Kansas Hunting News and More for July 12, 2013

Hunting News
You may wish to get your hunter education class scheduled if you need it for the http://goo.gl/877Z5.  Here you will find the class schedules and locations.

Fall hunting season.  If you were born on or after July 1, 1957 (ever wonder where they come up with dates like this?), you must have this to hunt in Kansas.  Kids 15 and under do not have to take the certification so long as under direct supervision of someone 18 or older who is certified.  More info at

On the Kansas deer hunting front, the KDWPT says they still have nonresident permits remaining in Deer Management Units 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14. As of a couple of days ago there were a little over 900 left. For more information visit http://goo.gl/kgefx.

As a reminder, Kansas hunters looking for public land have a new tool to use at Kansas Public Hunting Land.

Some areas that are not usually accessible to hunters will be open via drwaing.  These hunts see less pressure, more game, and higher success rates.  The application period begins on July 16th.  It closes August 11th.  There are literally hundreds these special hunts available.  For more information visit http://goo.gl/oHCva.

Sad 4th of July News
Five people died during the first week of July in drowing accidents around Kansas.  These kinds of accidents are needless, and following some basic safety rules, as well as obviously eliminating alcohol from the activity, would prevent the vas majority of them.  We are sorry for the victims and their families. For more details on this and some basic water safety rules, visit http://goo.gl/0LeV6





   

Related articles

• Finding Public Hunting Land in Kansas (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Planning Deer Hunts on Public Land (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Finding Public Land to Hunt in Kansas (outdoorsmidwest.wordpress.com)
• Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission Rejects Proposed Coyote Hunting Change (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Firearm Antelope Application Deadline June 14 (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Time to get Managed Deer Hunt Application in for Missouri Hunters - July 1 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Deer Drawing Hunts for Indiana (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Indiana Deer Licenses now Easier to find Online (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Application Deadline for Limited Resident Elk Permits July 12 (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)

Planning Deer Hunts on Public Land

Over at family-outdoors.com, our highest traffic page for quite some time has been the one on Missouri Public Land Hunting.  The page was born as a result of some frustration in researching Missouri

Conservation Areas.  Essentially. the deal was that the setup by MDC made it rather difficult to find what you needed.  As a result of a similar experience, I am just about done creating a similar resource for Kansas hunters researching public land options in their state.

About a week away from rolling out the page, I have a couple of comments about what I have learned in using the KDWPT site.  First, there is a ton of information available.  However, from my perspective it is not always as well organized as it could be so that a hunter can find what he or she needs easily.  In fact, many of the links to webpages that are supposed to lead the user to Wildlife Area pages are dead links.  With some research, I have found that the pages are still active, just not properly linked to KDWPT's main site.

The idea behind the page will be that a hunter can look up what what public hunting areas are available, either by Region (Kansas divides the state into 5 regions), or by County - and they can do all this off of one page.

One observation I must make is that Kansas has a decided lack of public hunting ground in comparison to Missouri.  The main focus of our main site is to provide information to outdoorsmen and women about getting into the outdoors at a reasonable cost.  The Knasas hunter who does not own land , have land leased, or does not have connections to get on private ground will really need to do some initial research to find quality public land hunting experiences.

My goal with the design of this page is to assist Kansas hunters in having this quality hunting experience.  The outdoors CANNOT be left to only those with a fat wallet.  Despite some limitations on public land resources, I believe that any hunter willing to do the initial online reserach, followed by on-the-ground scouting, can gain this experience.  I believe this page will help hunters in this endeavor.

I will post on this blog when the page is complete - hopefully in the next week to assit hunters preparing for the upcoming hunting season.

2012 KANSAS HUNTING REGULATIONS SUMMARY ONLINE SEPT. 24

Printed copies available in early September
PRATT — Printed copies of the 2012 Kansas Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary will be available at Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) offices and license vendors around the state about the first of September, but hunters can view or download the summary beginning Aug. 24 at the KDWPT website, ksoutdoors.com. Type “Hunting Regulations” in the search box or click on “Hunting” then “Hunting Regulations.”

As always, this year's booklet contains several new regulations. In addition to changes in season dates, significant new regulations include the following:

Big game animals

• Crossbows may be used during the archery season by hunters who possess a youth big game permit valid during the archery season and hunters 55 and older who possess a big game permit valid during the archery season.
• In a two-year pilot project, any person with an archery or any season deer permit valid in deer management units 1, 12, 15, and 19 may use a crossbow during deer archery season, regardless of age or disability. Each person age 16 through 54 shall obtain a free crossbow hunter survey number from the KDWPT website before hunting with a crossbow during archery season.

Migratory birds

• Doves shall only be taken while in flight.
• Legal shooting hours for sandhill cranes are from sunrise to sunset throughout the season.

2013 Senior license exemption

• On Jan. 1, 2013, hunters age 65-74 will be required to have a hunting license. A reduced-price lifetime combination hunting/fishing license or a half-price annual fishing, annual hunting, or combination annual license will be available.

Upland game

• The Southwest Prairie Chicken Unit now includes that area west of U.S. Highway 281 and south of Hwy 96. The Northwest Unit includes that area west of U.S. Highway 281 and north of Highway 96 and will offer an early season, Sept. 15-Oct. 15.
• Prairie chicken hunters must purchase a $2.50 prairie chicken permit before harvesting a bird this fall.

Public lands (including WIHA)

• Commercial guides must have a permit, available on the KDPWT website, to guide on public lands. The permit is free and must be specific to the land where guiding takes place.
• Baiting while hunting or preparing to hunt is illegal on public lands.
• Only two portable blinds or tree stands are allowed per hunter.
• Portable blinds may not be left unattended overnight.
• Tree stands and portable blinds must be marked with the owner’s name and address or KDWPT number.
• Decoys may not be left unattended overnight.

Turkey

• Management units for fall turkey hunting have changed to six units.

Other regulations are covered in this indispensable booklet. Download a copy as soon as it’s available or pick up a printed copy in early September.

Related articles

• 2012 Kansas Hunting Atlas Coming Soon (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Kdwpt Commission Approves Regulations (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
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• North Dakota Deer Archery Season Opens Aug. 31 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• 6th Annual Tj's Memorial Youth Deer Hunt Sept. 8-9 (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)

KDWPT COMMISSION APPROVES REGULATIONS

Early teal season dates, public land regulations highlight meeting
KANSAS CITY — At a June 24 meeting in Kansas City, the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission approved regulations dealing with hunting deer, migratory birds, and upland game, as well as hunting on public land. The following issues were addressed in regulations:
Deer

• Any person with a deer permit valid during the archery deer season in deer management units 1, 12, 15, and 19 may use a crossbow during deer archery season, regardless of age or disability. Each person age 16 through 54 shall obtain a free crossbow hunter survey number from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism before hunting with a crossbow during archery season.Fort Riley deer season set: archery, Sept. 1-Dec. 31 and Jan. 14-31, 2013; youth/disabled, Sept. 8-16 and Oct. 5-8; and firearms, Nov. 23-25 and Dec. 15-23 and Jan. 19-21, 2013.

Migratory Birds

• Doves may only be taken while in flight.
• Early teal season will run 16 days from Sept. 8-23 in the Low Plains Zone (east of U.S. Highway 283) and nine days from Sept. 15-23 in the High Plains Zone (west of U.S. 283).
• Sandhill crane shooting hours are now sunrise to sunset throughout the season, which runs Nov. 7-Jan. 3, 2013.

Upland Game

• Prairie chicken hunters must purchase a $2.50 prairie chicken permit before harvesting a bird this fall. A random sample of permit holders will receive a questionnaire after the season to assess their hunting activity and success. The early season in the East and Northwest units will run Sept. 15-Oct. 15. The East and Northwest unit regular season will run Nov. 17-Jan. 31, 2013, and the Southwest Unit season will run Nov. 17-Dec. 31.

Public Lands

• Commercial guides must have a permit to guide on public lands. The permit is free and must be specific to the land where guiding takes place.
• Baiting is illegal on public lands. Bait is considered any grain, fruit, vegetable, nut, hay, salt, sorghum, feed, or other food or mineral capable of attracting wildlife. Liquid scents and sprays are not considered bait.
• Only two portable blinds or tree stands are allowed per hunter on public lands.
• Portable blinds and tree stands must be marked with the owner’s name and address or KDWPT number. Portable blinds may not be left unattended overnight on public lands.
• Decoys may not be left unattended overnight on public lands.

The commission also passed a regulation to continue the moratorium on commercial harvest of mussels for 10 years.

Related articles

• Kdwpt Commission Approves Big Game and Turkey Regulations (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Kansas: July 13 Deadline for Resident Elk, Either-species Firearm Deer Permit Applications (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• South Dakota: GFP Finalizes West River and Black Hills Deer Hunting Seasons (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Kansas Nonresident Deer Drawing Complete (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Kdwpt Signing Walk-in Hunting Contracts (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

UNDERAGE DRINKERS TARGETED ON PUBLIC LANDS

KDOT grant to help keep public land users safe

PRATT — Through a grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation, natural resource officers with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism are targeting underage drinkers at Osage and Lyon state fishing lakes and Melvern and Pomona reservoirs this spring. The issue is especially problematic in late spring, when minors gather after prom and graduation festivities for parties on their own.

Similar operations in the past have netted arrests for minors possessing or consuming alcohol, as well as drugs and drug paraphernalia. Numerous cases of beer and other alcoholic beverages were seized and citations were issued. Parents or guardians were notified and required to come to the lakes to pick up their sons and daughters. Additionally, officers arrested and charged several adults with furnishing intoxicants to minors.

Natural resource officers are conducting similar efforts in other parts of the state to keep natural areas safe and clean and to help prevent tragedies that too often occur as a result of alcohol and drug abuse.

For more information, phone the KDWPT Pratt Operations Office, Law Enforcement Division, at 620-672-5911.

Related articles

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SPECIAL SPRING TURKEY HUNT APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE

Image via Wikipedia

Special hunts application deadline March 18; regular season April 11-May 31
PRATT — To encourage youth involvement in turkey hunting, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) will offer special hunts on select state wildlife areas this spring. In addition, KDWPT is joining with private landowners to offer special turkey hunts on private lands. Private land special hunts will be offered in 12 counties — Chase, Clay, Douglas, Leavenworth, Marshall, Osage, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Reno, Riley, Sumner, and Wabaunsee — opening more than 3,700 acres for 83 special hunts.

Public lands special spring turkey hunts will be held on Benedictine Bottoms, Grand Osage, Kansas River Fitzgerald Tract, and Noe (Jackson County) wildlife areas, as well as Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge and Pottawatomie SFL No. 2.

Special hunts range from youth-only and youth-mentor hunts to open hunts. All special hunt opportunities are available by online application and a random drawing. Those applicants who are drawn for a hunt will be notified by email with additional hunt information and their special hunt permit. The online application and hunt information is on the KDWPT website, www.ksoutdoors.com under Hunting/Special Hunts Information. The application deadline is Sunday, March 18.

Access to lands enrolled in these special hunts will be limited to foot traffic only, unless posted otherwise. Each property will have special restrictions for dates allowed and type of hunt that will be listed on the application.

For more information or applications, contact Tina McFerrin, KDWPT, 512 SE 25th Ave., Pratt, KS 67124; phone 620-672-0791; or emailtina.mcferrin@ksoutdoors.com.

The 2012 spring turkey season runs April 11-May 31. Turkey permits allow hunters to use a shotgun, crossbow, or bow throughout the regular season. Archery-only and youth/disabled seasons run concurrently, April 1-10.

Turkey permits for units 1, 2, and 3 may be purchased online from the KDWPT website or over the counter at any license vendor. Detailed information on spring turkey hunting seasons, permits, and fees may be found on the website underHunting/Applications and Fees/Turkey. This page also includes results of the resident-only, limited-draw permit application for Unit 4.

Archery hunters, anyone 16 years old or younger, and those with disability permits may hunt April 1-10. (All youth must have an adult supervisor during the youth season.) Hunters younger than 16 are not required to have hunter education certification to hunt while they are supervised by a person 18 or older, but they must have a turkey permit. (During the regular season, persons age 12 through 15 may hunt without adult supervision if they have completed a certified hunter education course.) Hunter education certification may not be obtained until age 11, and all hunters younger than 12 must have adult supervision to hunt at any time.

A spring turkey atlas showing all public hunting lands and spring Walk-In Hunting Access program lands will be available at KDWPT offices and the KDWPT website in late March.

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• 2012 ReservedIndiana: Youth Turkey Hunt opportunities on DNR properties (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Three Kansas Deer Confirmed Positive in Early Stages of Cwd Testing (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Managed turkey hunt application deadline is Feb. 29 (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)

KANSAS WILDLIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM COMMISSION TO MEET JAN. 5

Image via Wikipedia

Workshop items include big game and deer regulations

PRATT — The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission will conduct a public meeting and hearing on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012, at Kansas Wesleyan University’s Hauptli Student Center, 100 E. Claflin Ave. in Salina. 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
• 2012 legislative agenda
• Commissioner Big Game Permit drawing
• Tourism Division briefing
• Update on the Voluntary Public Access/Habitat Improvement Program
• Status report on the upland bird season
• Wildlife rehabilitation briefing

The afternoon workshop session will include discussion of preliminary recommendations on the following regulations in preparation for potential future regulatory action:

• Big game permanent regulations
• Potential changes in deer regulations for 2012
• Big game 25-Series regulations – deer
• Big game 25-Series regulations – elk/antelope
• Falconry regulations; and
• Fall turkey regulations.

The commission will recess at 5 p.m., then reconvene at 7 p.m. at the same location for discussion on Public Land regulations and to conduct a public hearing to set the Free Park Entrance and Free Fishing days.

There will be time 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 Jan. 5 and reconvene at the same location at 9 a.m., Jan. 6, to complete unfinished business.

Live video and audio streaming of this meeting will be broadcast through the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism website, www.kdwpt.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, Parks and Tourism Commission secretary at 620-672-5911.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for March 22 in Topeka at the Kansas Museum of History, 6425 SW 6th Avenue.

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