El Dorado Wildlife Area: hunting, rules and access
El Dorado Wildlife Area is 4,258 acres by KDWP's count, centered about 7 miles northeast of El Dorado, in Butler County and deer Unit 14. 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 landArmy Corps of EngineersState park or recreation areaWalk-in (WIHA)El Dorado Wildlife AreaOther wildlife areasDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 4,258 (KDWP); 3,992 inside the mapped boundary, water included |
|---|---|
| Location (KDWP) | 2 mi. E, 1 N of El Dorado |
| Phone | (316) 322-7513 |
| Camping | No |
| Boating | Yes |
| Equipment restrictions | None |
| Daily check-in/check-out | Not listed for this area |
| County | Butler |
| Deer unit | Unit 14 |
| Managed dove fields, 2026 | 2 (23 acres) |
What are the rules on El Dorado Wildlife Area?
KDWP's 2026-27 listing puts no equipment restriction on the area. Its other rules:
- Swimming (jumping) prohibited in Walnut River at NE Chelsea road bridge.
Source: KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, page 13.
Does El Dorado Wildlife Area have managed dove fields in 2026?
KDWP lists 2 active fields here for 2026, 23 acres in all. Fields marked nontoxic need nontoxic shot.
| Crop | Acres | KDWP's expected dove use | Field work | Nontoxic shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | 15 | Fair | Will be mowed before season if condition allows | Yes |
| Sunflower | 8 | Fair | Mowing before season if conditions allow | Yes |
Source: KDWP public land dove fields.
Which deer unit is El Dorado Wildlife Area in?
Deer Unit 14, 6,816 square miles, with 10,232 deer taken across the whole unit in 2021. Only the first Whitetail Antlerless-only permit is valid on the area.
Unit 14 gets 2,079 nonresident whitetail permits in 2026, and its extended antlerless firearm season runs Jan. 1-24, 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 El Dorado Wildlife Area?
Within five miles: 4,658 acres of KDWP land, 2,946 acres of state park or recreation area and 616 acres of Army Corps of Engineers (this area included), and no WIHA walk-in land.
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) tracts. County walk-in totals: Butler County.
How do you get to El Dorado Wildlife Area?
KDWP's directions: 2 mi. E, 1 N of El Dorado. Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: I-35, KS-177, US 77 and US 54.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| El Dorado | 5 | southwest |
| Cassoday | 8 | northeast |
| Leon | 11 | south |
| Burns | 11 | north |
| Potwin | 12 | west |
Questions hunters ask
Can you camp at El Dorado Wildlife Area?
No. KDWP's 2026-27 listing says no camping.
Do you have to check in to hunt El Dorado Wildlife Area?
Not by KDWP's 2026-27 list of check-in areas.
Where is El Dorado Wildlife Area?
Its middle is about 7 miles northeast of El Dorado, in Butler County and deer Unit 14.
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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.