Unit 13

Most land is divided into pastures and farm fields. Trees and brush grow along and near rivers, creeks and low spots. Common trees include elms, red bud, post oaks, blackjack oaks, dogwoods and cedars. Hundreds of species of grasses, forbs and brush grow in this unit. Common grasses include various bluestems and gramas. Lightly grazed wild areas often have long enough grass that deer can avoid detection by bedding in it.

With the exception of Kaw Wildlife Area southeast of Arkansas City and Slate Creek Wetlands northwest of Geuda Springs, almost the entire unit consists of private land where hunters must pay or get permission to hunt. Kaw WA is composed of 4,341 acres of land and river upstream from Kaw Reservoir which is in Oklahoma. About one-fourth of the land is leased to farmers, who are required to leave a portion of the crops for wildlife food and cover. Slate Creek Wetlands are 947 acres in size, 50 of which are marshlands; there are good numbers of deer, hunters will need a daily hunt permit. Few, if any, landowners in this unit lease land for the state’s walk-in hunting program. Check with the game department for an updated list of lands leased by the state for public access and hunting. The state licenses eight controlled shooting areas (private fee hunting areas), which are listed here.

Camping is not allowed at Slate Creek Wetlands. Primitive camping is allowed at Cowley Lake. Private campgrounds include Cherokee Strip Campground (phone: 620-442-3250) in Arkansas City, Wellington KOA in Wellington, Oasis RV Park near Interstate 35 four miles north of Oklahoma, Lou Ann’s Campgrounds (phone: 620-442-4458) in Arkansas City, and Winfield Fairgrounds RV County Park (phone: 620-221-5525) in Winfield. Motels are in or near Arkansas City, Winfield, Wellington, Caldwell and Mulvane, and there are many lodging options in Wichita, one of the 50th largest cities in America.