Both the upper and lower units have huntable water. Lake level is at 1349.16 (Conservation pool is 1350.50), 8,500 mixed ducks, majority divers. Hunts are performed over water and dry field. 10/31/2020 - 11/01/2020 & 11/04/2020 - 02/14/2021, 10/31/2020 - 01/3/2021 & 01/23/2021 - 02/14/2021. Plus years of knowledge and experience with plentiful flocks will lead to an amazing Sandhill Crane hunting … About 3 thousand ducks have been seen on and around the reservoir this week. Pass it on! White-Fronted Goose Season will open back up on January 23, 2021. Waterfowl numbers vary greatly from day to day and weather conditions and hunting pressure will affect the numbers of waterfowl on the area. 550 Canada geese, 700 light geese, 1462.82 ft and stable. 100,000+ snow geese today, Around 2,000 whitefronts, and 2,000 Canadas. Fish and Wildlife Service in nine of the 10 states in the Central Flyway. SMOKY HILL/KANOPOLIS - TORONTO RESERVOIR - COUNCIL GROVE - In KDWPT facilities where foot traffic is allowed, please practice social distancing and observe all safety precautions put in place by staff. Although sandhill cranes start concentrating in huntable numbers during late October, the start of the hunting season was delayed to the Wednesday following the first Saturday in November to allow most of the whooping cranes to migrate through the state. Ice is forming in deeper areas out of the wind. Last Updated: 12/22/2020 Print. JAMESTOWN WILDLIFE AREA - Waterfowl reports will be posted on a bi-weekly basis throughout the fall and winter waterfowl seasons. Last Updated: 1/26/2021 Print, Duck Season - Youth/Veteran/Active Military (Low Plains Southeast). The Sandhill crane is one species that Birdtail Waterfowl guests and guides truly cherish. We're here to help you plan your next hunting adventure. Pintail Marsh is dry. Despite their size and crane exterior, the Sandhill offer a wonderful table fare. http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/index.htm, Transferring Fish and Game to Another Person, Education, Exhibition, Collecting, and Salvage Permits, USFWS Information for Waterfowl and Sandhill Crane Hunters. Please remember that trapping is also allowed on the Wildlife Area. Gamekeeper Marsh is 98% full with an average water depth of 16 inches. Possession limit: Three times the daily limit. Most of the refuge pools have opened up, some open water in the hunting pools. If you are a hunter that appreciates experienced guides, and the world’s finest completely life-like decoys then you will love this group as we go after the crane bird. Marsh Creek Marsh and the West Gamekeeper Marsh is for non-gasoline powered boats or paddle-in / Walk-in only, this includes electric motor boats and boats with no motors. 800 Canada, 70 white-fronted and 100 light geese. Because of the lack of flooded vegetation birds are not lingering in the area. Off road vehicle use is strictly prohibited. Please contact our office prior to hunting, (620) 449 2539, and leave a detailed message with your name and number and we will get back with you to assist with retrieving your log in information. REFUGE BOUNDARY CHANGE STARTING OCT 1, 2020. Lassister: Full Pool. Go to MDCWA and click the "News" icon near the top for more information on general waterfowl habitat. Most ducks observed were in the refuge. Nonresident youth need a nonresident hunting license, a Kansas HIP Permit and State Waterfowl Permit. Please leave a detailed message with violation specifics. Waterfowl counts given on this report are based on what was observed on the day the report is updated. All hunters MUST use the electronic daily hunt permit system! Corn harvest was about three weeks behind, area wide, so there should be ample amounts of scrap corn on the ground that won't get a chance to germinate. 1 foot below conservation pool. Sixteen states offer crane hunting: Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Idaho, Minnesota, Arizona, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alaska, New Mexico, North Dakota and South Dakota. October 1 through March 31 the area can only be accessed with a special permit obtained through a drawing. FREE daily hunt permits are REQUIRED for ALL HUNTING on the area. Hunters will login (or call) each day prior to hunting to get a daily permit, and report back harvest similar to the paper daily permits. The refuge boundary has shifted northwest to Highway 148. Ice is extremely unsafe - exercise extreme caution when on/around. Waterfowl report is updated only if there are significant changes in waterfowl numbers or hunting conditions. Whooping Crane Brochure - Information on whooping cranes and how to distinguish them from species that are similar in appearance. 42 is full. WATERFOWL HUNTING. Multiple groups of more than 100 birds have been seen all around the lake in the open water. Water control structures are closed and ready to hold water, but we have not been able to catch any substantial precipitation events as of yet. 1.9 feet below conservation elevation (1,274') on 2/4/21. Clinton Wildlife Area is utilizing an electronic check-in system required of all hunters. 1,500 Dark Geese and 5,000 Light Geese, Current Level: 1041.3 Conservation Pool Level: 1041. Click HERE for duck season, regulation, and research information. Boats must be operated at wakeless speed. Approximately 7,000 geese were observed on the wildlife area Friday midday. There is a lot of sesbania around the lake this year. PAPER PERMITS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE AT ISABEL WETLANDS. Expecting significant ice with forecasted weather conditions this coming week. Whooping cranes and sandhill cranes are similar in size and shape, but whooping cranes are white with black wing tips. In the event of an emergency, please call 911. Sport hunting also is justified for maintaining reasonable distributions of sandhill cranes. No ice observed on the reservoir. Sandhill Crane hunting in Texas is largely overshadowed in popularity by duck hunting and dove hunting. Refuge is CLOSED to all access from September 1st through January 31st. South Unit- VFD was replaced in the control panel, so pump is ready to go but river levels are not high enough to run pump. The Kansas duck season is now closed until next fall. You may take the test as many times as you which to refresh your knowledge of crane identification. Conservation Light Goose season is from February 15 - April 30, 2021, Youth, Veteran and Active Military Season Nov. 7 & 8,2020, Southeast Late Zone Regular Season Nov. 14th, 2020- Jan. 3rd,2021 and Jan. 9-31,2021. A few large groups of divers (mostly mergansers) have been observed on the river recently. Cedar Bluff Wildlife Area and Reservoir are in the Low Plains Late Duck Zone. 3000 Canada Geese, 2000 Snows and 800 Whitefronts - Changes quite often with migration. Hunters are encouraged to use the electronic Daily Hunt Permit system this year. MILFORD WILDLIFE AREA - These hunts are typically in the morning, and have a daily limit of 3 Birds. The best deer, elk, bear and other big game outfitters in Texas, Colorado and beyond are right here on Guidefitter. Located in Lubbock Tx and surrounding areas. Total ducks at about 10,000 (mostly mallards and a few thousand divers), 95,000 snow geese (can vary a lot day-to-day). Mall Creek and Lower Smith/Gatesville boat ramps are open. With mostly divers being observed hunters could have some success on the reservoir, however, a limit of birds may be hard to come by. 30K+ mostly mallards and green wing teal with some pintails, shovelers, and gadwalls. It will provide some cover but please try not to transport the plants or seeds away from the reservoir because it is a non-native, invasive species that we spend a lot of time trying to control in the wetlands. The validated permit ($7.50 validation fee) is available at any licensed agent , online , Pratt Operations Office , or Regional office . North Am. This special Sandhill Crane Hunting Zone opens four weeks ahead of the Zone B Crane Opener. Last Updated: 2/5/2021 Print, Combination of Canadas, Snows, and Greater White-Fronted present. Last Updated: 1/22/2021 Print. Lowered lake level has resulted in exposed shorelines with little vegetation; some mud flats present. BYRON WALKER - There are always several small groups of divers on watersheds and pasture ponds as well as the reservoir. At the time of this posting the roads were in good shape. Last Updated: 2/4/2021 Print, EL DORADO - Waterfowl numbers vary greatly from day to day and weather conditions and hunting pressure will affect the number of waterfowl on the area. Wetland food production was great this year. Levee renovation project was completed on portions of Unit E. Hunting success had improved slightly, but hunting pressure increased significantly. Regular Season - October 31, 2020 - January 3, 2021 and January 23-31, 2021. DO NOT PARK BLOCKING ROADS, GATES, BOAT RAMPS, FOOT CROSSINGS, ETC. Duck (low plains late zone): October 31, 2020 - January 3, 2021 and January 23-31, 2021, Canada Geese:  October 31 - November 1, 2020 and November 4, 2020 - February 14, 2021, White-Fronted Geese:  October 31, 2020 - January 3, 2021 and January 23 - February 14, 2021, Light Geese:  October 31 - November 1, 2020 and November 4, 2020 - February 14, 2021, Light Geese Conservation Order: February 15 - April 30, 2021. Custom Blinds may be reserved with a 6-man minimum or more reservation. MOTORIZED BOATS ALLOWED ONLY DURING OPEN WATERFOWL SEASON. REGULAR DUCK SEASON IS NOV. 14-JAN. 3 AND JAN. 9-31. Native vegetation such as annual smart weeds, barnyard grass, and sunflowers are the most common vegetation. *Construction contractors have begun work on new pump site.*. BEFORE you hunt. Kansas Sandhill Crane Test - Must be printed out and carried. There is also good cover along the shoreline and in the smaller coves. Irrigation season releases ended 9/15/20. Email Page, This is a collection of all the Northeast Waterfowl Reports, 9PERRY WILDLIFE AREA - Fish and Wildlife Service. ELK CITY RESERVOIR/WILDLIFE AREA - Hunting in or from the shoreline inside the State Park or along the face of the dam is prohibited. Construction continues. https://www.ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Migratory-Birds/Ducks for more information on seasons and limits. Gasoline engines are prohibited. Leaving dead birds laying in the field/parking lots is prohibited. The Wakarusa river has some shaded stretches with thick ive. 10% ice as of 1/22/21. Chain of Lakes:  The west unit of the Chain of Lakes will likely be kept dry during the 2020 - 2021 season for continued cattail control and replacement of a water control structure. -ALL vehicles MUST remain on the roads and designated parking areas only. A fair amount of water (99 acre feet) has been pumped into the Coblentz complex. Thank you. Buffalo Creek & Pintail Marshes are for non-motorized boats and walk-in hunting only. Very good moist-soil vegetation in major wetlands, some Japanese millet planted in A North,  very little corn in small wetlands. Elk Creek- marsh is dry, filled only by rain and runoff. So far, duck numbers have not increased greatly! Guided Crane Hunts in Saskatchewan. Waders are NOT needed Winter conservation level is 1463 ft, poor -low lake level result in no flooded vegetation, Bird use is dependent upon ice conditions. IMPORTANT! Click HERE for a Google Earth map of the waterfowl area. Pick up all your trash. -ALL shotgun hunters must use NON-TOXIC shot. The penalty for shooting a whooping crane is a fine of up to $100,000 and/or up to one year in prison. The LPLZ second duck opener will be dependent on ice conditions. Hunting pressure has been high. The wetlands are in serious need of a good rain with abundant runoff! Click this link to take an online test that provides information about identifying whooping cranes, sandhill cranes, and look-alike species, as well as … There is a no trash policy: If you take it in with you, please bring it out. 32 SANDHILL CRANE HUNTING IN KANSAS • Sharp et al. Hunters will need to register with i-Sportsman prior to hunting at MPWL. ALL vehicles must remain on designated roads and parking areas. The Refuge Area is CLOSED October 1st through January 15th. A rain or big snow would be beneficial. Inlet canal closed to fishing September 15 through April 15. -The area has a no trash policy. Very good wetland vegetation in all complexes. Last Updated: 1/28/2021 Print. Water refuge in effect November 1 through April 15 on the NORTHEAST half of the reservoir and Wildlife Area from 1/8th mile west of the south end of the dam and following a buoy line northwest to the western boundary of the Cabin Area  of the State Park. Hunting is permitted by the U.S. With the weather as well as the ice cover, we are seeing smaller waterfowl numbers. This animal is both exciting to hunt and delicious to eat. This is a collection of all the South Central Waterfowl Reports, CHENEY - Scroll down the left side of the page to the blue "register" button. Granite Creek boat ramp is closed November 1 through January 31, 2021. The water level is similar to last year. We thank you for your patience. The refuge is closed Oct 1st thru Jan 15th to ALL Activity HCR-7. Allow equipment to Dry for a five day period before using it at another area, OR wash with high-pressure hot water. Alcohol is prohibited before or during the hunt. The pumps for Beichter/Martin, Youth/Mentor, Zach and North Smith are off for the season. Hunters will need to register via PC prior to hunting at Perry WA. The majority of the geese that are on the area are in the refuge. Our crane hunts are conducted in fully enclosed A-frame style blinds or layout blinds. Only non-toxic shot is allowed for all shotgun hunting at Texas Lake Wildlife Area. The Wildlife Area Boat Ramps are Pawnee Point, Oak Hill and White Rock Creek do not require a permit. Illegal drugs are prohibited at all times. The test is 378k in size and will take a few minutes to download if you have a modem. We manage these locations to make sure they are not over hunted or pressured. A major flood event in late July eliminated much of the Japanese millet that was planted, however there are excellent stands of smart weed and wild millet. Once the tenant harvests their 75%, then we will began to try to collect water, no water at this point. All cropland feeding fields on the WA and Private land 80% covered. Low Plains Late Zone Duck Season is CLOSED. The Little Sinkhole/Farland Lake marsh unit is included in the EARLY low-plains duck zone (as is the rest of MPWL). To buy your Sandhill Crane permit, CLICK HERE. SCWL is using a new daily permit system called Isportsman. Be sure to have a photo I.D. FOLLOWING SAFE AND ETHICAL PRACTICES WILL ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HUNTING PUBLIC LANDS ENJOYS A HIGH QUALITY EXPERIENCE. ONCE REGISTERED, HUNTERS WILL BE ABLE TO CALL OR LOG ONTO THE SYSTEM SEPTEMBER 1 AND GET THEIR PERMIT FOR THE DOVE OPENER. - No ATV's are allowed on Department land and maintained roads. HCR-8. The next largest populations number about 20-25,000 birds. However, this is by far the best tasting and largest of the three birds. Minimum of 6 guest for private group. You can pass-shoot them on the way from roost to feed and back, or – by far the preferred method – set up a blind and a few decoys on the field the birds feed on. Relatively warm weather with sunny skies has allowed birds to move around. Hunters are required to use the electronic Daily Hunt Permit system. 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