Bolton Wildlife Area: hunting, rules and access
Bolton Wildlife Area is 640 acres by KDWP's count, centered about 3 miles northwest of Paxico, in Wabaunsee County and deer Unit 9. Camping: no; equipment: none (KDWP 2026-27). 2 managed dove fields for 2026.
Data updated October 2026. KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 summary and 2026 dove fields; KDWP GIS; WIHA 2026-27.
KDWP landState park or recreation areaWalk-in (WIHA)Bolton Wildlife AreaOther wildlife areasDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 640 (KDWP); 641 inside the mapped boundary, water included |
|---|---|
| Location (KDWP) | 2 mi. N, 1 1/2 W of Paxico |
| Phone | (785) 539-9999 |
| Camping | No |
| Boating | None |
| Equipment restrictions | None |
| Daily check-in/check-out | Required (Go Outdoors Kansas app or ksoutdoors.gov/check-in) |
| County | Wabaunsee |
| Deer unit | Unit 9 |
| Managed dove fields, 2026 | 2 (11 acres) |
What are the rules on Bolton Wildlife Area?
KDWP's 2026-27 listing puts no equipment restriction on the area. Its other rules:
- Electronic check-in/check-out required through the Go Outdoors Kansas mobile app or ksoutdoors.gov/check-in.
Source: KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, page 9.
Does Bolton Wildlife Area have managed dove fields in 2026?
KDWP lists 2 active fields here for 2026, 11 acres in all.
| Crop | Acres | KDWP's expected dove use | Field work | Nontoxic shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half sunflower half wheat | 8 | Good | No | |
| Wheat | 3 | Good | No |
Source: KDWP public land dove fields.
Which deer unit is Bolton Wildlife Area in?
Deer Unit 9, 3,251 square miles, with 3,581 deer taken across the whole unit in 2021. Only the first Whitetail Antlerless-only permit is valid on the area.
Unit 9 gets 1,206 nonresident whitetail permits in 2026, and its extended antlerless firearm season runs Jan. 1-17, 2027 (KDWP deer quotas and draw statistics; KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, page 30).
Harvest: KDWP deer harvest by unit (2017 to 2021).
What public and walk-in land is near Bolton Wildlife Area?
Within five miles: 641 acres of KDWP land (this area included), and no WIHA walk-in land. Nearest wildlife areas: Jeffrey Energy Center (Hanzlick) Wildlife Area (8.7 mi) and Kansas River Wildlife Area (Topeka units) (14.9 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) tracts. County walk-in totals: Wabaunsee County.
How do you get to Bolton Wildlife Area?
KDWP's directions: 2 mi. N, 1 1/2 W of Paxico. Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: I-70, US 40 and KS-99.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Paxico | 3 | southeast |
| McFarland | 3 | southwest |
| Alma | 7 | southwest |
| Belvue | 7 | north |
| Wamego | 8 | northwest |
Questions hunters ask
Can you camp at Bolton Wildlife Area?
No. KDWP's 2026-27 listing says no camping.
Do you have to check in to hunt Bolton Wildlife Area?
Yes, before and after each hunt, in the Go Outdoors Kansas app or at ksoutdoors.gov/check-in.
Where is Bolton Wildlife Area?
Its middle is about 3 miles northwest of Paxico, in Wabaunsee County and deer Unit 9.
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Sources: KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, page 7 to 16; KDWP wildlife areas; USGS PAD-US 4.1; KDWP Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) tracts; KDWP deer harvest by unit (2017 to 2021). General KDWP public land rules: all wildlife areas. FilledTag is not part of Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.