Cheyenne Bottoms Waterfowl Report -
Waterfowl numbers

Declining goose numbers with a rapidly progressing spring migration.   Mostly snows with some Canadas and whitefronts.

If the report has not been updated in a few days, please assume that conditions and bird numbers are the same as the last update.

Water level

Pool 1A-10", Pool 1B-small area of sheet water, Pool 1C-dry, Pool 2-some sheet water, Pool 3A-9", Pool 3B-dry, Pool 4A-dry,  Pool 4B-dry, Pool 5-dry.   

Cheyenne Bottoms has no ground water pumps to fill pools.  

Hunting conditions Pool 2-  A total of 550 acres of cattails have been burned and disced at least 4 times.  In 2021 there were 428 acres of cattails sprayed in Pool 2, another 342 acres were sprayed on August 22, 2022.  A total of 996 acres of cattails and Phragmites were sprayed August 2023.  Blind islands are being rebuilt.  Refuge portion of Pool 2 open for teal season only.    Pool 3B- All cattails have been disked multiple times.  All blind islands have been rebuilt. A total of 180 acres of wheat was planted in the pool in October 2022, poor germination due to drought.  34 acres of wheat planted in the fall of 2023.  About 30 acres of milo was planted in the pool in May 2023. Pool 3A- about 50 acres of millet have been planted. 4A, 4B, 5-  All blind islands in 4A and 4B have been rebuilt.  Most pools have some moist soil plants and will provide some food if water is available to flood. 
Expected hunting success Poor.  At this time, the only pool that will have water for regular duck season in Pool 3A.  
Comments

ISPORTSMAN IS NO LONGER IN USE.  HUNTERS CAN CHECK IN VIA THE GOOUTDOORSKS APP OR THE WEBSITE https://license.gooutdoorskansas.com/Licensing/CustomerLookup.aspx

ALL BOATS MUST BE OPERATED AT NO WAKE SPEEDS.  REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OR SCENERIO, ALL BOATS MUST BE OPERATED AT NO WAKE SPEEDS 100% OF THE TIME, NO EXCEPTIONS.

POOL 4A IS CLOSED AT 1 P.M. DAILY TO MOTORIZED BOATS.  ANY BOAT WITH A MOTOR ON IT MUST BE OUT OF THE WATER AT 1 P.M.  NO MOTORING OUT PRIOR TO 1 P.M. THEN ROWING OR DRAGGING BOAT BACK IN AFTER 1 P.M.

3A IS CLOSED TO MOTORIZED BOATS

MOTORIZED BOATS ALLOWED ONLY DURING OPEN WATERFOWL SEASON.  THIS MEANS NO SCOUTING FROM A MOTOR BOAT PRIOR TO SEASON. 

ALL WATERCRAFT ARE PROHIBITED FROM APRIL 15-AUGUST 15 TO PROTECT NESTING BIRDS ON THE WILDLIFE AREA.

DURING THE YOUTH/VETERANS/MILITARY WEEKEND, POOL 4B IS DESIGNATED AS A YOUTH ONLY POOL.

LEGAL SHOOTING HOURS ARE 30 MINUTES BEFORE SUNRISE TO SUNSET.

UNLAWFUL TO SHOOT FROM ROADS OR DIKES ON THE WILDLIFE AREA.

DO NOT PARK BLOCKING ROADS, GATES, BOAT RAMPS, FOOT CROSSINGS, ETC.

DO NOT LAUNCH TRAILERED BOATS FROM DIKES OR FOOT CROSSINGS.  ANY BOATS ON A TRAILER MUST USE DESIGNATED BOAT RAMPS.

NO TRASH POLICY ON THE WILDLIFE AREA.

CAMP IN DESIGNATED CAMPGROUND ONLY

Use footcrossings in Pools 2, 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B as the ditches have been cleaned out and are very deep.

No Special Hunts for the 2023-2024 season due to dry conditions.

For waterfowl season dates, Cheyenne Bottoms is in the Low Plains Early Zone.