National Wildlife Refuge · Kansas · FWS Region 6

Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge is located in Coffey County, Kansas, with about 18,625 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 2 closed, covering about 11,621 huntable acres.

2 with special regs2 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
11.6Khuntable acres
18.6KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Flint Hills NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Flint Hills NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Once the Neosho River Valley was a rich mosaic of habitats, including prairie, wetlands and riparian corridors. Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge is protecting and restoring that habitat, providing a wildlife-rich environment.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Kansas regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 11,621 (63%)Closed: 6,931 (37%)11.6Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations11,621 ac 63%
  • Closed6,931 ac 37%
Units by size (acres)
South Neosho
7,587 ac
South 19th
6,118 ac
North 19th
4,035 ac
Trail Areas
813 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
North 19th
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,035 —
South Neosho
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 7,587 —
South 19th
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 6,118 —
Trail Areas
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 813 —

Flint Hills NWR by the numbers

With about 11,621 huntable acres, Flint Hills NWR ranks #1 of 4 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Kansas and #171 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 63% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is South Neosho (7,587 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, North 19th, covers 4,035 acres.

2 units totaling 6,931 acres are closed to hunting (South 19th and Trail Areas). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Flint Hills NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Kansas sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Kansas hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Flint Hills NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge waters include nine ponds and a small part of John Redmond Reservoir. The Neosho River flows approximately 20 miles through the refuge. Fishing is also available along Eagle Creek, Lebo Creek and Troublesome Creek.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Flint Hills NWR

Navigate

Destination: Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
38.30208, -95.90974
DMS
38°18′07.5″N 95°54′35.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Emporia, KS16 mi SE of town
  • Topeka, KS53 mi S of town
  • Wichita, KS89 mi NE of town
  • Kansas City, MO90 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • ICT Wichita Eisenhower94 mi
  • MCI Kansas City Intl94 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Flint Hills NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM7:55 PM13h 03m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM7:33 PM12h 30m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM7:08 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:01 AM7:31 AM6:47 PM11h 16m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM5:25 PM10h 37m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM5:12 PM10h 08m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:51 AM7:21 AM5:04 PM9h 43m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:03 AM7:33 AM5:04 PM9h 31m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:10 AM7:40 AM5:12 PM9h 33m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:09 AM7:39 AM5:25 PM9h 46m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:59 AM7:29 AM5:44 PM10h 15m

Computed for 38.302, -95.910 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Guides for hunting Flint Hills NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Flint Hills NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Flint Hills NWR?

Yes. Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (11,621 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Flint Hills NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Flint Hills NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Flint Hills NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Flint Hills NWR located?

Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge is in Coffey County, Kansas, about 16 miles SE of Emporia, KS (straight-line). GPS: 38.30208, -95.90974.

What are legal shooting hours at Flint Hills NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Marais des Cygnes NWR

Linn County, KS · 69 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

5K huntable acres

Loess Bluffs NWR

Holt County, MO · 128 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🎣

7.4K huntable acres

Neosho NFH

Newton County, MO · 135 mi SE

1 closed
🎣

Ozark Cavefish NWR

Lawrence County, MO · 143 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Quivira NWR

Stafford County, KS · 144 mi W

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

8.2K huntable acres

Salt Plains NWR

Alfalfa County, OK · 166 mi SW

11 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9.6K huntable acres

All refuges in Kansas →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.