PITTSBURG TO HOST JUNE 19 KDWPT COMMISSION MEETING

Public unable to attend can watch the meeting streamed live through ksoutdoors.com 

PRATT – The public is invited to attend an upcoming Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission meeting, June 19 at the Lamplighter Inn & Suites, 4020 Parkview Dr., Pittsburg. The afternoon session will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and reconvene at 6:30 p.m. for the evening session.

The afternoon session will begin with time for public comments on non-agenda items, followed by a general discussion period. Topics covered in the general discussion include: Secretary’s remarks regarding agency and state fiscal status and an update on the 2014 legislature, tourism division activities, 2015 turkey regulations, and information on the mined land restoration project.

Workshop topics for the afternoon session include items that were covered under general discussion during the April meeting. Workshop topics, which will be discussed for potential regulatory action at a future meeting, include park regulations, fishing regulations, late migratory bird seasons, the five-year review of the Kansas Threatened and Endangered Species List, and the use of dogs to track wounded or dead deer.

The commission will recess at 5 p.m., then reconvene at 6:30 p.m. at the same location to discuss any remaining workshop items and begin the public hearing. Public hearing items open for discussion during the evening session include early migratory bird seasons; public land regulations; Ft. Riley deer season dates; big game and wild turkey provisions; and prairie chicken hunting.

Time will be available in both the afternoon and evening sessions for public comment on non-agenda items. If necessary, the commission will reconvene at the same location at 9 a.m., June 20, to complete any unfinished business.

A commercial-free version of live video and audio streaming of commission meetings will be broadcast through ksoutdoors.com.

If notified in advance, the department will have an interpreter available for the hearing impaired. To request an interpreter, call the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Any individual with a disability may request other accommodations by contacting the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission secretary at (620) 672-5911.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for August 21, 2014 at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K157 Hwy, Great Bend.

KANSAS WILDLIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM COMMISSION EXAMINES EARLY MIGRATORY BIRD SEASONS

The 2014 antelope season was approved by the commission at the April 17 meeting

WICHITA – Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) Commissioners heard several topics covering the gamut during the April 17 meeting and public hearing held at the Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita, including discussion of upcoming migratory bird seasons.

During the workshop session, KDWPT migratory game bird program manager, Tom Bidrowski, presented staff recommendations for the upcoming early migratory bird seasons. This item will be presented as a public hearing item for approval at the June 19 meeting in Pittsburg. The June 19 meeting in Pittsburg will take place at the Lamplighter Inn & Suites, 4020 Parkview Dr., at 1 p.m.

Commissioners also discussed the late migratory bird seasons, which will be workshopped at the June 19 meeting and voted on at the August meeting. The August 21 meeting will be conducted in Great Bend at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center.

During the public hearing portion of the April 17 meeting, commissioners approved recommendations for the 2014-2015 antelope seasons as follows:

Firearm & Muzzleloader permit application deadline: June 13, 2014

Archery permit deadline: Oct. 30, 2014

2014 Antelope Season Dates:

• Archery:  Sept. 20 - Sept. 28 and Oct. 11 - Oct. 31, 2014
• Muzzleloader-only:  Sept 29 - Oct. 2, 2014 (Muzzleloader-only permit holders may also hunt during the firearm season.)
• Firearm:  Oct. 3 - Oct. 6, 2014

Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. 

For more information on the 2014-2015 antelope season, visit ksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting / Big Game Information / Antelope.”

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KANSAS WILDLIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM COMMISSION MEETING OCT. 17

Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission to conduct last meeting of the year

PRATT – The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, 1100 N. Plum, Hutchinson, will be the location

of the next Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission public meeting and hearing Oct. 17, 2013. The afternoon session will begin at1:30 p.m. and recess at 5 p.m., with the evening session reconvening at 7 p.m.

The afternoon session will begin with time for public comments on non-agenda items, followed by a general discussion period. Topics covered in the general discussion include: Secretary’s remarks regarding agency and state fiscal status and an update on the 2014 legislature, a briefing on tourism, the Bass Pass program, a series of antelope and elk regulations, and an update on the potential federal listing of lesser prairie chickens.

During the afternoon session, commissioners will workshop items that were covered under general discussion at the August meeting. Workshop topics, which will be discussed for potential regulatory action at a future meeting, include permanent regulations pertaining to big game, a series of deer-specific regulations, and regulations regarding state parks.

The commission will recess at 5 p.m., then reconvene at 7 p.m. at the same location for the public hearing. The public hearing will be focused on youth permit fees; special provisions pertaining to fishing, as well as creel, size, and possession limits, and open season; and spring turkey season, including bag limits, permits, and game tags.

Time will be available in both the afternoon and evening sessions for public comment on topics not on the agenda. If necessary, the commission will reconvene at the same location at 9 a.m., Oct. 18, to complete any unfinished business.

A commercial-free version of live video and audio streaming of commission meetings will be broadcast through the KDWPT website, ksoutdoors.com.

If notified in advance, the department will have an interpreter available for the hearing impaired. To request an interpreter, call the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Any individual with a disability may request other accommodations by contacting the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission secretary at (620) 672-5911.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for Jan. 9, 2014 at Southwestern College, 100 College St., Winfield.

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WILDLIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING AUG. 29

Phone conference scheduled to approve last-minute changes to possession limits for migratory birds

PRATT – The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission will conduct a public hearing through a telephone conference on Thursday, August 29, 2013. The call will begin at 10 a.m., and members of the public can listen online atksoutdoors.com, or attend a satellite location listed below, where public comments may be heard.

The last-minute hearing is necessary to incorporate changes to possession limits in migratory bird hunting regulations for the 2013 seasons. Other than the late migratory bird seasons, which were set Aug. 1, seasons and regulations for doves, sandhill cranes, snipe, rail and woodcock were approved earlier this year. However, when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released frameworks for migratory bird hunting regulations in July, the possession limit for all migratory birds was increased from twice the daily bag limit to three times the daily bag limit. Because potential regulation changes must be given published notice 30 days prior to a public hearing, the impromptu commission meeting was scheduled for Aug. 29. Commissioners will vote on a recommendation to adopt the maximum possession limit of three times the daily bag limit for doves, sandhill cranes, snipe, rail and woodcock as allowed under the USFWS frameworks.

The public is encouraged to listen to or comment during the hearing at any of the following KDWPT locations: Office of the Secretary, 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 200, Topeka; Pratt Operations Office, 512 SE 25th

Ave., Pratt; KDWPT Region 1 Office, 1426 Hwy 183 Alt., Hays; KDWPT Region 2 Office, 300 SW Wanamaker Rd., Topeka; KDWPT Region 3 Office, 1001 W. McArtor, Dodge City; KDWPT Region 4 Office, 6232 E. 29th

St. N, Wichita; Neosho County Community College, 800 W. 14th

St., Oak Room, No. 209, Chanute; KDWPT Kansas City Office, 8304 Hedge Lane Terrace, Shawnee; KDWPT Research and Survey Office, 1830 Merchant, Emporia.

If necessary, the Commission will recess on August 29, 2013, to reconvene August 30, 2013, at 9:00 a.m.

If notified in advance, the department will have an interpreter available for the hearing impaired. To request an interpreter call the Kansas Commission of Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Any individual with a disability may request other accommodations by contacting the Commission Secretary at (620) 672-5911.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 17, 2013, Kansas Cosmosphere, 1100 N. Plum, Hutchinson.

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GARDEN CITY LOCATION OF UPCOMING WILDIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM COMMISSION MEETING

Live, commercial-free video and audio streaming of meetings now available for first time

The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission will conduct a public meeting and hearing on Thursday, June 27, at the Lee Richardson Zoo, 312 Finnup

Dr., Garden City. The afternoon session will begin at 1:30 p.m. and recess at 5 p.m., and the evening session will begin at 7 p.m.

The afternoon session will begin with time for public comments on non-agenda items. The general discussion period will cover the following topics: Secretary’s remarks about agency and state fiscal status and an update on the 2013 legislative session, a briefing on tourism, Spring/Fall 2014 turkey regulations, and youth license and permit fees.

During the afternoon session, commissioners will workshop items that were covered under general discussion at the April meeting. Workshop topics, which will be discussed for potential regulatory action at a future meeting, include regulations pertaining to fishing, parks, late migratory bird seasons, prairie chickens, and an update on the lesser prairie chicken federal listing.

The commission will recess at 5 p.m., then reconvene at 7 p.m. at the same location for the public hearing. The first portion of the public hearing will be devoted to bringing regulations related to agritourism into the KDWPT regulation system. Agritourism duties were transferred to KDWPT in 2011 when Gov. Brownback’s Executive Reorganization Order No. 36 moved the Division of Travel and Tourism into KDWPT. Other regulations that will be voted on include the KAR 115-5 series that deals with furbearers and coyotes. At the April meeting, commissioners heard comments on a recommendation that would prohibit coyote hunting with vehicles and two-way radios during the regular firearm deer season. After discussion, commissioners requested KDWPT staff to bring several options to the June public hearing. Regulations that cover the use of baiting, blinds and tree stands on public lands that required some clean-up will be heard and voted on. Deer season dates for Ft. Riley will be approved, and recommendations for early migratory bird seasons will be heard.

Time will be available in both afternoon and evening sessions for public comment on topics not on the agenda. If necessary, the commission will reconvene at the same location at 9 a.m., June 28, to complete unfinished business.

For the first time, a commercial-free version of live video and audio streaming of commission meetings will be broadcast through the KDWPT website, ksoutdoors.com.

If notified in advance, the department will have an interpreter available for the hearing impaired. To request an interpreter, call the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Any individual with a disability may request other accommodations by contacting the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission secretary at (620) 672-5911.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for August, 1, 2013 at the Woodson County Community Building in Yates Center.

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• Free Fishing Days First Weekend in June (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Webinar to Provide Lesser Prairie Chicken Update (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)

WILDLIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM COMMISSION MEETING AUG. 23 AT GREAT BEND

feral hogs (Photo credit: amy_b)

Duck, goose season dates to highlight public hearing
GREAT BEND — The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission will conduct a public meeting and hearing on Thursday, Aug. 23, at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K156 Highway, northeast of Great Bend. The afternoon session will begin at 1:30 p.m. and recess at 5 p.m., and the evening session will begin at 7 p.m.

The afternoon session will begin with time for public comments on non-agenda items, followed by a general discussion period on the following topics:

• Secretary’s remarks;
• agency and state fiscal status;
• 2013 Legislature;
• feral swine control efforts in Kansas;
• Tourism Division briefing;
• waterfowl management briefing;
• Cheyenne Bottoms signage project; and
• big game permanent regulations.

The afternoon will also include a workshop session, in preparation for potential future regulatory action, covering preliminary recommendations on the following regulations:

• fishing regulations;
• spring turkey regulations;
• park fees;
• alcohol on Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism property;
• scoring methods for poaching penalty;
• senior hunt-fish licenses/pass pricing; and
• agritourism regulations.

The commission will recess at 5 p.m., then reconvene at 7 p.m. at the same location for a public hearing on the following regulations:

• KAR 115-14 series on falconry;
• KAR 115-18-1 — wildlife rehabilitation permit, application, reporting and general provisions, new regulation; and
• late migratory bird seasons.

Time will be set aside in both the afternoon and evening sessions for public comment on topics that are not on the agenda. If necessary, the commission will recess on Aug. 23 and reconvene at the same location at 9 a.m., Aug. 24, to complete unfinished business.

Live video and audio streaming of this meeting will be broadcast through the KDWPT website,ksoutdoors.com.

If notified in advance, the department will have an interpreter available for the hearing impaired. To request an interpreter, call the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Any individual with a disability may request other accommodations by contacting the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission secretary at 620-672-5911.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for Oct. 18 at Flint Oak, 2639 Quail Road, near Fall River.

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WILDLIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 26 IN WICHITA

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Public hearing on fall turkey, antelope, and elk seasons; workshop on early migratory birds, prairie chickens, more
WICHITA — The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission will conduct a public meeting and hearing on Thursday, April 26, at the Great Plains Nature Center Auditorium, 6232 East 29th Street North in Wichita. The afternoon session will begin at 1:30 p.m. and recess at 5 p.m., and the evening session will begin at 7 p.m.
The afternoon session will begin with time for public comments on non-agenda items, followed by a general discussion period on the following topics:

• Secretary’s remarks;
• 2011 legislative update;
• Hunter/Angler Recruitment and Retention Program update, Pass It On Program;
• fishing regulations;
• hand fishing harvest analysis;
• potential changes in deer regulations 2013; and
• late migratory bird seasons.

The afternoon will also include a workshop session, in preparation for potential future regulatory action, covering preliminary recommendations on the following regulations:

• early migratory bird seasons;
• webless migratory birds;
• commercial mussel harvest;
• prairie chicken seasons;
• falconry regulations;
• public land regulations; and
• KAR 115-25-9a — deer open season, bag limit, permits, and additional considerations.

The commission will recess at 5 p.m., then reconvene at 7 p.m. at the same location for a public hearing on the following regulations:

• KAR 115-25-5 — turkey fall season, bag limit, and permits;
• KAR 115-25-7 — antelope open season, bag limit, and permits; and
• KAR 115-25-8 — elk open season, bag limit, and permits.

Time will be set aside in both the afternoon and evening sessions for public comment on topics that are not on the agenda. If necessary, the commission will recess on April 26 and reconvene at the same location at 9 a.m., April 27, to complete unfinished business.
Live video and audio streaming of this meeting will be broadcast through the KDWP website, ksoutdoors.com.
If notified in advance, the department will have an interpreter available for the hearing impaired. To request an interpreter, call the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Any individual with a disability may request other accommodations by contacting the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission secretary at 620-672-5911.
The next commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 21, at Cabela's, 10300 Cabela Dr. in Kansas City, Kan.

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WILDLIFE AND PARKS COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 21 IN WICHITA

Image via Wikipedia

Public hearing on antelope and elk seasons; workshop on deer, fish bait regulations
WICHITA — The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission will conduct a public meeting and hearing on Thursday, April 21, at the Great Plains Nature Center Auditorium, 6232 East 29th Street North in Wichita. The afternoon session will begin at 1:30 p.m. and recess at 5 p.m., and the evening session will begin at 7 p.m.

The afternoon session will begin with time for public comments on on-agenda items, followed by a general discussion period on the following topics:

• Secretary’s remarks;
• 2011 legislative update;
• agency and state fiscal status;
• vehicles on the ice;
• fishing regulations;
• late migratory bird seasons;
• park regulations;
• falconry regulations; and
• K.A.R. 115-16-3 — nuisance bird control permit application, provisions, and requirements.

The afternoon will also include a workshop session, in preparation for potential future regulatory action, covering preliminary recommendations on the following regulations:

• early migratory bird seasons;
• duck zone regulations from 2011 through 2015; and
• furbearer regulations.

The commission will recess at 5 p.m., then reconvene at 7 p.m. at the same location to hear more general public comments on non-agenda items, general discussion of potential changes in deer regulations, and continued workshop discussion on the following topics:

• KAR 115-25-9a, deer — open season, bag limit, permits; and additional considerations; and
• aquatic nuisance species and bait regulations.

This workshop session will be followed by a public hearing on the following regulations:

• KAR 115-25-7, antelope — open season, bag limit, and permits;
• KAR 115-25-8, elk — open season, bag limit, and permits; and
• KAR 115-7-9 — weigh-in black bass fishing tournaments.

Time will be set aside in both the afternoon and evening sessions for public comment on topics that are not on the agenda. If necessary, the commission will recess on April 21 and reconvene at the same location at 9 a.m., April 22, to complete unfinished business.

Live video and audio streaming of this meeting will be broadcast through the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us.

If notified in advance, the department will have an interpreter available for the hearing impaired. To request an interpreter, call the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Any individual with a disability may request other accommodations by contacting the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission secretary at 620-672-5911.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 23, at the Norton Community High School, 103 West Woodsfield in Norton.

Missouri Trout Fishing