KANSAS NONRESIDENT DEER APPLICATION PERIOD OPEN

Nonresidents must apply online for limited deer permits

PRATT – Nonresidents who want to hunt deer in Kansas this fall must apply online for the limited number of nonresident deer permits by April 25, 2014. Season information, www.ksoutdoors.com.

application instructions, permit quotas, as well as last year’s drawing statistics can all be viewed on the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s (KDWPT) website,

Just more than 22,000 nonresident white-tailed deer combo permits were authorized for 2014, the same as last year. In addition, 266 mule deer stamps are allocated in Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 16, 17 and 18. Nonresidents who wish to hunt mule deer must apply for a mule deer stamp. If they draw a muzzleloader or archery whitetail permit in one of these units, they will then be entered into the drawing for a mule deer stamp. Those who draw a mule deer stamp will receive a combo permit valid for one white-tailed or mule deer, buck or doe, and one white-tailed antlerless deer.

Only online applications will be accepted, and applicants will be taken through the process step-by-step on KDWPT’s website. General nonresident white-tailed deer combo permits are $346.96, including application and convenience fees. The Mule Deer Stamp is $102.50. Nonresident youth white-tailed deer combo permits (hunters 15 and younger) are $116.34. All nonresident permits are combo permits and include one either-sex whitetail tag and one antlerless whitetail only tag.

For more information go to www.ksoutdoors.com or phone 620-672-0728.

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2014 COMISSION BIG GAME PERMIT WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Being awarded a Commission Big Game Permit can mean big fundraising dollars for

conservation-based nonprofits

PRATT – On Jan. 9, 2014, a total of seven conservation-based nonprofit organizations were awarded a Commission Big Game Permit at the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s commission public meeting held at Southwestern College in Winfield. A total of 99 successful applications were received for the seven highly-sought after permits consisting of one elk, one antelope, and five deer permits. Because each organization is asked to rank each permit by first choice through last choice, a total of one elk and six deer permits were awarded this year. In order to be considered for this drawing, applicants had to be a Kansas-based nonprofit organization that works to promote wildlife conservation, as well as hunting and fishing.

2014 Commission Big Game Permit winners are as follows:

ELK PERMIT

RMEF - Traveling Committee

DEER PERMITS

Ducks Unlimited - Cloud County Chapter

Quail & Upland Wildlife Federation, Inc. - Kaw Valley

Quail & Upland Wildlife Federation, Inc.

Friends of NRA - South Central KS - Pratt #KS-18

Friends of NRA - Sunflower State #KS-30

Deer: Friends of NRA - Tri Valley #KS-36

The winning applicants received the permit in the form of a voucher. Typically these vouchers are sold to the highest bidder, who can then exchange the voucher for their designated big game permit through the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) licensing section. Once a voucher is sold, the price of the permit and 85 percent of the total is returned to KDWPT. The conservation group keeps 15 percent to spend at its discretion. After a conservation project is approved, the 85 percent is returned to the group to fund the project.

Past projects include Pass It On activities, Hunter Education courses, habitat development and restoration, as well as archery and shooting clinics for youth and adults.

For more information on the Commission Big Game Permit program, or instructions on how to apply for 2015, contact commission secretary Sheila Kemmis at (620) 672-0702.

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FIREARM DEER SEASON OPENS DECEMBER 4

Hunters can register deer online atksoutdoors.com

PRATT ­– Dec. 4 marks the first day of firearm deer season this year and with new regulations giving hunters greater flexibility than ever before, the season offers something for anyone Dec. 4-15, hunters will have the opportunity to hunt deer with any centerfire rifle and handgun; any gauge shotgun using slugs; and any legal muzzleloading rifle, musket, or pistol .40 caliber or larger. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

willing to weather the cold. From

For those who possess a valid deer permit, but have yet to fill a tag, time isn’t up yet as any unfilled permit is valid during the firearm season; however, either-species, nonresident and some antlerless permits are restricted to the deer management units listed on the permit. In addition to their deer permit, all hunters, unless exempt by law, must also have a Kansas hunting license. Hunters with archery permits must use archery equipment and hunters with muzzleloader permits must use muzzleloaders, crossbows are archery equipment.

During the firearm season, all hunters must wear hunter orange clothing consisting of an orange hat and an orange vest that shows 100 square inches from the front and 100 square inches from the back. Camouflage orange clothing is legal if the number of square inches of orange is visible.

If you are a resident hunter and have yet to purchase a permit, you may do so wherever licenses are sold and online. Permits aren’t valid until the next calendar day after purchase. Hunters must possess a permit that allows the harvest of a buck before they are eligible to purchase antlerless permits.

Hunters should remember that all deer must be tagged before moving the carcass from the kill site. Certain permits, such as an antlerless whitetail permit, require that the head remain attached to the carcass during transport for sex identification. However, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism offers a voluntary option that allows hunters to register their deer through the Internet, using photos taken at the harvest site. Once registered, the hunter may then transport the carcass without the head attached. If Internet access is unavailable at the kill site, the hunter can retain the photographs while in transit and a registration number can be obtained later. To access the electronic deer check-in, go online to the KDWPT website, www.ksoutdoors.com, and click “Hunting/Big Game/Deer/Deer Check-in.”

To ensure everyone enjoys a safe deer hunt, hunters must remember basic firearm safety rules including knowing their target and what lies beyond it and always wearing the required hunter orange. Hunters must have permission to hunt on any private land, whether it is posted or not. The 2012 Kansas Hunting Atlas features maps showing all public and Walk-In Hunting Access areas is available wherever licenses are sold and online at www.ksoutdoors.com.

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SEASON OF GIVING STARTS EARLY FOR SOME DEER HUNTERS

One donated deer can create as many as 200 meals at a local food pantry

PRATT ­– The holidays are often a time when we reflect back on all that we are given, and in the state of Kansas, we are fortunate enough to have an abundance of natural resources, including a healthy and stable big game population. And because of this abundant resource, hunters in Kansas have opportunities unmatched by other states, such as the ability to obtain as many as five whitetail

antlerless deer permits, in addition to an either-sex permit, in some areas of the state.

Under the right conditions, a hunter’s freezer can quickly fill up with a surplus of game meat, far more than they can consume by next season. This is where the Kansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry (KSHFH) comes in. KSHFH is a nonprofit organization that is the conduit for hunters to donate deer and provide food for hungry Kansans. With the help of hunters, meat processors, and private donors, KSHFH annually provides thousands of meals to those in need. Last year, hunters donated 997 deer and 17 elk to nearly 40 meat lockers, putting food on the tables of nearly 100 food banks across the state.

“Our goal for this year is to see 1,200 deer donated and processed, and served at 160 food pantries throughout the state,” said KSHFH President, Tony DeRossett. “Too often we run out of money before we can pay for all of the processing, but I am optimistic our new donation system will make it easier for people to contribute to the organization’s efforts and make our goal a reality this year.”

DeRossett said that the annual cost of processing the donated deer is approximately $70,000.

New for 2014, money donations can be made to KSHFH by texting “DEER” to 91011. A reply text will then ask for credit card information, including the donation amount. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism also makes supporting this program easy. When outdoorsmen and women buy licenses, permits, or stamps, they can donate $2 to fund the program, which the agency collects for KSHFH. Donations made by check can also be mailed to KSHFH at 17811 Donahoo Rd., Tonganoxie, KS, 66086.

KSHFH invites hunters to donate any legally-harvested deer, antelope, elk, or moose to one of the more than 40 participating meat processors around the state found at www.kshfh.org/lockers. It’s always a good idea to call ahead before taking your deer to a processor, but walk-ins are welcome. There is no cost to donate your deer as long as the KSHFH organization has sufficient funding to cover the processing expense. Donated game must be field dressed and legally tagged.

For more information on how you can help, visit www.kshfh.org.

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FIRST EVER PRE-RUT WHITETAIL ANTLERLESS SEASON OPENS OCT. 12

Firearm deer hunters will have an additional opportunity to take antlerless whitetails during

this special two-day season

PRATT – As part of a legislative mandate last year that required the state of Kansas to open a pre-rut firearm deer season, deer hunters may now hunt white-tailed antlerless deer Oct. 12-13, 2013. This new two-day season has been designed as an effort to create additional opportunities for hunters wishing to take antlerless whitetails.

After careful consideration, several commission meetings, and input from the public, it was decided that a two-day season over Oct.12-13 would provide a unique opportunity without infringing on established traditional seasons. During this two-day season, any permit that allows the harvest of a white-tailed antlerless deer is valid during this season. Equipment and unit restrictions listed on permits will still be in effect, and all deer hunters are required to wear hunter orange.

For more information, consult the 2013 Kansas Hunting and Furharvesting Regulation Summary, or visitksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting / Hunting Regulations.”

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DEER SEASON DEBUTS WITH ARCHERY AND MUZZLELOADER

Hunters are always encouraged to refer to the 2013 Kansas Hunting & Furharvesting before hitting the field

Regulations Summary

PRATT­ – For some, the beginning of fall is heralded by leaves changing colors, for others it’s cooler temperatures and shorter days, but for hunters fall is marked by the start of deer season. In less than two weeks, hunters will take to tree stands and blinds throughout the state, bow in hand and powder horn packed.

The 2013 muzzleloader season will begin Sept. 16 and run through Sept. 29. New this year, hunters are allowed to use muzzleloading rifles, muskets and pistols, .40 caliber or larger.

The 2013 archery season will begin Sept. 16 and run through Dec. 31. New this year, crossbows are legal archery equipment for all archers. However, anyone who hunts big game or turkeys with a crossbow must obtain a free Crossbow Survey ID Number available online at www.ksoutdoors.com.

Hunter orange, a hat and vest, must be worn by all hunters during the muzzleloader season, and shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

The next deer season will be the new two-day Pre-rut Whitetail Antlerless Only season from Oct. 12 - Oct. 13, 2013, followed by the Regular Firearm season Dec. 4 - Dec. 15, 2013.

To download an electronic version of the 2013 Kansas Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, visitksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting / Hunting Regulations.” Printed copies can be found at local license vendors and at any Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism regional office.

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NEW REGULATIONS CREATE GREATER FLEXIBILITY FOR HUNTERS

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) adopted a total of six regulations at the Mar. 21 commission meeting in Topeka. The newly-adopted changes simplify hunting regulations, allow more flexibility in legal equipment, and most importantly, provide additional opportunities for individuals interested in outdoor recreation.

Commissioners approved a recommendation to establish a fee for a nonresident combination either-sex/antlerless only whitetail permit, as directed by the 2012 legislature. The new permit fee was set at $315

KDWPT commissioners approve several changes related to legal hunting equipment

and will provide nonresidents applicants successful in the drawing with a permit that includes two carcass tags, one valid for an antlered white-tailed deer or an antlerless deer and one for a white-tailed antlerless deer. The combo permit will be the only choice for nonresidents.

KDWPT staff also recommended simplified equipment regulations for big game and turkey that were approved. Big game hunters can now select any caliber centerfire rifle or handgun, any gauge shotgun with slugs, and any muzzleloader rifle and pistol .40 caliber or larger. Crossbows are now legal equipment during archery seasons for anyone with a valid archery permit. Turkey hunters are no longer restricted to 20-gauge shotguns or larger. All gauges will be allowed, using shot size No. 2 through No. 9.



Equipment regulations for turkey hunting allowing all shotgun gauges and crossbowsduring the archery season won’t take effect until April 19, 2013. Crossbows will also not be legal for archery hunters during the April 1-9 season (youth and hunters with disabilities can use any legal equipment, except shotguns smaller than 20 gauge).

Restrictions on electronic devices attached to bows were amended, allowing cameras, and rangefinders, as well as radio frequency devices attached to arrows, designed to make retrieval of hit deer more efficient.

The 2013 deer season was approved, including a pre-rut whitetail antlerless-only season mandated by the 2012 legislature, and the dates are as follows:

Youth and Disability, September 7, 2013 – September 15, 2013
Early Muzzleloader, September 16, 2013 – September 29, 2013
Archery, September 16, 2013 – December 31, 2013
Pre-Rut Whitetail antlerless only October 12, 2013 – October 13, 2013
Regular Firearms December 4, 2013 – December 15, 2013
Extended Whitetail antlerless only January 1, 2014 – January 12, 2014
Special Extended Whitetail antlerless only January 13, 2014 – January 19, 2014
Extended Archery (DMU 19) January 20, 2014– January 31, 2014

A complete copy of the aforementioned regulations and their perspective economic impact statements may be obtained electronically by visiting www.ksoutdoors.com, by calling (785) 296-2281, or by writing the chairman of the commission at: Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, 1020 S. Kansas Ave, Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612.

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