McPherson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area: hunting, rules and access
McPherson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area is 260 acres by KDWP's count, centered about 6 miles north of Canton, in McPherson County and deer Unit 6. Camping: yes, in designated areas; equipment: archery deer/turkey hunting only (KDWP 2026-27).
Data updated October 2026. KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 summary; KDWP GIS; WIHA 2026-27.
KDWP landOther publicWalk-in (WIHA)McPherson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife AreaOther wildlife areasDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 260 (KDWP); 123 inside the mapped boundary, water included |
|---|---|
| Location (KDWP) | 6 mi. N, 2 W of Canton |
| Phone | (620) 628-4592 |
| Camping | Yes, in designated areas |
| Boating | Yes, fishing and hunting only |
| Equipment restrictions | Archery deer/turkey hunting only |
| Daily check-in/check-out | Not listed for this area |
| County | McPherson |
| Deer unit | Unit 6 |
What are the rules on McPherson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area?
Equipment, by KDWP's 2026-27 listing: archery deer/turkey hunting only. Its other rules:
- Alcohol prohibited
Source: KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, page 13.
Which deer unit is McPherson State Fishing Lake and 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 McPherson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area?
Within five miles: 2,346 acres of KDWP land and 190 acres of other public (this area included), and no WIHA walk-in land. Nearest wildlife areas: Marion Wildlife Area (12.6 mi) and McPherson Valley Wetlands Wildlife Area (14.9 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) tracts. County walk-in totals: McPherson County.
How do you get to McPherson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area?
KDWP's directions: 6 mi. N, 2 W of Canton. No numbered highway within five miles.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Canton | 6 | south |
| Galva | 7 | southwest |
| Lehigh | 11 | southeast |
| McPherson | 12 | southwest |
| Durham | 13 | east |
Questions hunters ask
Can you camp at McPherson 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 McPherson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area?
Not by KDWP's 2026-27 list of check-in areas.
What guns can you use on McPherson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area?
KDWP restricts equipment here: Archery deer/turkey hunting only
Where is McPherson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area?
Its middle is about 6 miles north of Canton, in McPherson 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.