| Waterfowl numbers | Staff have been noticing more birds in the area with the colder weather. Reminder duck season is closed until 1/20/24. |
| Water level | 5.6 feet below Conservation Pool on reservoir. |
| Hunting conditions | Poor The recent rains have brought the lake up some. However, the water line is still far from the vegetation line. Percent Ice Cover 99% |
| Expected hunting success | Poor |
| Comments | Vehicles are not to be driven on the lakebed. This includes UTV, ATV, and E-Bikes. NEW FOR 2022-2023 SEASON MERGANSERS ARE INCLUDED IN THE DAILY BAG LIMIT FOR DUCKS. Cheney Wildlife Area is located in the Low Plains Late Zone Low Plains Teal Season: Sept. 9-24, 2023 Low Plains Late Zone Youth/Veteran/Military Season is Oct. 21-22, 2023. Low Plains Late Zone Duck Season is Oct 28, 2023 -Dec 31, 2023, and Jan 20-28, 2024. Dark Goose Season Oct. 28-29, Nov. 1, 2023 - Feb. 11, 2024 White Fronted Geese: Oct. 28, 2023 - Dec 31, 2023 and Jan. 20 - Feb. 11, 2024 Daily bag limit: 6 Six ducks is the daily bag limit, with species and sex restrictions as follows: 5 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be females), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 1 pintail, and 1 scaup. The daily bag may comprise six of any other duck, such as six teal, six gadwall, six merganser or six wigeon. Possession limit: Three times the daily limit. The refuge at Cheney Wildlife Area, located on the south side of Pretty Prairie Rd between Obee Rd and Kent Rd, extends out from the shoreline 100 yards into the water. What this means is that water along the shoreline of the refuge is included in the restricted access area and is off limits to hunting. Accessing the refuge by boat or hunting near the refuge shoreline is not permitted. Remember Cheney Reservoir has ZEBRA MUSSELS. Make sure to Clean, Drain and Dry your equipment. Clean all visible vegetation and mud from decoys, bags, waders, etc. Drain water from decoy bags and boats. Allow equipment to Dry for a five day period before using it at another area, OR wash with high-pressure hot water. Many of the roads around the reservoir can get very greasy after rain, or melting snow, please use good judgement about which roads you try to travel on. Area roads have been upgraded with gravel. Please keep vehicles on maintained road and parking areas. Off road vehicle use is strictly prohibited. Please report all wildlife and public lands violations that you witness by calling the area headquarters at (620) 459-6922. Please leave a detailed message with violation specifics. In the event of an emergency, please call 911. |
