inflow is 48CFS.

Hunting conditions

No activites/hunting allowed in the Steve Lloyd Wetland/Refuge.

Motorized boats are only allowed in Mall Creek wetland, electric motors are considered "motorized". All other wetlands are open to NON motorized boats and walk in hunting.

The Mall Creek boat ramp and the break in the dike have been repaired and are now functional.

Expected hunting success

Due to the drought conditions and low lake level we are currently not allowed to pump in any of the wetland cells. Mall Creek and Cane creeks are very low and have little or no flow to capture on those creek fed wetlands. All other wetland areas are completely dry.

Vegetation, both moist soil and crops, look excellent. If we receive significant rainfall, conditions may improve enough so that we would be able to pump. Until then we are simply relying on rainfall to fill the wetland areas.

Comments

Do NOT drive on dikes. Vehicles disrupt and discourage the waterfowl from using the wetland areas. We have had several dikes being damaged due to unauthorized vehicles driving on them. Scouting is best done on foot to evaluate bird numbers and habitat conditions.

Please report any vehicles on dikes and anyone seen disturbing our pumps. Without the pumps in optimal condition we are unable to pump the wetlands to their greatest potential.

Remember- a free permit/ survey card is required to hunt waterfowl in the wetland areas on Milford Wildlife Area. These are available at all of the marsh parking areas. The information collected and comments received are very useful in establishing future management goals for the area.

Waterfowl numbers

10000+ ducks and 5000+ Canada geese have been observed around the wildlife area and lake on 1/17. Mostly Mallards with some other big ducks and divers were in the greatest numbers. We have stopped pumping for this season.
Mallard Migration Rank = 10 (0 = no mallards 10 = peak migration)

Lake level

5.1 feet below conservation pool.

Habitat conditions

Overall the marshes are looking pretty good. All marsh complexes are dependent on natural runoff to fill the complex except West River North & South and Kyle East.

Expected hunting success

Depending on how things thaw and refreeze the next several days the success could be very high.

Comments

Reminder: All marshes closed to motorized boats except Kyle East and West.

Kyle: Kyle Marsh was drained this spring and for the first time in several year the lake was low enough to allow vegetation growth. Quality vegetation growth is primarily in the east pool. The West pool has dropped to no water. East- HCR-9 with the marsh being 80% water. We have pumped 150 acre feet into the East pool. West - HCR-6 with the marsh being 0% water. This unit is at an all time low but we are currently digging a ditch from the bend in the east unit dike west to allow drawdowns in normal years.

The chances of successfully launching a boat into East Kyle is fair for small boats.

West River: West River marsh complex was completely dry this spring, so we had a ag tenent plant corn in 75% of the marsh. An abundance of moist soil plants are growing in the unplanted part of the marsh. We will be periodically pumping on depending on weather and marsh pool conditions. The tenant has completed combining and we are pumping into the lower unit. We are allotted 178ac/ft this year with the drought. North- HCR-6 with 50% water. South- HCR-9 with 5% water. We have pumped as of 10/25 160 acft.

Upper Ferguson: The vegetation is in good quality. We spent some time this summer making repairs to the dike. HCR-8 with 0% water

Lassister: Lassiter complex west is looking as good with some vegetation problems starting to show, mainly cattails and small trees. Quality vegetation growth including smartweed, barnyard grass and sedges are present in mild numbers. East pool was drained early this spring in efforts to control cattails and canary grass. East- HCR-8 with 0% water, will fill if we get enough rain. West- HCR-6 with 0% water

Northwest: Northwest complex was planned on being full all summer but dry conditions evaporated most of the water. Vegetation growth is in fair condition. HCR-5 with 0% water

Headquarters: Headquarters marsh had severe control structure damage but that structure has been repaired. With very little runnoff this spring the marsh has stayed dry all summer. Quality vegetation growth has been minimal. HCR-5 with 0% water

Mitigation: Mitigation marsh was dry this summer and worked under. Japanese millet was spread in the marsh with help from LV Ducks Unlimited. HCR-6 with 0% water

Hayward: Hayward has been drained a majority of the summer and has excellent habitat. This complex is on the schedule for renovation of the upper dike. HCR-8 with 0% water

Reichert: Reichart marsh has been under renovation for the last several years. Since last fall the marsh has had three water control structures placed the main drainage ditch has been cut & shaped and the dikes have been graded back to workable slopes. An Ag tenant also planted most of the East unit to corn which has been harvested. The west units have mild vegetation growth. HCR-9 with 0% water.

Zebra Mussels have been confirmed in the lake. Be sure to dry boats and equipment before moving to other waters.

Waterfowl numbers

500 Canada geese.

Mallard Migration Rank (0-10) = 2

Water level

The lake is currently 12.5 feet below conservation pool. The only water currently available to hunt on the area is at the Black Vermillion Marsh or the river.

Hunting conditions

Poor with current water levels.

Expected hunting success

Poor.

Comments

ATTENTION: Sometime during the week of Sept. 30 - Oct. 6, the trailer mounted irrigation engine was stolen from the pump site at the Black Vermillion Marsh. This was a black 5th wheel trailer with a 300 gallon black diesel tank on the front and a red Case diesel engine on the back. If you have any information that could lead to the recovery of this stolen property, please contact the Marshall County Sheriff's Office at (785)562-3141 or the KDWPT office at (785)363-7316.

A permit/survey is required to hunt the Black Vermillion and Olsburg marshes and can be found at the parking lots adjacent to each marsh. Please complete this survey. The data collected from this permit/survey supplies the Manager with valuable comments and harvest information to better manage the area.