Mined Land Wildlife Area: hunting, rules and access
Mined Land Wildlife Area is 14,500 acres by KDWP's count, centered about 4 miles southwest of West Mineral, in Cherokee and Crawford counties and deer Unit 11. Camping: yes, in designated areas; equipment: archery only in units 1, 21, 23 and portions of 22 and 47 (KDWP 2026-27). 6 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 landOther publicWalk-in (WIHA)Mined Land Wildlife AreaOther wildlife areasDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 14,500 (KDWP); 14,826 inside the mapped boundary, water included |
|---|---|
| Location (KDWP) | Scattered tracts throughout Crawford, Cherokee, and Labette counties |
| Phone | (620) 231-3173 |
| Camping | Yes, in designated areas |
| Boating | Yes |
| Equipment restrictions | Archery only in units 1, 21, 23 and portions of 22 and 47. |
| Daily check-in/check-out | Not listed for this area |
| County | Cherokee and Crawford |
| Deer unit | Unit 11 |
| Managed dove fields, 2026 | 6 (114 acres) |
What are the rules on Mined Land Wildlife Area?
Equipment, by KDWP's 2026-27 listing: archery only in units 1, 21, 23 and portions of 22 and 47. Its other rules:
- Alcohol prohibited in Unit 1. The bison exhibit in Unit 1 is closed to all activities. For cabin reservation, phone (620) 431-0380.
Source: KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, page 15.
Does Mined Land Wildlife Area have managed dove fields in 2026?
KDWP lists 6 active fields here for 2026, 114 acres in all. Fields marked nontoxic need nontoxic shot.
| Crop | Acres | KDWP's expected dove use | Field work | Nontoxic shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflowers | 45 | Good | Some mowing | Yes |
| Sunflowers | 18 | Good | Some mowing | Yes |
| Corn | 17 | Excellent | Mowing Before Season | Yes |
| Sunflower | 13 | Excellent | Mowing Before Season | Yes |
| Corn | 11 | Excellent | Mowing Before Season | Yes |
| Corn | 10 | Excellent | Mowing Before Season | Yes |
Source: KDWP public land dove fields.
Which deer unit is Mined Land Wildlife Area in?
Deer Unit 11, 6,559 square miles, with 15,611 deer taken across the whole unit in 2021. Only the first Whitetail Antlerless-only permit is valid on the area.
Unit 11 gets 3,564 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 Mined Land Wildlife Area?
Within five miles: 15,373 acres of KDWP land (this area included), and 330 acres of WIHA walk-in land on 2 tracts. The biggest walk-in tracts reaching into that ring: 162 acres 0.7 miles northeast (Sept. 1 to May 31, archery and shotshell only) and 160 acres 2.7 miles west (Sept. 1 to May 31). Nearest wildlife areas: Cherokee Lowlands Wildlife Area (5.2 mi), Grand Osage Wildlife Area (5.2 mi) and Spring River Wildlife Area (8.6 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) tracts. County walk-in totals: Crawford County.
How do you get to Mined Land Wildlife Area?
KDWP's directions: Scattered tracts throughout Crawford, Cherokee, and Labette counties. Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: US 160, US 69, US 400, KS-57 and KS-7.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| West Mineral | under 1 | northeast |
| Scammon | under 1 | east |
| Frontenac | under 1 | northeast |
| Roseland | under 1 | northeast |
| Cherokee | under 1 | northeast |
Questions hunters ask
Can you camp at Mined Land 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 Mined Land Wildlife Area?
Not by KDWP's 2026-27 list of check-in areas.
What guns can you use on Mined Land Wildlife Area?
KDWP restricts equipment here: Archery only in units 1, 21, 23 and portions of 22 and 47.
Where is Mined Land Wildlife Area?
Its middle is about 4 miles southwest of West Mineral, in Cherokee and Crawford counties and deer Unit 11.
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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.