Lyon State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area: hunting, rules and access
Lyon State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area is 442 acres of land and 140 of water by KDWP's count, centered about 6 miles west of Reading, in Lyon County and deer Unit 14. Camping: yes, in designated areas; equipment: none (KDWP 2026-27).
Data updated October 2026. KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 summary; KDWP GIS; WIHA 2026-27.
KDWP landArmy Corps of EngineersOther publicWalk-in (WIHA)Lyon State Fishing Lake and Wildlife AreaOther wildlife areasDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 442 land, 140 water (KDWP); 452 inside the mapped boundary, water included |
|---|---|
| Location (KDWP) | 5 mi. W, 1 N of Reading |
| Phone | (620) 699-3372 |
| Camping | Yes, in designated areas |
| Boating | Yes, fishing and hunting only |
| Equipment restrictions | None |
| Daily check-in/check-out | Required (Go Outdoors Kansas app or ksoutdoors.gov/check-in) |
| County | Lyon |
| Deer unit | Unit 14 |
What are the rules on Lyon State Fishing Lake and 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. Alcohol prohibited.
Source: KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, page 14.
Which deer unit is Lyon State Fishing Lake and 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 Lyon State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area?
Within five miles: 518 acres of KDWP land and 130 acres of other public (this area included), and no WIHA walk-in land. Nearest wildlife areas: Melvern Wildlife Area (4.7 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) tracts. County walk-in totals: Lyon County.
How do you get to Lyon State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area?
KDWP's directions: 5 mi. W, 1 N of Reading. Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: I-335, KS-99 and KS-170.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 5 | east |
| Admire | 7 | north |
| Allen | 9 | northwest |
| Americus | 10 | west |
| Emporia | 11 | southwest |
Questions hunters ask
Can you camp at Lyon State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area?
Yes, in designated areas, by KDWP's 2026-27 listing, for up to seven days in a row.
Do you have to check in to hunt Lyon State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area?
Yes, before and after each hunt, in the Go Outdoors Kansas app or at ksoutdoors.gov/check-in.
Where is Lyon State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area?
Its middle is about 6 miles west of Reading, in Lyon 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.