Melvern Wildlife Area
Melvern Wildlife Area is located in the physiographic area known as Osage Cuestas. Much of the upland area is dominated by native tall grass prairie with small wooded draws interspersed. The lowlands located along the Marais des Cygnes river flood plain is primarily crop land. The area habitats include approximately 4,000 acres of native tall grass prairie, 2,000 acres of woodland habitat, and 3,000 acres of crop land. Management tools include prescribed fire and crop rotations.
Moist-soil management is conducted on all marshes which uses water level fluctuations to manage for desirable wetland vegetation beneficial to migratory birds. Periodically, some marshes will be drained in order to conduct dike repairs and control invading woody vegetation and cattails. Management of upland habitats over the years has consisted of converting croplands and cool season grasses to native warm season grasses and forbs, planting of shrub plots, selective cutting of invading woody vegetation, and prescribed burning to stimulate native warm season grasses and forbs.
White-tailed deer and wild turkey are plentiful on the area. Waterfowl numbers vary depending on available habitat, but the area has supported large numbers during both the fall and spring migrations. Mourning dove numbers vary yearly depending on nesting conditions. Ring-necked pheasant may possibly be found in very small numbers on the area. Bobwhite quail populations are excellent on the area, but a good dog is needed due to the dense vegetation. Squirrel and cottontail rabbit numbers are generally healthy and provide some of the most underutilized hunting opportunities on the area.
Non-game species are very plentiful on the area and provide some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities. A wide array of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians can be found on the area.
Fishing for catfish, white bass, and crappie in the Marais des Cygnes River are also popular activities. Trapping which is allowed on the area, can be a very successful venture due to the wide array of furbearer habitats.
Manager: Joe Daniels
Habitat Specialist: Wyatt Reyer
Phone: 620-699-3372
- All hunters on Melvern WA are REQUIRED to obtain a free daily hunt permit. PERMITS CAN NOW BE OBTAINED ELECTRONICALLY, TO REGISTER AND BEGIN USING THE ELECTRONIC PERMIT SYSTEM, CLICK HERE. Permits are required only on the portion of the property open to hunting that is managed by KDWPT as a wildlife area. On the north side of the lake, this includes the portion of the wildlife area west of Eisenhower State Park (Wanamaker Rd.); on the south side of the lake this includes the portion of the property west of Indian Hills Rd. The remaining property around the lake is managed by the Melvern Lake Corps of Engineers or Eisenhower State Park and no permit is required to hunt.
- Off Road Vehicle and Horse use is prohibited.
- Camping is not allowed on the wildlife area
- The waterfowl refuge located on the upper end of the lake is closed to all activity from October 1st to January 15th.
Here is a complete list of Public Land Regulations or you can download the regulation summary.
Land Acquisition: The 10,100 acre Melvern Wildlife Area was licensed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the Kansas Fish and Game Commission in March of 1977.
- Type of Facility: Boat Ramp
- Location of Facility: N38 29.590 W95 53.728
- Click for more information
| Waterfowl Observed | Waterfowl observed on this report are based on what was observed on the day the report is updated. Waterfowl numbers and species observed can vary greatly from day to day. Weather conditions and hunting pressure will affect the number of waterfowl on the area. Melvern Lake and Wildlife Area fall within the Low Plains Late Waterfowl Zone. Date: 10/30/25 Waterfowl Observed: Mallard, Green-Winged Teal, Wood Ducks, Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Canada Geese, Greater White-Fronted Geese. Waterfowl usage has increased slightly. More "big ducks" starting to show up. Still very low numbers of waterfowl observed on the area. Mallard Migration Rank = 1 (0 = no mallards and 10 = peak migration) |
| Water level | Lake level = 1035.50; Conservation pool = 1036.00; Target goal for the lake is 1036.00. Target lake level and outflow is set by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. |
| Hunting conditions | 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. |
| Expected hunting success | Poor |
| Comments | 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. |
It cuts through gently rolling hills of tallgrass, and its marshes teemed with waterfowl and other wildlife. It is the river the French trappers named the Marais des Cygnes (Marsh of the Swans). Melvern Lake, in the valley of that river, is still a haven for many of the wildlife species seen by the early trappers.
A good way to become familiar with the area is to walk on the Marais des Cygnes Nature Trail below the dam and on the Eisenhower Interpretive Trail in Eisenhower State Park. There are riparian woodlands of ash, American elm, cottonwood, and honey locust, and thickets of rough-leaved dogwood, smooth sumac, and wild plum. Hundreds of acres of big and little bluestem, Indiangrass, switchgrass, black sampson, black-eyed Susan, Illinois bundleflower, and dozens of other prairie plants are found here.
The river, lake, and cattail marshes provide habitat for many migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, and wading birds. In winter bald eagles perch in trees along the lake. Also watch for sharp-shinned, Cooper's, and rough-legged hawks. The waters attract snow geese, gadwalls, American wigeons, and common mergansers. Look in the woodlands and thickets for black-capped chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches, tufted titmice, and brown creepers. In spring, grasslands contain booming grounds, or leks, of greater prairie chickens. Summer birds include wood ducks, scissor-tailed flycatchers, eastern kingbirds, common nighthawks, and great blue herons. Year-round residents include red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, eastern screech-owls, Canada geese, belted kingfishers, and red-headed woodpeckers. Mammals such as white-tailed deer, squirrels, bobcats, coyotes, muskrats, and beaver can best be viewed just before sunup and just after sundown.
5 managed sunflower fields are located on the Melvern Wildlife Area totaling about 60 acres.
-All sunflower fields are Non-toxic shot only
-Check-in and check-out are required daily (https://license.gooutdoorskansas.com/)
-Always know what lies beyond your target
-It is highly recommended that hunters wear safety glasses within the dove fields to prevent potential injury due to falling pellets.
Located directly east of the north parking lot at Shoveler's Slough.