Clinton Wildlife Area
Location/Address:
Area Manager: Chris Lecuyer
Office Phone: 785-887-6882
Clinton Wildlife Area is located approximately 7 miles west of Lawrence on the upper end of Clinton Reservoir
Clinton Reservoir was completed by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1977. Approximately 9,000 acres are managed by KDWP for use as a public Wildlife Area.
A majority of the land lies within the Clinton Reservoir flood pool. Deer Creek, Rock Creek and the Wakarusa River are the three main drainages into Clinton Lake that flow through the wildlife area. There is a mix of native grassland, deciduous forest and cropland dispersed throughout these drainages.
Two man-made wetland complexes are found on the wildlife area. The oldest is the Coblentz Marsh Complex, which consists of the original West Coblentz marsh and the more recent East Coblentz marsh totaling around 160 acres. These are located on the north side of the Wakarusa River and immediately east of the Shawnee-Douglas county line in Douglas County. The Elk Creek Marsh complex was partially built in 2001 and was filled with water in 2004. It is located on the south side of the Wakarusa River at Boat Ramp #9. The complex consists of 2 completed wetlands and two wetlands under construction. This complex adds around 350 additional wetland acres on the wildlife area and the proposed completion is the Summer of 2006. Both wetlands are filled by pumping water out of the Wakarusa Arm of the lake.
Management of native grassland is very important on the Clinton Wildlife Area. Clinton has over 200 acres of historical native prairie, most all of the non-native cool season grasslands have been converted to warm season native grasses and wildflowers.
Primary species hunted on the area include deer, turkey, waterfowl, mourning dove, bobwhite quail, squirrel, and rabbit. Also, a wide array of non-game birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians can be found on the area or migrating through. Trapping, fishing, and wildlife viewing are also popular past times on the area.
- Camping, off-road vehicle use, and target shooting are prohibited.
- Please take all trash with you.
- Refuge area is closed to all activities from October 1st thru January 15th.
- A free daily hunting permit is required to hunt waterfowl in the marshes. These are available at parking lots.
Special Features
- Handicapped hunting area provides vehicle use in designated area.
- Horseback riding is allowed on the southeast side of the Rock Creek Arm.
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