Cheney Wildlife Area

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Cheney Alert

Cheney Shooting Range is closed for the season.

No vehicles, including ATV, UTV, and E-Bikes are allowed to drive on the lakebed or off maintained roads.

The Reservoir covers 9,537 surface acres and has 67 miles of shoreline. Its 849 square mile drainage basin encompasses parts of five counties: Reno, Stafford, Pratt, Sedgwick, and Kingman. The Wildlife Area consists of 5,439 terrestrial acres and 4,109 aquatic acres. The terrestrial acres consist of approximately 1,700 acres of cropland and 3,740 acres of prairie grasslands and riparian woodlands. The area also includes 2 miles of the North Fork of the Ninnescah River, 2 managed ponds, 1 strip pond, and several small streams that flow into the Reservoir. 22 miles of access roads traverse the Area.

Facilities

DeWeese Park

Type of Facility: Primitive Camping
Location of Facility: N37 48.913 W97 53.253
Also located at DeWeese Park is a boat ramp and vault toilet.

Yoder Fishing Jetty

Type of Facility: Jetty
This facility is ADA accessible
Location of Facility: N37 48.038 W97 52.711

Fish Cove

Type of Facility: Primitive Camping
This facility is ADA accessible
Location of Facility: N37 48.110 W97 51.959
Also located at the Fish Cove Camping Area is a parking lot, boat ramp, toilet, dock, and a jetty.

Red Bluffs

Type of Facility: Boat Ramp
This facility is ADA accessible
Location of Facility: N37 46.610 W097 48.454
Also located next to the Boat Ramp is a parking lot, vault toilet, dock, and jetty.
The Red Bluffs Area will be closed to the public from September 11 thru the 12 to allow for the training of department personal.

Cheney Shooting Range

Type of Facility: Shooting Range
This facility is ADA accessible
Location of Facility: 1001 E Parallel Rd. Pretty Prairie, KS 67570

Range Amenities

Shooting benches, target backers, and target tacks are provided for the two ranges: a 100-yard and 25-yard range. An accessible bench and vault toiled are provided on each range.

Rifles and pistols may be used on either range, but shotguns are not allowed. Users of the range need only bring firearms, ammunition, and paper targets. Adult shooters must fill out a registration form once per season. All adult shooters must sign the daily log in sheet. Permits are available at the range.

Hours of Operation

October 25, 2025 through December 7, 2025

Saturdays
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sundays
1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Range Rules

Law Enforcement certified officers operate the range when open.

Please read and understand all posted range rules before shooting.

This is a marksmanship range, no rapid fire allowed.
.50 BMG rifles/rounds and exploding targets are not allowed.
Muzzleloaders are allowed
Armor-piercing and tracer rounds are prohibited. Armor-piercing ammunition includes but is not limited to: M2 .30-06 163gr., M61 7.62 NATO 150.5gr., M993 7.62 126.6gr., M995 5.56x45mm NATO 52gr., FNP80 7.62 150gr., AP485 .338 Lapua Magnum 248gr., S.m.K. 7.92x57 Mauser 178.25gr..
When open, the range is only available Friday through Sunday. Public access to the range is strictly prohibited Monday through Thursday.
Target practice anywhere else on the wildlife area is strictly prohibited and heavily enforced. This includes BB guns, paint ball guns, and archery equipment.

Wenzel Cove

Type of Facility: Boat Ramp
This facility is ADA accessible
Location of Facility: N37 45 46.37 W97 52 29.78
Located next to the Boat Ramp is also a parking lot, vault toilet, docks, and jetty.

Area Office

Type of Facility: Office
This facility is ADA accessible
Location of Facility: N37 48.365 W097 51.763

Special Regulations

All statewide Public Lands Regulations are in effect at Cheney. Some of the most often violated regulations include the following:

Target practice is allowed only at the designated shooting range (see special features).
Vehicles must remain on maintained roads and parking areas. No off-road vehicle use, including ATV’s and UTV's
Quiet hours on the area are from 11:00PM to 6:00AM.
A “No Trash” policy is in effect. All trash must be taken with you when you leave the area.
Dogs not engaged in the act of hunting must be secured on a leash or tether chain of not more than 10 feet in length.
Fireworks are prohibited
Tree stands or blinds must be portable/temporary or constructed with natural vegetation at the site. Stands may not be placed more than 14 days prior to the opening of that season and must be removed within 14 days of the close of that season.
See Public Lands Regulations Summary for complete listing

Read a complete list of Public Land Regulations or you can download the regulation summary.

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