APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR PRIVATE LAND GRANT PROGRAM

Image via Wikipedia

State Wildlife Grant Private Land Program provides technical and financial assistance to enhance wildlife habitat on private land; deadline June 30

PRATT — The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has announced that applications for participation in the State Wildlife Grant (SWG) Private Land Program are now being accepted. SWG grants are funded in part by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Interior (program CFDA # 15.634), and administered in Kansas by KDWP.

This is the fourth signup for this project, and KDWP may distribute $98,615 (from an original $400,000 of SWG funds), plus an additional $49,307 in non-federal funds to private landowners interested in implementing habitat projects. With the addition of private funding for the project, it is anticipated that nearly $200,000 will be available for funding during this application period. Those landowners receiving funding will be required to match a minimum of 25 percent of total project costs. This match can either be a cash contribution from a non-federal source or contributions of labor, materials, and equipment use. Applications will be accepted until June 30.

Previously, the program has awarded $301,385 of SWG funds to 33 private landowners. Projects funded include removing invasive woody plants from native mixed-grass prairie, prescribed burning, conversion of cool season grass to native grass, installation of alternate watering facilities to help with native short-grass prairie management, and construction of perimeter fencing on expiring CRP fields to help maintain those fields in native grass. These projects will improve more than 11,192 acres of habitat for Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Kansas.

To be eligible, applications must address issues and strategies identified in the Kansas Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan. Applications will be scored based on established criteria to ensure all applicants are considered fairly and that the best projects are selected. Higher priority consideration will be given to proposals that specifically address restoration and enhancement activities that contribute to 1) development or maintenance of large grassland blocks capable of supporting area-sensitive wildlife species, 2) restoration or maintenance of areas supporting high densities of playa lakes surrounded by grasslands, and 3) restoration or enhancement of streams and associated riparian buffers.

Interested landowners should contact any KDWP regional office or private lands biologist for application materials or to schedule a consultation concerning a proposed project. For information regarding program administration, write Roger Wolfe, KDWP Region 2 Office, 300 SW Wanamaker Road, Topeka, Kansas 66606 or phone 785-273-6740. Persons with special communication needs may utilize the Kansas Relay Center, 1-800-766-3777.

KDWP OFFERS LANDOWNERS WALK-IN HUNTING ACCESS CONTRACTS

Signup deadline July 15

PRATT — Landowners interested in the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ (KDWP) Walk-In Hunting Access Program (WIHA) — which pays landowners to allow public hunting access on their land — are reminded that the deadline for enrollment is July 15. The WIHA program, which began in 1995, has grown to include more than 1 million acres and nearly 3,000 contracts with Kansas landowners.

Almost anyone who owns, leases, or manages 80 contiguous acres of land with suitable wildlife habitat can qualify. A little more than half the land enrolled in WIHA is federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grass, but other lands are also considered,including native rangeland, weedy wheat stubble, milo stubble, and riparian and wetland areas.

After receiving applications, KDWP biologists evaluate wildlife habitat on the applicants' land. Payment rates are based on the size and location of tracts and the number of months the landowner will open the land to hunting. A 50-percent additional incentive payment is offered for WIHA in the following urban counties: Butler, Coffey, Cowley, Douglas, Franklin, Harvey, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Kingman, Leavenworth, Lyon, Miami, Osage, Ottawa, Reno, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Sumner, Wabaunsee, and Wyandotte.

Counties that have had historically low program participation are also eligible for the 50-percent additional incentive payment. The following counties are considered to have historically low program enrollment: Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Barber, Barton, Bourbon, Brown, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Clay, Cloud, Crawford, Dickinson, Doniphan, Elk, Ellsworth, Geary, Greenwood, Harper, Labette, Linn, Marion, McPherson, Montgomery, Morris, Neosho, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Rice, Riley, Stafford, Wilson, and Woodson.

Once enrolled, the property is posted with signs indicating access dates, and a map of the tract will be included in a free atlas provided by KDWP. Natural resource officers periodically patrol WIHA properties. In addition, state law provides protection to private individuals who lease their land to the state for recreational purposes from liability for damages or injuries resulting from ordinary negligence.

Lease options include open periods running Sept. 1-Jan. 31 and Nov. 1-Jan. 31, with the option to run through March 31 in areas where habitat and hunt opportunities are appropriate. A popular spin-off is the Spring Turkey WIHA Program, with lease dates from April 1- May 31. For more information, phone 620-672-5911.

ALEXANDER RANCH GARNERS WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION AWARD

Decades of visionary ranching practices paid off for Alexander Ranch, wildlife
PRATT — The Alexander Ranch in Barber County has been selected as the 2010 Kansas Wildlife Habitat Conservation Award winner. The annual award program receives nominations from wildlife biologists from across the state. All nominations are reviewed by committee, and a winner is selected based on overall wildlife habitat quality, quantity, maintenance, and enhancement of the property. Additionally, the state wildlife habitat conservation award winner is then nominated for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ National Private Lands Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Award. The Alexander Ranch is owned and operated by Ted and Brian Alexander.

“The Alexanders’ decades of dedication to the improvement of native grasslands in an area once over-grazed and degraded by the encroachment of eastern redcedar deserves statewide recognition,” said Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) wildlife biologist Chris Berens, who nominated the Alexander Ranch for the award. “The Alexanders’ management efforts created a heterogeneous grassland that benefits livestock and a diverse group of wildlife species.”

The ranch covers more than 7,000 acres and has flourished as a custom grazing operation for the past 27 years. Partnering with several agencies, the Alexanders have leveraged resources to optimize the land’s environmental capabilities. As a result of these partnerships, the ranch operates on a rotational grazing system with three grazing cells, each split into many smaller paddocks. This number of paddocks allows 40-45 days post-grazing recovery time for the grass in each paddock.

Additionally, a cooperative effort with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program and KDWP was key to many of the accomplishments on the ranch, which is home to many wildlife and aquatic species considered at-risk or in need of conservation. This partnership helped the Alexanders interseed forbs on old cropland acres previously converted to native grass, enhance water developments, restore riparian areas, and expand the grazing system. The Alexander Ranch has also entered into a “Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances” with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. This voluntary agreement guarantees to address the conservation needs of a species before they become listed as endangered or threatened by specifying actions that will remove or reduce threats to the species.

These stewardship practices have drawn many accolades for the Alexander Ranch. In 2001, the Alexanders were presented with the Rancher Wildlife Conservationist of the Year Award from the Kansas Wildlife Federation. In 1987, they received the Excellence in Grazing Management Award from the Society of Range Management and the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts Grasslands Award, and in 2007, they were awarded the Region VI Environmental Stewardship Award from the National Cattleman’s Beef Association.

“Any number of landowners could have won the state habitat conservation award based solely on habitat enhancements and other stewardship accomplishments on their ranches,” said Berens. “However, it’s the off-the-ranch activities that make the Alexanders stand out. One of the most notable is their willingness to share what they have learned throughout the years with other ranchers, either through one-on-one mentoring or through one of the many conservation organizations to which Ted and Brian belong or serve on the boards. Additionally, they have opened their ranch to many training opportunities for public, state, and federal agency staff and have allowed many university students to conduct wildlife research, including the interaction of wildlife and grazing practices.

“The Alexander Ranch is a great example of how excellent ecosystem management can benefit both the producer and Kansas wildlife,” Berens continued. “Congratulations and many thanks to the Alexander Ranch for their contributions to promoting wise working-land practices in Kansas.”

STATE FISHING LAKES OFFER GREAT MEMORIAL DAY OUTINGS

Survey indicates highly-satisfied Memorial Day weekend visitors
PRATT — Looking for a peaceful, uncrowded Memorial Day weekend outdoor experience? Try a Kansas state fishing lake.

Last year, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) fisheries biologists and public lands managers conducted surveys at state fishing lakes during the Memorial Day weekend to determine if anglers felt crowded. A total of 337 interviews were completed at 24 state fishing lakes across Kansas.

The result? Most anglers reported low levels of crowding, high satisfaction, and sufficient access for shore and boat anglers. Three observations made it clear that state fishing lakes offered an uncrowded, user-friendly experience, even on the busiest weekends:

• minimal to no wait time to launch a boat;
• on average, only one-third of parking areas full; and
• anglers less crowded than they anticipated.

Anglers were highly satisfied with their experience, indicating that state fishing lakes are great alternatives for those seeking less crowded experiences during a traditionally busy fishing and camping holiday weekend.

In addition to fishing, picnicking and camping were popular activities at state fishing lakes. Some, such as Kingman, McPherson, Mined Land, and Ottawa offer modern, affordable cabins for those who prefer not to camp. Many state fishing lakes also have ADA-compliant facilities, such as accessible docks and piers.

You don’t need a boat to enjoy the state fishing lake angling experience because numerous piers, jetties, and accessible shoreline are available for easy access. In fact, last year’s survey indicated that nearly half of the interviewed anglers fished from shore, and they responded positively when asked if there was enough access to the lake without having a boat.

As the name suggests, most state fishing lakes are managed for anglers, so no pleasure boating, skiing, or swimming is allowed. (Because Crawford, Meade, and Scott are also state parks, they allow swimming, and Crawford and Scott allow some recreational boating and offer recreational facilities such as sand volleyball courts, bathhouses, and horseshoe pits. Chase State Fishing Lake also has a swimming beach.) Water-use restrictions may limit their appeal to some outdoor users, but for others, the limitation may be a peaceful plus.

“The bottom line is that anglers who chose to fish on Memorial Day weekend at state fishing lakes last year were very happy with their experience,” said Doug Nygren, KDWP Fisheries Section supervisor. “And most did not feel crowded, even on the busiest weekend of the year. These lakes are great alternatives to large federal reservoirs on Memorial Day. If you just want to enjoy nature, camp, and fish, you may be able to find a great family-friendly spot all to yourself at a state fishing lake this Memorial Day weekend.”

CABELA’S ANNOUNCES WANNA GO FISHING FOR MILLIONS? PROMOTION

Tagged fish worth big bucks
SIDNEY, Neb. — Get out your shiny lures and round up some night crawlers. Cabela’s, along with the Outdoor Channel — Wanna Go Fishing TV — and supporting sponsors have announced “Wanna Go Fishing for Millions?”, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win millions of dollars in cash and prizes by enjoying one of America’s favorite pastimes — fishing.
Cabela’s and Wanna Go Fishing TV are tagging hundreds of fish in lakes near select Cabela’s retail stores, including several in Kansas, and every one of them is a winner. Among the winning fish are grand prize winners that may qualify for additional bonuses based on the winning angler using or wearing sponsors’ products when they catch a tagged fish.
“We all know there is tremendous competition when it comes to deciding how to spend leisure time,” said Cabela’s Chief Executive Officer Tommy Millner. “We are particularly excited about the Wanna Go Fishing for Millions? promotion because it’s fun, interactive, has the potential for a lot of winners, and will help promote fishing on local waters.”
In celebration of Cabela’s 50th anniversary, the 50th tag redeemed will win a $10,000 Cabela’s shopping spree that can be redeemed in a store or online. There are additional prizes for the first fish tag redeemed in every state.
Want to win even more? By catching the grand prize tagged fish while using an Abu Garcia reel spooled with Berkley line, anglers can double the winnings. Catch the grand prize fish while sporting Costa sunglasses or Sperry Top-Sider shoes, and you can increase the prize package by $100,000. By using all of the equipment, and catching the grand prize tagged fish, the package more than doubles from $1 million to $2.2 million.
“Through our angler advocacy campaign, KeepAmericaFishing, we are proud to partner with Cabela’s to promote clean waters, minimize access restrictions and restore fish populations,” said Gordon Robertson, vice president of the American Sportfishing Association. “Programs like Wanna Go Fishing for Millions? promote sustainable fishing and encourage families to responsibly enjoy our nation’s waters.”
Winning is as easy as baiting a hook. Full details are available at www.cabelas.com/fishformillions or at any Cabela’s retail store. Anglers need to pre-register on the website and hit their local lakes between May 14 and July 14 for their chance at millions.
Local waters that have been stocked with prize-winning tags will be announced via a special insiders’ email to contest registrants on May 10. The list of lakes goes public on May 14, via the official website. All prize winners will be announced online after July 14.

ANGLER CATCHES A DREAM RAINBOW

11.02-pound fish beats old record by nearly a pound
TOPEKA — What can a brawny rainbow trout do when confronted with the skill and determination of a seasoned angler? Not much, as it turns out. Angling skill conquered brawn when Bob Lorson hooked his dream rainbow trout in the waters of Lake Shawnee, Topeka. Lorson, a Topeka resident and fervent Kansas fisherman, caught an 11.02-pound rainbow on Saturday, April 2, and the fish has been certified by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) as an official state record. The fish measured 29 inches in length and 16.5 inches in girth.
Lorson and fishing buddy Paul Hottman launched their boat at about 7:30 a.m. intending to catch big fish. According to Lorson, “If you want to catch the big ones, you’ve got to be prepared for them.”
So he loaded his fishing rod with a silver/blue Kastmaster lure on the business end of a spool of 8-pound test line. It was a chilly morning, though Lorson’s fishing would heat up long before the afternoon high reached the mid-70s. The duo had been fishing only about 45 minutes, and Lorson was on the fourth fish of a five-fish limit when the big trout attacked his lure. He quickly realized he’d hooked a big one but didn’t appreciate just how big it was until later. During the 15-minute struggle, the embattled fish tail-danced, jumped a few times, and made a run at the boat.
Hottman, as any respectable angling partner would, cheered his buddy and shouted, “Don’t horse him!” Lorson gave the monster plenty of line, not wanting to jerk the hook from its jaws or break the line, which turned out to be a wise tactic. When the battle came to a close and the tired fish was in the net, the lure fell from its mouth.
Lorson initially guessed the fish’s weight at 8 to 9 pounds. He learned this was a considerable underestimate when other friends fishing nearby who had witnessed the struggle pulled their boat alongside Lorson’s and offered up a spring-scale to weigh the fish. When it showed 11 pounds, Lorson knew he was on to something. Checking the KDWP website on his smartphone, he looked up the list of state records and confirmed that he might have a state-record rainbow trout.
Before a fish can be certified as a state record, anglers must follow a specific procedure, and Lorson carefully adhered to the process he read on the website. He first took his catch to Herman’s Meat and Deli in Topeka for an official weigh-in on certified scales. The fish had to be weighed and measured before it was frozen. Engulfed in an admiring group of onlookers, Lorson proudly looked on as the deli staff weighed his fish on two different certified scales, and both instruments reached the same conclusion — 11.02 pounds.
The following Monday, Lorson took the fish to KDWP Region 2 fisheries supervisor Chuck Bever, who confirmed that it was a rainbow trout. If the species had been suspect, tissue samples would have been taken for further analysis. (Sometimes, a potential record fish turns out to be a hybrid or not the species it was originally thought to be.) With a certified weight, measurements, and confirmation of the species, Lorson was ready to submit his application for a state record. He sent the application to KDWP’s Operations Office in Pratt where it was held for 30 days in case evidence was offered that his story or the catch was not as it was presented. That wasn’t the case, and Lorson’s catch was certified as a new state record on May 4. The previous record was a 10.29-pound trout caught at Shawnee Mission Park Lake a little more than a year ago.
Lorson plans to have a taxidermist craft a replica of the fish and then display the mount for all to admire. Grinning proudly, he admits that he still hasn’t come to terms with his accomplishment. Lorson, who has been fishing “like a crazy man” since he was 16, is not a newcomer to big fish, however. He makes it a point to angle for the largest specimens and enthusiastically recalls the big walleye, smallmouth bass, and wipers he has hooked.
“I’ve caught a lot of big fish,” he said, “but I’m usually a catch and release guy. I return catches to the water unless they’re worthy of display or too worn out to live. But after the fight this record trout went through, it was too exhausted to survive.”
Lorson is an energetic proponent of Kansas fishing. “There’s some awesome fishing in Kansas,” he said. “It’s one of the state’s best kept secrets.” He has fished many of the state’s lakes and numerous private waters and has even won small tournaments at several reservoirs. He likes Milford Reservoir and frequents Lake Shawnee in Topeka and Coffey County Lake near Burlington, his favorite.
Lake Shawnee is seasonally stocked with rainbow trout with the help of KDWP’s Community Fisheries Assistance Program (CFAP), which improves fishing opportunities at community lakes across the state. Under the program, KDWP leases fishing rights to the lake and assists with managing the fish populations. The lease offsets the local costs of operating and maintaining the fishery, and anglers are charged no additional fees.
Lorson’s exciting story is one that many state record-holders can identify with. If you think you’ve landed a record, consult the KDWP website at kdwp.state.ks.us/news/Fishing/State-Record-Fish for information and instructions on applying for a record certification. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully. For example, freezing a fish before it’s officially measured and weighed on certified scales can change its natural numbers, jeopardizing an application. It’s also important to have the fish examined by a KDWP fisheries biologist who can verify the species.

LAKE MEADE OPEN TO PUBLIC

Water quality good, park open
MEADE — Despite local rumors, Lake Meade State Park, 8 miles south and 5 miles west of Meade, is open for business and all water activities. Last year, the lake was closed to all water activities from late July to mid-October due to a blue-green algae bloom. However, the park remained open to camping and other activities.

The lake no longer has a blue-green algae bloom because the algae cannot survive cold winter temperatures. However, there is a possibility that the lake could experience another bloom this summer due to its high nutrient content. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks along with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are currently exploring options to reduce nutrients in the lake.

“As we look forward to a busy season, we ask everyone to pay attention to notifications regarding the park and lake,” says park manager Matt Trujillo. “Currently, we are under a burn ban so, we are not allowing any open fires at this time. That could change whenever we receive sufficient rainfall.”

For more information, phone the park office at 620-873-2572.