Many marshes echo with the sounds of geese each fall. At Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, wetlands virtually roar as geese darken the skies and blanket the waters. At the peak of the migration, the refuge can host more than 750,000 geese, divided equally among Canada, snow and white-fronted geese. Huge flocks of mallard, gadwall, widgeon and other ducks complement the geese, making Quivira National Wildlife Refuge a waterfowl hotspot.
Hunters will also enjoy seeing hundreds of thousands of sandhill cranes but are reminded that these may not be hunted on the refuge. Endangered whooping cranes also visit the refuge, and, when they are passing through, the refuge is closed to all hunting. Check the Kansas Refuges Complex for updates about closures. These can happen very suddenly. Sandhill crane hunters on land adjacent to the refuge should be aware of the presence of the endangered whooping cranes.
Hunting for quail, pheasant, dove, squirrel and rabbit is also permitted. Hunters may go in places marked as “public hunting areas” and will find a variety of marsh conditions. Hunting for pheasant and bobwhite quail is excellent and often overlooked in favor of the more obvious waterfowl opportunities.
Deer hunting is allowed on the Refuge under a limited-draw system. Permits are administered through the State of Kansas under their Special Hunt Permit Process. More information about that can be found at https://ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Special-Hunts-Information
Specific information about Hunting/Fishing on the Refuge can be found on our Hunting/Fishing Brochure. This supplement provides information on hunting unit conditions, Kansas hunting seasons and regulations, and bird population numbers on Quivira via eBird.