Woodson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area: hunting, rules and access
Woodson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area is 2,885 acres of land and 430 of water by KDWP's count, centered about 6 miles east of Toronto, in Woodson County and deer Unit 12. Camping: yes, in designated areas; equipment: none (KDWP 2026-27). 1 managed dove field 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 EngineersState park or recreation areaOther publicWalk-in (WIHA)Woodson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife AreaOther wildlife areasDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 2,885 land, 430 water (KDWP); 2,803 inside the mapped boundary, water included |
|---|---|
| Location (KDWP) | 5 mi. E of Toronto |
| Phone | (620) 637-2748 |
| Camping | Yes, in designated areas |
| Boating | Yes, fishing and hunting only |
| Equipment restrictions | None |
| Daily check-in/check-out | Not listed for this area |
| County | Woodson |
| Deer unit | Unit 12 |
| Managed dove fields, 2026 | 1 (26 acres) |
What are the rules on Woodson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area?
KDWP's 2026-27 listing puts no equipment restriction on the area. No other rule is listed.
Source: KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, page 15.
Does Woodson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area have managed dove fields in 2026?
KDWP lists 1 active field here for 2026, 26 acres in all. Fields marked nontoxic need nontoxic shot.
| Crop | Acres | KDWP's expected dove use | Field work | Nontoxic shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflowers | 26 | Average | Yes |
Source: KDWP public land dove fields.
Which deer unit is Woodson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area in?
Deer Unit 12, 2,687 square miles, with 6,449 deer taken across the whole unit in 2021. Only the first Whitetail Antlerless-only permit is valid on the area.
Unit 12 gets 2,303 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 Woodson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area?
Within five miles: 3,955 acres of KDWP land, 1,103 acres of state park or recreation area, 98 acres of Army Corps of Engineers and 96 acres of other public (this area included), and 507 acres of WIHA walk-in land on 1 tract. The biggest walk-in tracts reaching into that ring: 497 acres 2.1 miles northeast (Sept. 1 to May 31). Nearest wildlife areas: Toronto Wildlife Area (2.7 mi), Wilson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area (8.8 mi) and Fall River Wildlife Area (13.2 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) tracts.
How do you get to Woodson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area?
KDWP's directions: 5 mi. E of Toronto. Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: US 54 and KS-105.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Coyville | 4 | south |
| Toronto | 4 | west |
| Yates Center | 6 | northeast |
| Buffalo | 8 | southeast |
| Benedict | 9 | southeast |
Questions hunters ask
Can you camp at Woodson 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 Woodson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area?
Not by KDWP's 2026-27 list of check-in areas.
Where is Woodson State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area?
Its middle is about 6 miles east of Toronto, in Woodson County and deer Unit 12.
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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.