YOUTH INVITED TO HUNT TURKEY AT JEFFREY ENERGY CENTER

Applications will be accepted through March 14, or until all spots are filled

TOPEKA – Westar Energy invites youth age 12-17 to participate in a spring turkey hunt, April 1-20, at Jeffrey Energy Center, located seven miles north of St. Marys. The event is open to all youth who meet the age requirement and have yet to harvest a turkey. Participants must be accompanied by an adult mentor, preferably one who does not have turkey hunting experience.  Participants will need a shotgun; however, no special clothing, calls or decoys will be required. Hunters 15 years and younger must purchase a youth spring turkey permit. Hunters 16 years and older will need a unit three turkey permit, hunting license and hunter education card.

Participants will hunt from enclosed blinds around small crop fields scattered over the property where turkeys are abundant. Hunts will take place primarily in the mornings and on weekends, but weekdays and afternoons are possible based on volunteer guide availability.

Registration will be open through Friday, March 14, or until all slots are filled. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis with preference given to inexperienced mentors. For more information and to apply, contact Barb Cornelius at (785) 575-8125.

This project is supported by Westar Energy Green Team volunteers who are veteran hunters available to assist the youths and their mentors.

Related articles

• Westar Energy Green Team to Host Youth Dove Hunt (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• 2014 Spring Turkey Special Hunts Application On-line (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Young hunters bag 3,915 birds during youth turkey hunting weekend (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)

WESTAR ENERGY GREEN TEAM INVITE YOUTH ON DEER HUNT

Applications for the Jeffrey Energy Center youth deer hunt dueNov. 1

TOPEKA – The Westar Energy Green Team will host a youth rifle deer hunt at the Jeffrey Energy

Center, seven miles north of St. Marys, Dec. 4-15and Jan. 1-12. Youth 12 and older are invited to attend and submit an application by Nov. 1. A limited number of spots are available, so hunts will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hunts will be conducted from ground blinds in the early morning and late afternoon, and will be led by volunteer, experienced hunters. Hunters must be accompanied by an adult mentor and are encouraged to bring their own rifle; however, one can be provided upon request. Hunters must have a Unit 9 deer permit and hunters 16 and older must possess a hunting license and hunter education certificate.

An orientation session will be held on Nov. 16 to instruct hunters on safety, deer biology, and assist youth with sighting-in rifles. To apply for the hunt, contact Barb Cornelius at (785) 575-8125. Hunters successful in receiving a spot will be notified by Nov. 8.

The Green Team’s annual youth deer hunts are part of an initiative designed to introduce youth to hunting, and encourage hunting as a life-long tradition.

Related articles

• Westar Energy Green Team to Host Youth Dove Hunt (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Oklahoma Youth deer gun season offers young hunters first shot (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Iowa's First Deer Hunting Seasons Begin Sept. 21 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• 2013 Deer Hunting: Michigan Status and Prospects report (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Iowa Bow Hunters Gearing Up for Deer Season (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Passing on Young Bucks Now Means Bigger Bucks Later (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• ODNR Offers New Antlerless-Only Deer Muzzleloader Hunt Oct. 12-13 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

WESTAR ENERGY GREEN TEAM TO HOST YOUTH DOVE HUNT

Participating youth will have the opportunity to hunt wheat stubble and sunflower fields during the Labor Day weekend hunt

ST. MARYS­­– The Westar Energy Green Team will host a youth-only dove huntSept. 1-2 at the Jeffrey

Energy Center (JEC) Wildlife Area, north of St. Marys. The event is open to youth age 16 or younger and hunts will take place during early morning and late afternoon on both days.

According to JEC wildlife area staff, the fields are in great condition, and there should be plenty of birds flying at close range. The hunts are an excellent way for kids 16 and younger to get hands-on experience and learn the basics of dove hunting.”

The registration deadline is Aug. 26, with hunters being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Youth must bring their own shotguns and be accompanied by a non-hunting adult. Non-toxic shells will be provided to all participants. Hunters age 16 must possess a Kansas hunting license and HIP permit.

Hunters or mentors interested in participating in this event can contact Barb Cornelius at (785) 575-8125.

The 2013 dove season is Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 and Nov. 2 - 10. For more information on dove hunting, visit ksoutdoors.comand click “Hunting/Migratory Birds.”

48TH ANNUAL CAP AWARDS BANQUET FEB. 25

Image via Wikipedia

Conservation Achievement Program recognizes excellence in all fields of wildlife conservation
MANHATTAN — The Kansas Wildlife Federation's (KWF) 2012 Conservation Achievement Program (CAP) Awards Banquet will be held Saturday, Feb. 25. The event begins with a silent auction and social hour at 5:30 p.m., with the banquet starting at 7 p.m. All events will be held in the Quality Inn, 2110 W. Crawford in Salina. The banquet will honor recipients of the KWF’s 2011 CAP awards. This year’s recipients include the following:

• Conservationist of the Year — Roger Boyd, Baldwin City;
• Conservation Organization — Kansas Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation;
• Wildlife Conservationist — Greg Kramos, Manhattan;
• Conservation Communicator — Mike Miller, Pratt;
• Water Conservationist— Libby Albers, Wichita;
• Land and Soil Wildlife Conservationist —Ed Koger, Wilmore;
• Outdoor Skills Instructor — Gib Rhodes, Madison;
• Farmer/Rancher Wildlife Conservationists — Tim and Rebekah Peterson, Monument;
• Stream Monitor — Laura Calwell, Shawnee Mission;
• Conservation Educator —Eric Kessler, Kansas City, Mo.;
• Forest Conservationist — Larry Rutter, Meriden; and
• Youth Conservationist — Megan Hilbish, Emporia; and
• Legislator Conservationist — Tom Moxley, Council Grove.

Banquet tickets are $25 before Feb. 17 and $35 after. Checks should be made payable to KWF and mailed to KWF Annual Meeting, KWF, P.O. Box 771282, Wichita, KS 67277-1282. For more information, email Ken Brunson at prattbrunsons@gmail.comor phone 620-672-7289.

A block of rooms is reserved at the special rate of $65 per night and will be held until February 10. Phone the Quality Inn at 785-825-2111 to make reservations. Reduced rates will be given attendees who tell the hotel that they are with the Kansas Wildlife Federation.

Sponsors for the 2011 Awards are the Kansas Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Westar Energy, Bundleflower Plant and Wildfower Preserve (the Jim Ruder Family), the Geary County Fish & Game Association, the Kansas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, the Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, and the Watershed Institute.

Related articles

• Vote Don Johnson for 2012 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Quail Forecast has bright spots (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Only a Few Days Left for Your Chance at Michigan's Hunt of a Lifetime (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• MDC celebrating 75 years of conservation in Missouri (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Kansas: TOLL-FREE PHONE HOTLINE PUTS POACHERS ON HOT SEAT (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

WESTAR ENERGY GREEN TEAM OFFERING YOUTH DEER HUNTS

Image via Wikipedia

December and January hunts for youth who have never harvested a deer; application deadline Nov. 2
ST. MARYS — During the regular firearms season — Nov. 30-Dec. 11 — and the extended antlerless whitetail season — Jan. 1-8, 2012 — Westar Energy's Green Team will offer guided deer hunts at Jeffrey Energy Center near St. Marys. The hunts are for youth 12 years and older who have not harvested a deer. Youth must be accompanied by a parent or mentor who, ideally, doesn't have deer hunting experience. The hunt will take place from blinds in mornings or afternoons during the rifle season. Experienced Westar Energy employees will serve as volunteer guides.

Antlerless deer harvest is encouraged (and only antlerless deer are legal during the January season). Youth will need a deer permit, but a hunter education certificate is not required if the youth is 15 or younger. Youth are encouraged to bring their own rifles, but rifles will be provided if needed.

A pre-hunt seminar covering safety, deer biology, and orientation to the area will be held on Saturday, Nov. 19. Rifles can be sighted in then, and guides will be available to answer questions.

Deer are abundant in this area, and success rates are always high. A permit valid in Unit 9 is required for every hunter, but a hunting license is only required for hunters 16 or older. Hunters 16 and older must also have completed a hunter education course. Applications for this hunt will be accepted through Nov. 4, with hunters notified by Nov. 7.

To apply, contact Barb Cornelius at 785-575-8125.

Related articles

• Urban deer harvest similar to 2010 (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• South Dakota: Firearms Antelope and West River Antlerless Deer Seasons Open (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin: Antlerless gun deer hunt in CWD zone October 13-16 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin Youth gun deer hunt Oct. 8-9 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• 2011 Michigan Deer Hunting Prospects the Statewide Forecast (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

WESTAR ENERGY NOVICE DOVE HUNT LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Image by Topato via Flickr Labor Day weekend event for youth 16 and younger; registration deadline Aug. 26
ST. MARYS — The Westar Energy Green Team will host a youth dove hunt for novice shooters at Jeffrey Energy Center, north of St. Marys, on Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-4. Hunts will be on wheat stubble or sunflowers, guided by volunteers in the early morning or late afternoon. Area staff report that the fields are in excellent condition and should provide excellent hunting.
These hunts are a great way for kids 16 and younger to learn dove hunting basics with plenty of birds flying at close range. Youth must bring their own shotguns, be accompanied by a non-hunting adult, and have a license and HIP stamp if age 16. Nontoxic shells will be provided.
Interested hunters or mentors should phone Barb Cornelius at 785-575-8125. Hunters will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and hunts will be scheduled as requests dictate and hunting groups can be formed. The registration deadline is Friday, Aug. 26.

WESTAR ENERGY GREEN TEAM NOVICE TURKEY HUNTS APRIL 1-1

Image via Wikipedia

Registration deadline March 25; preference given to inexperienced hunters
PRATT — April 1-17, the Westar Energy Green Team will guide youth who have never harvested a turkey at its Jeffrey Energy Center, about 45 minutes northwest of Topeka. Assisted by experienced volunteer guides and hunting from stationary ground blinds, youngsters 12-17 years old will hunt accompanied by an adult mentor in prime fields closed to the public until the youth hunters are through. An adult mentor is required.

The Green Team is looking for both youth and mentors with little or no turkey hunting experience. The hunt is designed for those who have minimal access to turkey hunting areas, as well. They will hunt from enclosed blinds, so no camouflage is needed.

The youth must provide their own turkey permits for Unit 2 and, if they are 16 or older, have a valid Kansas hunting license. Youth are encouraged to bring a shotgun, but guns will be provided for those who don't have access to one. Everything else will be provided, including blinds, non-toxic shells, decoys, and calls.

Turkey densities are high in this area, so chances for a close shot are excellent. Hunts will take place primarily in the morning and on weekends, but weekdays and afternoons are possible based on volunteer guide availability. Registration will be open through Friday, March 25, or until all slots are filled. Applications for the limited number of slots will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis with preference for inexperienced participants. For more information or to apply, contact Barb Cornelius at 785-575-8125.