Hillsdale Wildlife Area: hunting, rules and access
Hillsdale Wildlife Area is 8,380 acres by KDWP's count, centered about 6 miles southwest of Spring Hill, in Miami County and deer Unit 11. Camping: no; equipment: none (KDWP 2026-27). 4 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 EngineersWalk-in (WIHA)Hillsdale Wildlife AreaOther wildlife areasDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 8,380 (KDWP); 6,016 inside the mapped boundary, water included |
|---|---|
| Location (KDWP) | 6 mi. N of Paola |
| Phone | (913) 783-4507 |
| Camping | No |
| Boating | Yes |
| Equipment restrictions | None |
| Daily check-in/check-out | Required (Go Outdoors Kansas app or ksoutdoors.gov/check-in) |
| County | Miami |
| Deer unit | Unit 11 |
| Managed dove fields, 2026 | 4 (44 acres) |
What are the rules on Hillsdale 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. Handicapped hunting access area by permit; phone (913) 783-4507. Refuge closed to all activities Oct. 1- Jan. 15.
Source: KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, page 10.
Refuge or special-rule zones KDWP maps here: Hillsdale Lake (Waterfowl Refuge, 335 acres; Access restricted to October 1 through January 15).
Source: KDWP refuge and special regulation areas at reservoirs.
Youth mentor area: Hillsdale Wildlife Area.
Does Hillsdale Wildlife Area have managed dove fields in 2026?
KDWP lists 4 active fields here for 2026, 44 acres in all. Fields marked nontoxic need nontoxic shot.
| Crop | Acres | KDWP's expected dove use | Field work | Nontoxic shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | 18 | Moderate | Mowing Before Season | Yes |
| Sunflower | 12 | Moderate - Good | Mowing Before Season | Yes |
| Sunflower | 7 | Moderate - Good | Mowing Before Season | Yes |
| Sunflower | 7 | Moderate - Good | Mowing Before Season | Yes |
Source: KDWP public land dove fields.
Which deer unit is Hillsdale Wildlife Area in?
Deer Unit 11, 6,559 square miles, with 15,611 deer taken across the whole unit in 2021. Only the first Whitetail Antlerless-only permit is valid on the area.
Unit 11 gets 3,564 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 Hillsdale Wildlife Area?
Within five miles: 5,085 acres of KDWP land and 3,432 acres of Army Corps of Engineers (this area included), and no WIHA walk-in land. Nearest wildlife areas: Douglas State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area (9.6 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) tracts.
How do you get to Hillsdale Wildlife Area?
KDWP's directions: 6 mi. N of Paola. Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: I-35, US 50, KS-7, US 169 and KS-68.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Edgerton | 2 | northwest |
| Spring Hill | 3 | northeast |
| Wellsville | 4 | west |
| Gardner | 5 | north |
| Paola | 7 | south |
Questions hunters ask
Can you camp at Hillsdale Wildlife Area?
No. KDWP's 2026-27 listing says no camping.
Do you have to check in to hunt Hillsdale Wildlife Area?
Yes, before and after each hunt, in the Go Outdoors Kansas app or at ksoutdoors.gov/check-in.
Where is Hillsdale Wildlife Area?
Its middle is about 6 miles southwest of Spring Hill, in Miami County and deer Unit 11.
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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.