Moist soil food production was below average to average this growing season.  June flooding followed by persistent rains led to wetlands staying a little too wet.  A hot dry August and September favored cocklebur late in the growing season.  Once units were dry enough for staff to disc and plant in areas, the army warms had arrived.  Army worms have impacted areas in A-North, A-East, F-West, and Units in D.

Due to flooding and untimely heavy rains, no corn was planted this year.    

A mix of millets were planted in A-East, A-North, F-West, and Unit D.   Over 80% was wiped out by army worms.  

Summer vegetation was good: A-East,  F-South and the Refuge unit B-South

Summer vegetation was fair: in C-South, F-East

Summer vegetation was poor to fair:  F-West, Refuge Unit B-North, Unit G.  After the flood, a partial drawdown was do in Unit G.  We were not going to be able to get water out timely. Water was held in the lower elevations through the summer. 

Summer vegetation was poor or less: A-North, Unit D

Gas motors are restricted to Unit G and the boat lane in Unit A-East. Outboards cannot be used in any other wetland units. Electric trolling motors are unrestricted.

Atv's of any kind are not allowed on the area (side by sides, utv's, amphibious vehicles, "argos", this also means no electric bicycles)

Campgrounds on the area are primitive. (No electric, No water) Take your trash with you!

Please remember to fill out the daily permit with accurate information. THIS INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CURRENT AND FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF THE AREA. FILL OUT ONLY YOUR INDIVIDUAL HARVEST EFFORTS, each individual hunter needs to check in/out and report his/her harvest totals. i.e., NOT A GROUP HARVEST TOTAL.

Melvern Lake and Wildlife Area fall within the Low Plains Late Zone.  

Recent rains have given us the ability to pump most of the week. Water levels are looking a little better in the marshes. As of the report date above, water is being pumped into Willow Marsh. The portable pump will most likely be moved back to Price soon. Pumping will continue at Shoveler Slough and Willow Marsh until the river discharge becomes too low to pump. The ability to pump water is based on stream flows in the Marais des Cygnes River and Melvern Lake pool elevations. We are legally required to abide by our water storage and diversion rights. This year we planted a wetland food plot mix into some of the wetlands. The food plot mix includes milo, buckwheat, Japanese millet, and foxtail millet.

3 Duck Marsh- Both pools are full. Strips of wetland food plot mix are planted in both pools. Naturally occurring moist soil vegetation is fair.

Willow Marsh- Both pools have been pumped at least some, water is currently being pumped into both pools. Both pools have good moist soil vegetation. North pool has strips of wetland food plot mix.

Sundance Marsh- Water has been pumped into Sundance since the previous report. Sundance is about 2/3 full. Moderate to good moist soil vegetation.

Lowman's Cove- Water was left in these pools all summer. North pond dam has blown out and needs repaired. Poor moist soil production.

Shoveler Slough- More water was added to Shoveler this week, much better water levels, still nowhere close to full. Pumping will resume when Willow reaches a desirable water level. Good moist soil vegetation in much of the unit. Wetland food plot strips planted throughout the unit, as well as some broadcast Japanese millet. The parking lot for this wetland is located at the intersection of 317th and S. Davis Rd. 

Price Marsh- The Price Marsh levee has been repaired to a usable condition. Some water has been pumped into Price, most of the water is in the lowest elevations of the unit. Pumping will continue as allowed by water right after Sundance and 3 Duck have been pumped. Poor to moderate moist soil vegetation. Strips of Japanese millet were planted into some of the unit, however, dry conditions after planting caused much of the millet to fail. Strips have been disced to promote desirable moist soil vegetation production next summer. The parking lot for this wetland is at 309th & Crawford. NO DRIVING ON THE LEVEE.

Refuge-The refuge is on the west end of the lake and directly east of Willow Marsh. The marsh-like upper end of the refuge produced moderate to good moist soil vegetation.  Much of the upper end of the refuge is dry and continues to dry out as lake levels drop. The Refuge Area is CLOSED October 1st through January 15th.

All hunters utilizing Melvern Wildlife Area are required to obtain a free daily hunt permit through the new electronic permit system. Hunters can register now to begin using the electronic system at https://ksoutdoors.com/checkin using your licensing login credentials. Waterfowl hunters utilizing the main lake are only required to obtain a permit when hunting west of Hoch Road.

Please remember to fill out the permit with accurate information. THIS INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CURRENT AND FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF THE AREA. FILL OUT ONLY YOUR INDIVIDUAL HARVEST EFFORTS, i.e., NOT A GROUP HARVEST TOTAL.

Melvern Wildlife Area lies within the following waterfowl units:

TEAL, LOW PLAINS ZONE

DUCKS, LOW PLAINS LATE ZONE

See Kansas Hunting Regulation Summary for waterfowl zone maps, dates, and bag limits. Click here: https://ksoutdoors.gov/Hunting/Hunting-Regulations

The Refuge Area is CLOSED October 1st through January 15th.

Conditions will continue to improve over next couple of weeks.        

Please see the area news page for a breakdown of habitat types within each pool. 

DRONES ARE NOT ALLOWED ON PUBLIC LAND IN KANSAS

Please remember to fill out the permit with accurate information. THIS INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CURRENT AND FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF THE AREA. FILL OUT ONLY YOUR INDIVIDUAL HARVEST EFFORTS, each individual hunter needs to check in/out and report his/her harvest totals. i.e., NOT A GROUP HARVEST TOTAL.