Marion Wildlife Area: hunting, rules and access
Marion Wildlife Area is 4,628 acres by KDWP's count, centered about 6 miles southeast of Durham, in Marion County and deer Unit 6. 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 landArmy Corps of EngineersWalk-in (WIHA)Marion Wildlife AreaOther wildlife areasDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 4,628 (KDWP); 6,464 inside the mapped boundary, water included |
|---|---|
| Location (KDWP) | 2 mi. S, 2 E of Durham |
| Phone | (620) 732-3946 |
| Camping | No |
| Boating | Yes |
| Equipment restrictions | None |
| Daily check-in/check-out | Required (Go Outdoors Kansas app or ksoutdoors.gov/check-in) |
| County | Marion |
| Deer unit | Unit 6 |
| Managed dove fields, 2026 | 3 (35 acres) |
What are the rules on Marion 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. Refuge closed to all activity Oct. 1-March 1.
Source: KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, page 13.
Refuge or special-rule zones KDWP maps here: Marion Refuge (Marion Lake Land And Water Refuge, 811 acres; Refuge NO ACCESS SEP 1- APRIL 1).
Source: KDWP refuge and special regulation areas at reservoirs.
Does Marion Wildlife Area have managed dove fields in 2026?
KDWP lists 3 active fields here for 2026, 35 acres in all. Fields marked nontoxic need nontoxic shot.
| Crop | Acres | KDWP's expected dove use | Field work | Nontoxic shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflowers | 15 | Fair | Disk strips and mow | Yes |
| Sunflowers | 12 | Fair | Disk strips and mowed | No |
| Sunflowers | 8 | Fair | Disk strips and mow | Yes |
Source: KDWP public land dove fields.
Which deer unit is Marion Wildlife Area in?
Deer Unit 6, 2,639 square miles, with 2,888 deer taken across the whole unit in 2021. Only the first Whitetail Antlerless-only permit is valid on the area.
Unit 6 gets 604 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 Marion Wildlife Area?
Within five miles: 4,884 acres of KDWP land (this area included), and no WIHA walk-in land. Nearest wildlife areas: McPherson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area (12.6 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) tracts.
How do you get to Marion Wildlife Area?
KDWP's directions: 2 mi. S, 2 E of Durham. Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: US 56 and KS-256.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | under 1 | northwest |
| Hillsboro | 2 | southwest |
| Lehigh | 6 | southwest |
| Marion | 6 | southeast |
| Tampa | 6 | north |
Questions hunters ask
Can you camp at Marion Wildlife Area?
No. KDWP's 2026-27 listing says no camping.
Do you have to check in to hunt Marion Wildlife Area?
Yes, before and after each hunt, in the Go Outdoors Kansas app or at ksoutdoors.gov/check-in.
Where is Marion Wildlife Area?
Its middle is about 6 miles southeast of Durham, in Marion County and deer Unit 6.
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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.