Southwest
This is a collection of all the Southwest Waterfowl Report
CHEYENNE BOTTOMS - Last Updated: 9/12/2025
| Waterfowl numbers | Increasing number of ducks, mostly bluewing teal. Higher than normal number of big ducks like wood duck, shovelers, redheads, gadwall, and mallards. Few Canada Geese. 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-30", Pool 1B-30", Pool 1C-30" Pool 2-some shallow water Pool 3A-15" Pool 3B-dry, Pool 4A-11", water is being added Pool 4B-18" Pool 5-dry. Pool 5 will be open for teal season. Currently there is no water, but a very minimal amount may be added. Diverting as much water as allowed from the Arkansas River, Dry Creek, and Walnut Creek. Cheyenne Bottoms has no ground water pumps to fill pools. |
| Hunting conditions | Pool 2- 60 acres of wheat in the pool. Blind islands are being rebuilt as conditions allow. Pool 3B- 135 acres of wheat in the pool, very little moist soil production. Pool 3A- decent moist soil production. Hunting holes and access trails mowed throughout. 4A- decent moist soil production. Hunting holes and access trails mowed throughout. 4B- 75 acres of millet planted, fair food production. Hunting holes and access trails mowed throughout. 5- good food production. All blind islands in 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B have been rebuilt. |
| Expected hunting success | Fair. Need more rain over the Walnut Creek and Arkansas River basins in order to continue to divert to hunting pools. |
| Comments | BE AWARE STAFF ARE SEEING A LARGE NUMBER OF RATTLESNAKES ALONG THE DIKES AND ON ISLANDS SINCE WATER WAS ADDED TO THE HUNTING POOLS. HUNTERS CAN CHECK IN VIA THE GOOUTDOORSKS APP OR THE WEBSITE. ALL BOATS MUST BE OPERATED AT NO WAKE SPEEDS. 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 NO WATER VESSELS , MOTORIZED OR NONMOTORIZED, ALLOWED EXCEPT DURING AN OPEN WATERFOWL SEASON. 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. For waterfowl season dates, Cheyenne Bottoms is in the Low Plains Early Zone. |
ISABEL - Last Updated: 9/12/2025
| Waterfowl numbers | Very few teal and wood ducks observed in the area |
| Water level | The main lake has shallow water. The pool south of the main lake is nearly dry as is the pool to the east side of the county road. The pool along Hwy. 42 is full. |
| Hunting conditions | |
| Expected hunting success | |
| Comments | Teal Season (Low Plains Zone): September 13 - September 21, 2025 Youth, Veteran, Active Military Waterfowl (Low Plains Late Zone): October 18-19, 2025 Ducks (Low Plains Late Zone): November 1, 2025 - January 4, 2026 (first segment) Daily check-in and harvest reporting is required Check-in/Check-out on The Web
Check-in/Check-out on The App
Only non-toxic shot is allowed on Isabel Wetland Wildlife Area for all species. |
TEXAS LAKE - Last Updated: 9/12/2025
| Waterfowl number | Very few teal observed in the general area yet. |
| Water levels | Pool 1 is nearly full and is a mix of wild millet and smartweed with mowed openings. Pools 2, 3B, 3D, 3F, 5, 6, 7, & 9 have water. These pools have been wet since June and have a lot of vegetation with small open water areas. Pools 4 & 8 are dry and likely will be through teal season as the well used to pump water to these pools is being repaired. |
| Hunting conditions | |
| Expected hunting success | |
| Comments | Teal Season (Low Plains Zone): 9/13/25 - 9/21/25 Youth, Veteran, Active Military Waterfowl (Low Plains Early Zone): 9/27/25 & 9/28/25 Regular Ducks (Low Plains Early Zone): 10/11/25 - 12/7/25 and 12/20/25 -1/4/26 Daily check-in and harvest reporting is required Check-in/Check-out on The Web
Check-in/Check-out on The App
Only non-toxic shot is allowed for all shotgun hunting at Texas Lake Wildlife Area. |