Cheyenne Bottoms - Have skiff, will travel

Pete McMiller

Pete McMiller

Well-known member
Leaving for Hays, Kansas in the morning for a couple of weeks with my oldest son and his family as well as hunting Cheyenne Bottoms. If anybody on here is going to be hunting the bottoms in the next couple of weeks, let me know and maybe we can hook up for a shoot. Reports sound great and it looks like the weather is going to hold off the ice for a while.
Region 3
This is a collection of all the Region 3 Waterfowl Report
CHEYENNE BOTTOMS - Last Updated: 11/15/2013
Waterfowl numbers
The recent weather system to hit our area has brought us an influx of birds. We estimate 95,000 to 125,000 total ducks with gadwall, red heads, shoveler and pintail being the predominate species although a good mix of species is present. Goose numbers vary daily, somewhere between 100,000 and 150,000, about equal numbers of snow's, Canada's and white-fronts. Cranes are also moving through with the numbers staying on the Area varying daily, but around 3,000 to 8,000 are not uncommon.
Water level
Pools 1A is about 27 inches, 1B and 1C each are at 31 inches. Pool 2 is near 19 inches, Pools 3A is about 13 inches, 3B, 4A, and 4B average 18 inches each and Pool 5 is about 14 inches.
Hunting conditions
Annual plant production and millet seeding is looking good. Kochia stands are in every Pool, but many openings were made and naturally occurred for hunting opportunities. Roads are in good shape, Overall habitat conditions are very good.
Expected hunting success
For the period Nov 11 thru Nov 15, waterfowl hunters (ducks and geese) have averaged about 3 ducks per hunter and 0.11 goose per hunter. Remember most waterfowl hunters are hunting ducks, not geese, so the goose hunter success rate is likely higher.
Comments
Hunting pools will eventually be held from 16 to 20 inches. Pool 3A will be a primitive pool (no motorized watercraft) for the entire waterfowl season. The whooping cranes that were present late last week have apparently left the area and as a result the goose hunting zones are once again open for light goose and sandhill crane hunting.
 
I saw that Tom, unfortunately I don't own any White Front decoys. Though I would love to check a WF off my list, my primary will be the ducks and their numbers look good also. Looking to have fun, whatever the days bring.
 
Thanks Jim, I certainly will. It is a special place for sure. You can see the water levels are good for wading but what you can't see unless you have been there is that the bottom is hard and easily wadeable when not in the skiff.
 
Pete stop by Rogers in liberty and pick up a four pack:)

Honk when you roll by kearney I will be listening
 
Pete I have a dozen white front field decoys....I will be NW of you a bit starting thanksgiving day.........take me out.....please please....hehe.......JK I gave up duck hunting this year......way to frustrating........
 
Pete I am very jealous of where you will be hunting with this current weather. Knowing that place and the way it is hunted you should be in for a treat. You might be one of three or four parties on the whole dang place!!!! lucky fella
 
Good luck, Pete. Yesterday the wind howled through New Mexico so be careful. There is one huge storm on its way. I wish you well when you get to the Bottoms.
Al
 
Thanks Al but it looks like I'm done. Cold down to 14F and wind gusts to 35 on Thursday so didn't hunt, Friday I scouted another reservoir that turned out to be 22 ft. low and no birds or place to hunt. Today, Saturday, I got to the bottoms early and the first landing was frozen in. Next landing was open so put the skiff in and started paddling ...... until I got around the first bend and everything was froze. Scouted the rest of the pools and saw some ducks and a lot of geese. 99% of the ducks were spoonies and all morning I only saw ONE mallard and 6 pintails. I heard that the bottoms were fantastic "just before I got here" - oh well. I had hoped to see some new birds this morning but it wasn't to be, apparently they are still up north. The weather doesn't look conducive to a thaw until at least Weds and maybe not until Friday.
 
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