McPherson Valley Wetlands Wildlife Area: hunting, rules and access
McPherson Valley Wetlands Wildlife Area is 4,550 acres by KDWP's count, centered about 2 miles southeast of Inman, in McPherson County and deer Unit 6. Camping: no; equipment: non-toxic shot only; No centerfire rifles (KDWP 2026-27).
Data updated October 2026. KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 summary; KDWP GIS; WIHA 2026-27.
KDWP landState park or recreation areaWalk-in (WIHA)McPherson Valley Wetlands Wildlife AreaOther wildlife areasDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 4,550 (KDWP); 4,434 inside the mapped boundary, water included |
|---|---|
| Location (KDWP) | Scattered tracts between Conway and Inman |
| Phone | (620) 241-7669 |
| Camping | No |
| Boating | Yes, carry-in only |
| Equipment restrictions | Non-toxic shot only; No centerfire rifles |
| Daily check-in/check-out | Required (Go Outdoors Kansas app or ksoutdoors.gov/check-in) |
| County | McPherson |
| Deer unit | Unit 6 |
What are the rules on McPherson Valley Wetlands Wildlife Area?
Equipment, by KDWP's 2026-27 listing: non-toxic shot only; No centerfire rifles. Its other rules:
- Electronic check-in/check-out required through the Go Outdoors Kansas mobile app or ksoutdoors.gov/check-in. Portions of the area closed to hunting year- round. Area has hunt units in the Low Plains Zone; know which zone you are hunting.
Source: KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, page 13.
Refuge or special-rule zones KDWP maps here: Mcpherson Wildlife Area (221 acres; No Access Oct 1 - April 1) and McPherson Valley Wetland Refuge (426 acres; Wildlife Refuge with no access).
Source: KDWP refuge and special regulation areas at reservoirs.
Which deer unit is McPherson Valley Wetlands 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 Valley Wetlands Wildlife Area?
Within five miles: 4,434 acres of KDWP land and 68 acres of state park or recreation area (this area included), and 305 acres of WIHA walk-in land on 3 tracts. The biggest walk-in tracts reaching into that ring: 159 acres 1 mile south (Sept. 1 to Jan. 31), 152 acres 4.9 miles northeast (Sept. 1 to Jan. 31, archery and shotshell only) and 134 acres 4.5 miles north (Sept. 1 to May 31). Nearest wildlife areas: Ferris Wildlife Area (7.9 mi) and McPherson State Fishing Lake and 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 Valley Wetlands Wildlife Area?
KDWP's directions: Scattered tracts between Conway and Inman. Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: KS-61, US 56 and KS-153.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Inman | under 1 | northwest |
| McPherson | 4 | north |
| Buhler | 4 | south |
| Windom | 8 | northwest |
| The Highlands | 10 | west |
Questions hunters ask
Can you camp at McPherson Valley Wetlands Wildlife Area?
No. KDWP's 2026-27 listing says no camping.
Do you have to check in to hunt McPherson Valley Wetlands Wildlife Area?
Yes, before and after each hunt, in the Go Outdoors Kansas app or at ksoutdoors.gov/check-in.
What guns can you use on McPherson Valley Wetlands Wildlife Area?
KDWP restricts equipment here: Non-toxic shot only; No centerfire rifles
Where is McPherson Valley Wetlands Wildlife Area?
Its middle is about 2 miles southeast of Inman, 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.