Clinton Lake offers many hunting opportunities and a variety of game. The public land surrounding the lake is a mix of cropland, grassland and timber, providing excellent habitat for game species.  Deer, quail, turkey, waterfowl, dove, rabbit and squirrel may be found on these public hunting lands.

There are over 9,000 acres of public land available to hunting at Clinton Lake. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism manages much of the land, while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the remainder. The parks and the dam are closed to hunting, but most of the remaining land surrounding Clinton Lake is open to hunting.  However, some areas are designated for archery and/or shotshell only, so please be aware of the regulations for each individual unit.

In addition to the main body of water, waterfowl hunters can take advantage of the Coblentz Marsh, located near the Shawnee/Douglas County line on the Wakarusa River arm of the lake.

Most hunting accidents occur because of improper gun handling. Two of the most common accidents are caused by hunters swinging on game and hunters mistaken for game. Hunter Education training and the wearing of blaze orange can reduce the chances of being involved in an accident.ect "Edit Content" from the Edit (Pencil Icon) Action Menu.

To align with Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks public lands hunting regulations, an updated policy restricting certain hunting practices is in effect at Kansas lakes.

Updated hunting regulations apply to Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed lakes in Kansas, which include Hillsdale, Clinton, Perry, Pomona, Melvern, Tuttle Creek, Milford, Kanopolis and Wilson lakes. The following restrictions apply to USACE managed public hunting lands at the aforementioned USACE lakes:

a. Baiting:

(1) No person shall place, deposit, expose, or scatter bait while hunting or preparing to hunt on lands and waters in the State of Kansas or place, deposit, expose, or scatter bait in a manner that causes another person to be in violation of this regulation.

(2) Hunting shall be prohibited within 100 yards of any bait placed, deposited, exposed, or scattered on lands or waters. Bait shall be considered placed, deposited, exposed, or scattered on department lands for 10 days following complete removal of the bait.

(3) Nothing in this regulation shall prohibit the hunting or taking of wildlife over standing crops, grain found scattered solely as the result of normal agricultural operations, or grain found scattered solely as the result of normal weather conditions.

(4) For the purpose of this regulation, “bait” shall mean any grain, fruit, vegetable, nut, hay, salt sorghum, feed, other food, or mineral that is capable of attracting wildlife. Liquid scents and sprays shall not be considered bait.

b. Night Hunting Equipment: The use of artificial light, scopes and equipment that amplify visible light, and thermal-imaging scopes and thermal-imaging equipment for hunting at night shall not be authorized on lands and waters.

c. Trail or Game Cameras and Other Devices:

(1) No person shall place, maintain, or use a trail or game camera on lands and waters, or any images or video from a trail or game camera including location, time, or date for any purpose.

(2) For the purpose of this regulation, “trail or game camera” shall include any remote motion-activated or infrared camera in which the shutter is activated by sound triggers, proximity sensation, radio transmitters, or a self-timer built into the trail or game camera.

(3) No person shall use any images of wildlife produced by or transmitted from a satellite to take or aid in the taking of wildlife or to locate wildlife to take or aid in the taking of wildlife on lands and waters.

(4) This shall not prohibit the use of mapping systems or programs.

(5) This regulation shall not apply to any trail or game camera that is owned by USACE and/or a USACE-approved designated party for operations or research on lands and waters.

d. Commercial Guiding of Hunters: The conduct, actions, or activities of persons on lands and waters shall be subject to provisions and restrictions as established by posted notice. The following general provisions and restrictions shall apply:

(1) No person shall advertise, engage in, or solicit any business, or make any charge for any event or service except as authorized by USACE.

e. Antlerless White-Tailed Deer Limit:

(1) The first whitetail antlerless only permit is valid for the hunting of antlerless whitetail deer statewide during the established season. Any subsequent whitetail antlerless only permit issued to the same applicant shall not be valid on USACE lands and waters.

(2) All USACE lands and waters are excluded from Unit 19, urban deer management unit, remaining open only under their original unit.

The Kansas City District, USACE at Hillsdale, Clinton, Perry, Pomona, Melvern, Tuttle Creek, Milford, Kanopolis and Wilson Lakes adopts these restrictions, under Title 36, CFR, Part 327.8 (d) Hunting, fishing, and trapping, to provide statewide consistency for public hunters.

Duck blinds and waterfowl hunting is allowed at Clinton Lake.  Hunters are asked to observe the following restrictions and safety precautions.

   1. Non-toxic shot is required to hunt all waterfowl at Clinton Lake.   Legal shot includes steel, tin, bismuth-tin, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-matrix and steel shot coated with copper, nickel, zinc chromate or zinc chloride.

   2. A refuge, established by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, extends ½ to ¾ mile on either side of the Wakarusa River bridge.  Any and all activity within the refuge is prohibited from October 1 to January 15.  

   3. All blinds must constructed of natural vegetation (dead brush, grass, cattails, etc.).  Do not cut living or standing dead trees.

   4. The use of blinds is on a first-come, first-served basis.  In other words, if someone arrives to the blind, that you built on a previous day, at 5:30 a.m. and you arrive at 6:00 a.m. then they have the right to use the blind.

   5. Land and boat blinds may not be closer than 150 yards to another blind.

   6. Hunting is not allowed within 200 yards of boat ramps or within 100 yards of the shoreline to any park.

   7. Boats that are used for hunting may not be left unattended on the project overnight or they will be considered abandoned and impounded.

   8. Vehicles must remain on established roadways.

   9. Pit blinds are not allowed.

   10. It would benefit hunters to scout the area prior to hunting.

   11. Hunters are reminded to observe ALL posted signs and Kansas hunting regulations.

   12. Be prepared for cold weather – dress in layers of clothing, wear rubber or water- proof boots, gloves that provide warmth and shed water.  Know the signs of hypothermia.  Wear a life jacket if you have to use a boat to get to the blind.  

    13. Cellular game cameras are not allowed.