Kansas River Wildlife Area (Topeka units): hunting, rules and access
Kansas River Wildlife Area (Topeka units) is 80 acres by KDWP's count, centered about 2 miles north of Topeka, in Shawnee County and deer Units 9 and 10. Camping: no; equipment: none (KDWP 2026-27). 3 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 areaOther publicWalk-in (WIHA)Kansas River Wildlife Area (Topeka units)Other wildlife areasDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 80 (KDWP); 389 inside the mapped boundary, water included |
|---|---|
| Location (KDWP) | 1/2 mi. E of West Union Road and 4th St. in Topeka; I-70 and MacVicar Rd. in Topeka; 1 mi. N of 10th & Urish in Topeka |
| Phone | (785) 273-6740 |
| Camping | No |
| Boating | None |
| Equipment restrictions | None |
| Daily check-in/check-out | Required (Go Outdoors Kansas app or ksoutdoors.gov/check-in) |
| County | Shawnee |
| Deer unit | Unit 9 and Unit 10 |
| Managed dove fields, 2026 | 3 (22 acres) |
What are the rules on Kansas River Wildlife Area (Topeka units)?
KDWP's 2026-27 listing puts no equipment restriction on the area. Its other rules:
- Kansas River WA - Fitzgerald: Electronic check-in/check-out required through the Go Outdoors Kansas mobile app or ksoutdoors.gov/check-in. This is a youth hunting area. Dove hunting uses the same electronic check-in system, allowing a limited number of hunters access at any give time. All other hunts are available through the Special Hunts program.
- Kansas River WA - MacVicar: Electronic check-in/check-out required through the Go Outdoors Kansas mobile app or ksoutdoors.gov/check-in. Dove hunting uses the same electronic check-in system, allowing a limited number of hunters access at any give time. All other hunts are available through the Special Hunts program.
- Kansas River WA - Urish: Electronic check-in/check-out required through the Go Outdoors Kansas mobile app or ksoutdoors.gov/check-in. Dove hunting uses the same electronic check-in system, allowing a limited number of hunters access at any give time.
Source: KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, page 10.
Does Kansas River Wildlife Area (Topeka units) have managed dove fields in 2026?
KDWP lists 3 active fields here for 2026, 22 acres in all. Fields marked nontoxic need nontoxic shot.
| Crop | Acres | KDWP's expected dove use | Field work | Nontoxic shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | 10 | Medium | Yes | |
| Sunflower | 8 | Medium | Yes | |
| Sunflower | 4 | Medium | Yes |
Source: KDWP public land dove fields.
Which deer unit is Kansas River Wildlife Area (Topeka units) in?
It spans deer Units 9 and 10. 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 Kansas River Wildlife Area (Topeka units)?
Within five miles: 469 acres of KDWP land, 352 acres of other public and 69 acres of state park or recreation area (this area included), and 91 acres of WIHA walk-in land on 2 tracts. The biggest walk-in tracts reaching into that ring: 61 acres 3.1 miles west (Sept. 1 to May 31) and 56 acres 4.8 miles east (Sept. 1 to March 31). Nearest wildlife areas: Shawnee State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area (9.4 mi), Perry Wildlife Area (10.3 mi) and Clinton Wildlife Area (13.3 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) tracts. County walk-in totals: Shawnee County.
How do you get to Kansas River Wildlife Area (Topeka units)?
KDWP's directions: 1/2 mi. E of West Union Road and 4th St. in Topeka; I-70 and MacVicar Rd. in Topeka; 1 mi. N of 10th & Urish in Topeka. Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: US 40, I-70, KS-4, US 24 and US 75.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Topeka | 2 | south |
| Willard | 3 | west |
| Silver Lake | 3 | west |
| Rossville | 5 | west |
| Maple Hill | 6 | west |
Questions hunters ask
Can you camp at Kansas River Wildlife Area (Topeka units)?
No. KDWP's 2026-27 listing says no camping.
Do you have to check in to hunt Kansas River Wildlife Area (Topeka units)?
Yes, before and after each hunt, in the Go Outdoors Kansas app or at ksoutdoors.gov/check-in.
Where is Kansas River Wildlife Area (Topeka units)?
Its middle is about 2 miles north of Topeka, in Shawnee County and deer Units 9 and 10.
Get a Kansas hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Kansas are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Kansas included.
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.