Facility Activities

At the Complex headquarters, a short nature trail will take you along Lake Andes as it passes through a series of small prairie ponds, skirts the edge of Owens Bay, and through native grassland uplands. The abundance of waterfowl and grassland birds make this an excellent trail for birding.

Hunting

Dikes separate Lake Andes into three separate units, but a lack of a permanent water supply limits the lake's optimal habitat for waterfowl. Only the Owen's Bay marsh, fed primarily by the waters from a free-flowing well, permits effective manipulation of water levels to provide a dependable...

Fishing

Available species include yellow perch and northern pike. The fishery is cyclical -- when water quality is poor, fishing opportunities may be limited to carp and bullhead, but when water quality is excellent, the fishery can support largemouth bass. Water levels vary considerably. Small boats...

Wildlife watching
Many refuges champion wildlife viewing as a key recreational activity.
Photography
Whether you wield a smartphone or a zoom lens, you’ll find photo-worthy subjects at national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries. Wildlife photography is a priority public use on national wildlife refuges, so you’ll find wildlife drives and blinds and overlooks to help you get the images you’re after.
Birding
From bald eagles to spoonbills, from condors to puffins, birds abound on national wildlife refuges. Refuges provide places for birds to nest, rest, feed and breed making them world-renown for their birding opportunities.