Southwest

This is a collection of all the Southwest Waterfowl Report

CHEYENNE BOTTOMS - Last Updated: 6/2/2023

Waterfowl numbers

Few teal and others have shown up with the minimal amount of water.

Do not expect the report to be updated until conditions change.  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 1A-very minimal amount of water, 1B-dry, 1C-dry, 2-dry, 3A-dry, 3B-dry, 4A-dry,  4B-dry, 5-dry.  Briefly had some water available to divert and it was enough to fill the inlet canal and put a minimal amount of water in 1A that resulted in saturated soil and sheet water covering about 2/3 of that pool.  Rains have primed some of the right locations to hopefully allow runoff in the future.  It is still going to take a very significant rain event/events in order to put even a minimal amount of water on the area.  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.  Most of the remaining cattails have been disced once.  In 2021 there were 428 acres of cattails sprayed in Pool 2, another 342 acres were sprayed on August 22, 2022.  Blind islands are being rebuilt.    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.  About 30 acres of milo was planted in the pool in May 2023. Pools 3A, 4A, 4B, 5-  All blind islands in 4A and 4B have been rebuilt.
Expected hunting success Very bad 
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 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B as the ditches have been cleaned out and are very deep.

1 DRAWN SPECIAL HUNT FOR 1 PARTY OF 3 YOUTH WILL BE HELD EACH SATURDAY MORNING OF REGULAR DUCK SEASON IN POOL 5.  CHECK OUT KSOUTDOORS.COM TO APPLY AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPECIAL HUNTS PROGRAM.

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



ISABEL - Last Updated: 2/9/2023

Waterfowl numbers Approx. 160 ducks. Mainly Canada geese, pintail, mallard, red head, ring-neck and bufflehead.
Water level The main lake is full. The pool south of the main lake has some water. The remaining pools are dry.
Hunting conditions  
Expected hunting success  
Comments

Teal Season (Low Plains Zone):  September 10-September 25, 2022

Youth, Veteran, Active Military Waterfowl (Low Plains Late Zone):  October 22-23, 2022

Ducks (Low Plains Late Zone):  October 29, 2022 - January 1, 2023 (first segment) and January 21 - January 29, 2023 (second segment)

Daily check-in and harvest reporting is required

Check-in/Check-out on The Web

  1. Visit https://ksoutdoors.com/checkin
  2. Click the “Check-in/Check-out” link in the top menu

Check-in/Check-out on The App

  1. Download “Go Outdoors KS” from the Apple or Google Play store
  2. Click “Check-in/Check-out”
  3. Select a location
  4. Login with KDWP credentials
  5. Complete and submit “Check-in" form 

Only non-toxic shot is allowed on Isabel Wetland Wildlife Area for all species.



TEXAS LAKE - Last Updated: 2/9/2023

Waterfowl numbers Approx. 6,000 ducks. Mainly mallard, other species seen throughout week of 2/6
Water levels Currently, there is water in pools 1, 2, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9.  There is also water north of pool 6. 
Hunting conditions The 2nd segment of the low plains early zone duck season runs 12/17/22-1/1/23
Expected hunting success  
Comments

Teal Season (Low Plains Zone):  9/10/22 - 9/25/22

Youth, Veteran, Active Military Waterfowl (Low Plains Early Zone):  10/1/22 - 10/2/22

Regular Ducks (Low Plains Early Zone):  10/8/22 - 12/4/22 and 12/17/22 -1/1/23

Daily check-in and harvest reporting is required

Check-in/Check-out on The Web

  1. Visit https://ksoutdoors.com/checkin
  2. Click the “Check-in/Check-out” link in the top menu

Check-in/Check-out on The App

  1. Download “Go Outdoors KS” from the Apple or Google Play store
  2. Click “Check-in/Check-out”
  3. Select a location
  4. Login with KDWP credentials
  5. Complete and submit “Check-in" form

Only non-toxic shot is allowed for all shotgun hunting at Texas Lake Wildlife Area.