Hunting and Fishing in Cheyenne County

Migratory (Mourning, white-winged): Sept. 1 – Nov. 29 each year. Daily bag limit: 15 (The daily bag limit applies to mourning and white-winged doves, single species or in combination. Possession limit: 45

Exotic (Eurasian collared, ringed turtle): Year-round. Daily bag limit: No limit. Possession limit: No limit

West Zone: Oct. 17 – Dec 13, 2026, Oct. 16 – Dec 12, 2027 and Oct 21 – Dec 17, 2028

Youth/Disability:

2026: November 7-8, 2026

2027: November 6-7, 2027

2028: November 4-5, 2028

Regular:

Second Saturday in November through January 31 

2028-2029: November 11, 2028-January 31, 2029

2026-2027: November 14, 2026-January 31, 2027

2027-2028: November 13, 2027-January 31, 2028

PHEASANT

• Area Open: Statewide
• Daily Bag Limit: 4 cocks in regular season
• NOTE: Pheasants in possession for transportation must retain intact a foot, plumage, or some part that will determine sex.

 QUAIL

• Area Open: Statewide
• Daily Bag Limit: 8 in regular season

Date: September 15 through January 31 annually

Location: Greater Prairie Chicken Unit

• Daily Bag Limit: 2 

June 1 through February 28 of following year, each year

2028-2029: June 1, 2028-February 1, 2029

2026-2027: June 1, 2026-February 28, 2027

2027-2028: June 1, 2027-February 28, 2028

Year-round

• Cottontail & Jackrabbit
• Regular: All year
• Area Open: Statewide
• Daily bag limit: 10
• Possession limit: 30

November 10-March 10 each year

Youth/Disability:

April 1 through the day before the start of the Regular Season

• 2026: April 1-14, 2026
• 2027: April 1-13, 2027
• 2028: April 1-11, 2028
• 2029: April 1-17, 2029

Archery:

First Monday after the first Saturday in April through the day before the Regular season

• 2026: April 6-14, 2026
• 2027: April 5-13, 2027
• 2028: April 3-11, 2028
• 2029: April 9-17, 2029

Regular:

Second Wednesday after the first Saturday in April through May 31

• 2026: April 15-May 31, 2026
• 2027: April 14-May 31, 2027
• 2028: April 12-May 31, 2028
• 2029:  April 18-May 31, 2029

Dark Geese (Canada, Cackling, Brant):

First Segment: October 31-November 1, 2026

Second Segment: November 4, 2026-February 14, 2027

Daily Bag Limit

Canada and Cackling Goose (Dark Goose): 6 per day

Light Goose: 50 per day

White Fronted Goose: 2 per day

Light Geese (Ross’, Snow, Blue):

First Segment: October 31-November 1, 2026

Second Segment: November 4, 2026-February 14, 2027

Conservation Order (unlimited daily bag): February 15-April 30, 2027

Daily Bag Limit

Canada and Cackling Goose (Dark Goose): 6 per day

Light Goose: 50 per day

White Fronted Goose: 

First Segment: October 31, 2026-January 3, 2027

Second Segment: January 23-February 14, 2027

Daily Bag Limit

Canada and Cackling Goose (Dark Goose): 6 per day

Light Goose: 50 per day

White Fronted Goose: 2 per day

High Plains Zone –

First Segment: October 10, 2026-January 3, 2027

Second Segment: January 22-31, 2027

Daily Bag Limits

Ducks and Mergansers: any combination of 6 ducks and/or mergansers, with species and sex restrictions as follows – 5 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be female mallards), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, and 2 scaup.

Coot: 15 coots

DUCK LIMITS

6 ducks, any combination of six ducks and/or mergansers which may include no more than five mallards (only two of which may be hens), three wood ducks, two redheads, two canvasbacks, one scaup and one pintail.

September 19-27, 2026

Daily Bag Limit

6 teal, any combination

Youth/Disability:

First Saturday of September and continuing a total of 9 days

• 2026: September 5-13, 2026
• 2027: September 4-12, 2027
• 2028: September 2-10, 2028

Muzzleloader:

Second Monday following the first Saturday in September and continuing a total of 14 days

• 2026: September 14-27, 2026
• 2027: September 13-26, 2027
• 2028: September 11-24, 2028

Archery:

Regular Archery

Second Monday following the first Saturday in September through December 31

• 2026: September 14-December 31, 2026
• 2027: September 13-December 31, 2027
• 2028: September 11-December 31, 2028

Extended Archery Whitetail Antlerless Only (WAO), Unit 19 Only

Third Monday following January 4 and continuing through January 31

• 2027: January 25-31, 2027
• 2028: January 24-31, 2028
• 2029: January 22-31, 2029

Firearms:

Wednesday following Thanksgiving and continuing a total of 12 days 

• 2026: December 2-13, 2026
• 2027: December 1-12, 2027
• 2028: November 29-December 10, 2028

Extended Whitetail Antlerless Only (WAO)

• 1st Segment, Unit 3 Only: January 1 through the first Sunday after January 3
  •  2027: January 1-10, 2027
  • 2028: January 1-9, 2028
  • 2029: January 1-7-2029
• 2nd Segment, Units 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 16: January 1 through the second Sunday after January 3
  •  2027: January 1-17, 2027
  • 2028: January 1-16, 2028
  • 2029: January 1-14, 2029
• 3rd Segment, Units 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 19: January 1 through the third Sunday after January 3
  •  2026: January 1-24, 2027
  • 2027: January 1-23, 2028
  • 2028: January 1-21, 2029
• No extended WAO in Units 1, 2, 17, and 18

Open Hunting and Trapping Season

 January 1-December 31 each year

Night Vision Season

September 1 through March 31 of the following year excluding antlered deer firearm seasons (which are the first Saturday of September and continuing for a total of 23 days, and the Wednesday following Thanksgiving and continuing for a total of 12 days.)

3rd Segment: December 11, 2028-March 31, 2029

2026-2027

1st Segment: September1-4, 2026,

2nd Segment: September 28-December 1, 2026, and

3rd Segment: December 14, 2026-March 31, 2027

2027-2028

 1st Segment: September 1-3, 2027

2nd Segment: September 27-November 30, 2027

3rd Segment: December 13, 2027-March 31, 2028

2028-2029

 1st Segment: September 1, 2028

2nd Segment: September 25-November 28, 2028

July 1 through October 31 each year

• Daily bag limit: 8
• Possession limit: 24

June 1 through February 28 of following year, each year

2028-2029: June 1, 2028-February 1, 2029

2026-2027: June 1, 2026-February 28, 2027

2027-2028: June 1, 2027-February 28, 2028

• Area Open: Statewide
• Daily bag limit: 5
• Possession limit: 20

EAGLE CONVENIENCE STORE #12 – License/Permit Agent
218 EAST HWY 36
ST FRANCIS, KS 67756
(785) 332-3222

MAJESTIC SERVICE – License/Permit Agent
405 S RIVER
ST. FRANCIS, KS 67756
(785) 332-2905

CHEYENNE COUNTY CLERK – License/Permit Agent
212 E. WASHINGTON
ST. FRANCIS, KS 67756
(785) 332-8800

EAGLE CONVENIENCE STORE #12 – License/Permit Agent
218 EAST HWY 36
ST FRANCIS, KS 67756
(785) 332-3222

MAJESTIC SERVICE – License/Permit Agent
405 S RIVER
ST. FRANCIS, KS 67756
(785) 332-2905

CHEYENNE COUNTY CLERK – License/Permit Agent
212 E. WASHINGTON
ST. FRANCIS, KS 67756
(785) 332-8800

• Lifetime Senior Resident Hunt/Fish Combination: $42.50
• Senior Resident Fish: $12.50
• Senior Resident Combination Hunt/Fish: $22.50
• Resident 1-Day Fish License: $3.50
• Resident Fishing: $25.00
• Resident Combination Fish & Hunt: $45.00
• 5 Year Resident Fish License: $100.00

• Nonresident Fishing: $75.00
• Nonresident Combination Fish & Hunt: $190.00
• Nonresident Five-Day Fishing: $25.00
• Nonresident 1-Day Fishing: $10.00

• Trout Permit: $17.50 (adult), $4.50 (youth)
• Paddlefish Permit: $10.00
• Youth (15 and younger) Paddlefish Permit: $7.50
• Handfishing Permit: $25.00
• Bass Pass: $12.00
• Three Pole Permit: $6.00

The South Fork Wildlife Area is located 12.5 miles northeast of Saint Francis in Cheyenne County. The area is bisected by the Republican River, and has a mixture of grasslands, crop fields and riparian timber. The grasslands are periodically grazed or burned in the spring to increase range health. Food plots are planted, and many consist of wheat, corn, milo, sunflower, and alfalfa.

White-tailed deer, mule deer and Rio Grande turkeys are transient visitors moving on and off the area throughout the year. Pheasant and quail populations are low but do provide some hunting opportunity. The river bottom can provide some great waterfowl hunting if there is any water in the river during season.  This property allows  multiple opportunities for hunting upland birds, deer, and waterfowl.  Other wildlife are present on the area such as coyotes and rabbits. 

Location: 12.5 miles northeast from St. Francis, KS. From US Hwy 36 and KS. Hwy 27 junction, travel north 5.33 miles and turn East on County Road T.  Continue East 4 miles.  Turn Right and travel .16 miles to River Road.  Turn Left (NE) on River Road and travel 8.5 miles to the wildlife area kiosk and parking area.

  The St. Francis Wildlife Area is located three miles west and two miles south of St. Francis. The area is bisected by the Republican River, and is a mixture of grasslands, crop fields and riparian timber. The grasslands are occasionally grazed or burned in the spring to increase range health. Food plots are planted, and many consist of wheat, corn, milo, sunflower, and alfalfa.

 WILDLIFE 
     White-tailed deer, Mule deer and Rio Grande turkeys are transient visitors moving on and off the area throughout the year. Spring turkey hunting has been known to produce some exciting action! Pheasant, quail and prairie chickens can be found on the area and offer some good upland hunting for the dedicated hunter. Waterfowl numbers fluctuate from year to year depending on the availability of water. The area can produce a good duck hunt when there is water present in the river bottom. During busier seasons wildlife may be driven off the area from pressure. 
 

 FISHING 
     Two sandpits are located on the St. Francis Wildlife Area, one on each side of the river. These pits are stocked with channel catfish, largemouth bass and bluegill. Quality fishing opportunities are limited due to the pressure these ponds receive. The North Pit is open to walk-in fishing only, while the South pit provides easy vehicle access to the shoreline. 

Located 3 miles West and 2 miles South from St. Francis, KS.  One mile West of St. Francis on US Hwy 36, turn south on River Road.  River Road (blacktop) curves Southwest after approximately .5 miles.  Continue on River Road 2.75 miles and turn north on County Rd. 11.  Continue North .5 miles to the parking area. 

History The Saint Francis Wildlife Area is 480 acres of public land located 4 miles Southwest of St. Francis. The Republican River flows through the property and provides some excellent habitat and a diverse population of wildlife. This area is mainly upland with riparian timber along the river and food plots strategically placed throughout.  It offers a great opportunity for all kinds of outdoor recreation.