Jamestown Wildlife Area 2012-2013 Hunting Outlook

2012-2013 HUNTING SEASON OUTLOOK

Habitat conditions are excellent for the upcoming hunting seasons at Jamestown Wildlife Area. Even though it has been very dry this summer with crops and most peoples lawns suffering and not all the marshes are full, there are head high weed patches and a places to float your boat. In the marshes there are pockets of open water, dense stands of moist soil vegetation and mud flats that will suit waterfowl and waterfowl hunters. Managers have been slowly adding water to Gun Club and Marsh Creek Marshes to flood the dense stands of barnyard grass and smartweed to welcome those early migrants to the area. Most of the areas 1,600 acres of wetland have some water except for the marshes governed by Kansas Water Law due to low flows in the Republican River. The large marshes senior to the restricting law have been fortunate enough to hold some water throughout the summer months. Boat hunters will be able to launch from 8 access areas and navigate through the drainage canals and creek channels which will put them close to the shallower flats the early migrants prefer. Some maneuvering with push poles or wading may be required to get to that perfect spot many call the “X”. Hunters will be able to utilize natural, open pools as well as the openings that have been mowed by Jamestown Wildlife Area staff. Managers are expecting large crowds, especially during season openers. Hunters are asked to be cautious and courteous to other hunters who want to enjoy some time outdoors. Remember, if you use a boat in Marsh Creek Marsh gasoline engines are prohibited.

Upland hunters will have over 3,000 acres to walk. Fields of native grass, partially harvested cropland fields along with 300 acres dedicated to food plots and annual weed brood habitat for raising young upland wildlife are the areas hunters should target this autumn. Drought conditions have had an impact on wildlife however several timely rains throughout the summer have produced teaming insect populations and lush stands of native grasses and forbs. Managers are seeing high numbers of young birds as well as rabbits in this habitat.

Special Hunting opportunities offered at Jamestown Wildlife Area need to be explored. In addition to the hunts offered on the KDWPT website (www.ksoutdoors.com) there are two marshes with associated uplands reserved especially for novice hunters and their mentors. A novice hunter is anyone who has not previously purchased a hunting license which includes youth 18 and younger. The 320 acre Puddler Marsh located one mile west and one mile north of the northwest corner of Gamekeeper Marsh has a shallow and very wadeable 120 acre marsh filled by natural runoff. If the marsh is not full, wonderful pheasant habitat is created. The second area, Ringneck Marsh, is a 120 acre marsh and upland area located 4.5 miles east and 1 mile north of Jamestown, Kansas using Highway K-28.

The Hunter Survey Stations strategically placed at the several entrances to the property are a required stop for ALL hunters DAILY from September 1 through May 31. Hunters must remove a two-part survey card from the station, fill out the top portion, then place it into the station box slot keeping the bottom portion of the survey with them while they are in the fields hunting. Hunters will be required to present a copy of the survey as well as their appropriate license to a Law Enforcement officer when checked by them in the field. When hunters are done hunting on the area for the day they are directed to completely fill out the bottom portion of the survey and place it into the slot in the survey station box.