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Kansas Migratory Bird Reports
Choose the region where your destination is located to view all site‑specific reports for that area, including waterfowl numbers, water levels, hunting conditions, and estimated hunter success.
Northwest Kansas Waterfowl Reports
Updated 01/30/26
| Waterfowl Numbers | Waterfowl numbers have not changed much but birds have regrouped following the cold. Birds are mostly on the main lake where they have kept some open water. Mostly mallards were observed. Dark goose numbers have increased. A fresh group of snow geese has moved in. |
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| Water Level | Reservoir Elevation - 2120.5 - 23.5 ft. low |
| Hunting Conditions | Shorelines are bare and open, very little flooded vegetation |
| Expected Hunting Success | Poor- No huntable open water. Low Lake levels will make concealment difficult and expect fishermen to be present. |
| Comments |
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Updated 02/20/26
| Waterfowl Numbers |
Due to recent migration activity snow goose numbers are up at the lake. Mallard Migration Rank = 1 (10 is peak migration) |
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| Water Level | Lake is currently 4.3 feet below conservation. |
| Hunting Conditions |
Expected to be POOR to FAIR. Currently most areas have vegetation up to the water's edge. Hunters still need to be cautious of DANGEROUS MUD CONDITIONS on the river and creek areas. Ice conditions = none |
| Expected Hunting Success | Limited potential |
| Comments |
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Updated 02/26/26
| Waterfowl Numbers |
Light geese numbers are changing daily, however there are over 100,000 on the area at any given time. Some days more, some days less. |
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| Water Level |
Managers have started spring drawdowns. The wetlands will have less water week by week, but will not be completely dry until well into the spring.
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| Hunting Conditions |
As many light goose hunters know, they are extremely hard to hunt on the water at the marsh. They are leaving the area to feed and returning mid morning and throughout the day. The majority of the birds are using Gamekeeper Marsh. |
| Expected Hunting Success | Success can be had hunting the ag fields on the Wildlife Area, especially during inclement weather days. |
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Updated 03/12/26
| Waterfowl Numbers |
The numbers of light geese using the reservoir as a day roost is greatly reduced, less than 1,000. Numbers vary greatly day to day as there is no snow line north of us so geese are pushing northward for spring migration to the breeding grounds. |
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| Water Level |
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| Hunting Conditions |
NO ICE. 100% open water. Hunting conditions during this late winter/early s[ring are heavily dependent on local snow cover and a snow line north of us in Nebraska to halt the migration. There os no snow line. Current water levels have created a mudflat ring around the entire reservoir. Little concealing vegetation is close to the waters edge. No Japanese millet was planted this year due to higher than normal water elevations during the planting season resulting in no mudflats available to seed |
| Expected Hunting Success | Poor on the Wildlife Area due to warm conditions. Waterfowl are very refuge oriented. Poor success on private land. |
| Comments |
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Updated 01/27/26
| Waterfowl Numbers |
There are currently a moderate number of dark geese that are consistently on the lake. There is currently a moderate population of ducks that are consistently on the lake. The numbers of both ducks and geese are highly variable at this time but are increasing weekly. Several thousand snow geese consistently on the lake. With cold weather migratory birds should keep showing up soon and become more predictable. |
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| Water Level |
The lake is mostly frozen most mornings. The water level is lower than last year and is not at a desirable level for waterfowl hunting due to lots of exposed mudflats. |
| Hunting Conditions |
Pressure from hunting is expected to be high. Expect to run into other waterfowl hunters. There are several areas that go from shallow to deeper suddenly and several steep shorelines that may drop off into water deeper than waders very rapidly. |
| Expected Hunting Success | Hunting success is expected to be minimal at this time. Hunters should use common sense when planning on hunting and plan around ideal weather patterns to increase success. |
| Comments |
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Updated 01/15/26
| Waterfowl Numbers |
Waterfowl numbers have been lower than average for this time of year. Goldeneye and mallard numbers are moderate. Geese numbers are moderate in the area with birds primarily feeding on private lands. |
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| Water Level |
1461 |
| Hunting Conditions |
Poor around reservoir with low water levels resulting in exposed shoreline |
| Expected Hunting Success | |
| Comments |
Refuge is CLOSED to all access from September 1st through January 31st. |
Updated 01/09/26
| Waterfowl Numbers |
No waterfowl observed on the area. All pools are dry. |
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| Water Level |
All pools currently dry |
| Hunting Conditions |
Poor |
| Expected Hunting Success | |
| Comments |
Talmo is the Low Plains Late Zone and Closed Sandhill Crane Zone |
Updated 01/13/26
| Waterfowl Numbers |
Waterfowl numbers have been relatively stable over the past couple weeks. Birds are mostly loafing in the refuge during the daytime hours. We started observing sick snow geese as soon as they showed up at Webster and submitted samples for testing. I will update here with the test results as soon as SCWDS completes their testing protocols. |
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| Water Level |
1866.7'; 25.8' below conservation pool. |
| Hunting Conditions |
Minimal inflow occurred during this Summer and Webster is still very low. Shorelines revegetated to some degree this growing season however there is very little flooded vegetation. The West end of the reservoir has a very silty, soft bottom. The mud is knee deep. Boaters: Please be aware of shallow water if using a boat for waterfowl hunting. Many areas near shorelines are very shallow. There are also some humps and high spots that are just out of visibility right below the surface. |
| Expected Hunting Success | Poor |
| Comments |
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Updated 01/15/26
| Waterfowl Numbers |
Duck numbers are low for this time of year. Few mallards and goldeneyes have been observed. Canada geese numbers are generally low, but increasing. Majority of geese are utilizing private lands. |
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| Water Level |
5 feet low |
| Hunting Conditions |
Cedar Creek boat ramp is dry and inaccessible; Limited access at Elm Creek Boat Ramp. There is no check-in or check-out to hunt Public Lands at Wilson Wildlife Area. |
| Expected Hunting Success | Limited with low water levels |
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Northeast Kansas Waterfowl Reports
Updated 09/11/25
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Updated 01/16/26
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Updated 02/10/26
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Updated 03/24/26
| Waterfowl Numbers | Ducks: <150 mixed ducks on area Geese: Snow goose numbers are hovering right around 100,000 on area. Canada geese numbers are <100. |
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| Water Level | Normal |
| Hunting Conditions | Fair |
| Expected Hunting Success | Fair |
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Updated 01/09/26
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Updated 12/29/25
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Updated 01/16/26
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Southwest Kansas Waterfowl Reports
Updated 03/09/26
| Waterfowl Numbers | Low numbers of snow geese left. Good number and diversity of ducks. |
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| Water Level | Pool 1A-57", Pool 1B-25", Pool 1C-25" Pool 2-12" Pool 3A-13" Pool 3B-dry, Pool 4A-2" Pool 4B-6" Pool 5-2". Currently pumping water from exterior pools to interior storage pools. Cheyenne Bottoms has no ground water pumps to fill pools. |
| Hunting Conditions | Pool 2- 60 acres of wheat in the pool. Blind islands are being rebuilt as conditions allow. Pool 3B- 46 acres of wheat planted fall of 2025, 135 acres of standing wheat. Pool is being disced in preparation for next spring. Pool 3A- decent moist soil production. Hunting holes and access trails mowed throughout. 4A- decent moist soil production. Hunting holes and access trails mowed throughout. 4B- 75 acres of millet planted, fair food production. Hunting holes and access trails mowed throughout. 5- good food production. All blind islands in 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B have been rebuilt. |
| Expected Hunting Success | Fair. Food production is fair. Will have more water than anticipated in the hunting pools that will help the hunting conditions. Hunting success has varied greatly depending on the weather. Ducks are in the nocturnal pattern on most days. |
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Updated 01/22/26
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Updated 01/09/26
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South Central Kansas Waterfowl Reports
Updated 02/05/26
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Updated 09/17/25
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Updated 02/17/26
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Updated 01/09/26
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Updated 01/22/26
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Updated 02/06/26
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Updated 01/22/26
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Updated 02/12/25
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Southeast Kansas Waterfowl Reports
Updated 01/05/26
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Updated 01/20/26
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Updated12/09/24
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Updated 02/07/26
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Updated 01/22/26
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Updated 01/21/25
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Updated 01/20/25
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