WILDLIFE FEDERATION WANTS AWARD NOMINEES

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Conservation Achievement Award deadline Dec. 1
PRATT — The Kansas Wildlife Federation’s (KWF) Conservation Achievement Program (CAP) recognizes Kansans who have devoted themselves to conserving the state's natural resources. Whether through education, communication, or on-ground habitat work, such dedicated people are eligible for CAP awards. KWF is asking conservation-minded citizens to nominate candidates who have worked for wildlife conservation.

Each year, KWF honors people who have made special efforts in the areas of land and soil conservation, youth conservation, conservation communication, conservation education, wildlife conservation, water conservation, conservation legislator, conservation farmer/rancher, forestry conservation, stream team conservation, outdoor skills, conservation organization, and conservationist of the year.

Nominations are due by Dec. 1. For more information, phone 316-648-8827 or email info@kswildlife.org.

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MOST WILDLIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM OFFICES CLOSED NOV. 11

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Licenses and permits available at hunting fishing equipment dealers, online
PRATT — Anyone who has yet to buy a hunting license should be aware that Friday, Nov. 11, is Veteran’s Day, and most Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) offices will be closed. However, licenses and permits are available at more than 200 dealers of hunting and fishing equipment and online at www.kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/License-Permits.

Although the KDWPT Pratt Operations Office will be closed on Nov. 11, some staff will be on hand to answer questions by phone. Call 620-672-5911, and an automated phone message will direct the caller to dial 164 for licensing questions.

Three state park offices will be open on Veterans’ Day, as well. Prairie Dog State Park (SP) will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Tuttle Creek SP will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Glen Elder SP will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

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GLEN ELDER WILDLIFE AREA MENTOR/NOVICE AREA ENTERS THIRD YEAR

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Area set aside to increase young and new hunter participation
GLEN ELDER — After two years, the 1,000-acre Walnut Creek Mentor/Novice Area on Glen Elder Wildlife Area is receiving great reviews from hunters. Many youngsters, as well as a few new adult hunters, have harvested their very first pheasant or deer on the area. Other young hunters have taken advantage of the opportunity to build on their newly acquired outdoor skills and experiences.

The Mentor/ Novice Area is located on the southeast portion of the 12,500-acre Glen Elder Wildlife Area, near Glen Elder Reservoir in Mitchell County. The Walnut Creek area was chosen for this designation because of the wide range of hunting opportunities it provides. Pheasant and deer are found in good numbers, and the area also harbors small game, waterfowl, dove, furbearers, and turkey.

The purpose of the Mentor/Novice Area is to provide a public area for beginning hunters with a good opportunity for success while maintaining overall hunting opportunities on the entire property. “Novice” includes youth age 18 and younger and any person who has not previously purchased a hunting license or permit in any state for the particular game species they wish to pursue. For example, a veteran pheasant hunter can qualify as a novice deer hunter if that individual has never previously purchased a deer permit. Experienced adult hunters are allowed to hunt in this area if they are mentoring at least one youth or novice hunter.

In 2000, participation in Kansas’ first youth pheasant season was high at Glen Elder, with an estimated 78 youth and 74 adult hunters taking advantage of this new opportunity. In succeeding years, adults were not allowed to hunt with the youth, and annual participation dropped to an average of 15 youth. With this in mind, the concept of the Mentor/Novice Area was developed — a place for new hunters to learn and experienced hunters to recruit new hunters during regular seasons.

The Walnut Creek Cove of the lake is a popular duck hunting area. Waterfowl hunting without the Mentor/Novice requirement is still allowed, but hunters are only allowed to hunt and access the shoreline areas by boat. The nearby Walnut Creek boat ramp is open and available for this purpose.

In 2004, the Walnut Creek Area was designated as a survey area with free daily permits required of each hunter. Five years of baseline background data is available and provides a wealth of information on who uses the area, what they harvest, and how they rate their experience. Data collected from the Walnut Creek Area including the Mentor/Novice Area will supply data for a three-year study comparing information from before and after the designation. A decision will then be made to continue, modify, or eliminate the Mentor/ Novice Area based on data evaluation.

For more information on this special opportunity, phone the wildlife area office at 875-545-3345.

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KANSAS STATE PARKS OPEN FOR WINTER BUSINESS

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Cold weather months limit facilities, but parks still offer outdoor opportunities

PRATT — Kansas state parks began their off-season on Oct. 1, and it runs through March 31. During this time, many state parks cut down on services although all remain open. Hours and services vary from park to park, but most offices are open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday but are closed on holidays.

In addition, most unheated toilets and shower buildings with running water are shut down for the cold season. Most heated buildings remain open through the regular firearms hunting seasons, and some remain open year-round. While drinkable water is available at each park headquarters all year, water is shut off at campgrounds and day-use areas that are prone to freezing pipes.

Most parks have some drinkable water available at freeze-proof valves in campgrounds into late November or early December, depending on the weather. Electricity stays on year-round where it is available. Each park remains open to vehicles; however, some campground loops may be closed. Some boat ramps across the state may be closed or only usable by shallow-draft boats.

And while some facilities are reduced, so are some off-season park permit fees. A Daily Vehicle permit is $3.70 (senior/disabled, $2.60); an Annual Vehicle permit is $19.70 (senior/disabled, $11.10); a Daily Camping permit is $7.50; and a 14-Day Camping permit is $87.50.

In addition, rental cabins 20 state parks and five wildlife areas make a winter stay comfortable. For more information on cabins at state parks, go to “State Parks/Locations With Cabins” at the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) website, www.kdwpt.state.ks.us.

For other winter park details, look up individual state parks on the KDWPT website. Conditions may also be checked by phoning individual parks.

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FISH SALVAGE ORDER FOR EMPORIA’S JONES PARK WEST POND

Pond undergoing renovation; fish may be taken by any means

EMPORIA — Jones Park West Pond in Emporia is undergoing renovation, and Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) Secretary Robin Jennison has issued a fish salvage order for the lake. The order will take effect when the lake is posted and remain in effect until the notices are removed.

During this time, it will be legal to take fish from this lake by any legal means, as well as snagging, seine, bow and arrow, gig, and hand.

“This is a 1.4-acre pond, and about 40 percent of the upper end is filled with silt,” area fisheries biologist Carson Cox said, explaining the reason for the renovation. “It has a history of fish kills due to filamentous algae, and it is overgrown with trees around the upper end, limiting shoreline angling. During renovation, we will construct a nutrient trap wetland like the one at Emporia Jones Park East Pond.”

Those 16 and older taking fish during this salvage order must have a fishing license. For more information, phone the KDWPT Emporia Research and Survey Office at 620-342-0658.

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NOVEMBER USHERS UPLAND OPENERS

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Pheasant, quail, and prairie chicken bring family and friends together

PRATT — For many hunters, Kansas pheasant and quail hunting ranks right up there with Thanksgiving and Christmas — and often coincides. Family and friends who may not have seen each other for a year or more get together and enjoy the outdoors, camaraderie, and putting meat on the table in a time-honored tradition. This winter, pheasant and quail seasons run Nov. 12-Jan. 31, 2012, and while the forecast for bird numbers is down from recent years, the excitement of rekindling old relationships still runs high.

Although good numbers of pheasants and quail will be found in some areas, severe drought and record high temperatures throughout much of the birds’ range last spring and summer resulted in fewer birds overall. Generally, the best pheasant hunting in 2011 will be north of I-70 in western Kansas and the best quail hunting will be in the central part of the state. Details can be found in Upland Bird Regional Forecast on the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s (KDWPT) website,www.kdwpt.ks.us, under “Hunting/Upland Birds.”

KDWPT reminds all hunters to avoid standing crops. While most crops have been harvested already, some fields remain uncut, even as late as mid-November. Hunters are asked to stay out of standing crop fields because most farmers do not want these fields disturbed until after harvest. Permission is required to hunt private land, whether it is posted or not.

The season on Kansas’ third upland bird — the prairie chicken — runs Nov. 19-Jan. 31 in the Northwest and East units and Nov. 19-Dec. 31 in the Southwest Unit. The best greater prairie chicken hunting should be in native grasslands from the northern Flint Hills westward throughout the Smoky Hills along the I-70 corridor.

The daily bag limit on pheasants is four roosters, and the daily bag on quail is eight birds. The daily bag limit on prairie chicken in the East and Northwest units is two, and the daily bag in the Southwest Unit is one. The possession limit on all three upland species is four times the daily bag limit.

A valid Kansas hunting license is required of all residents ages 16 through 64. Nonresidents must purchase a $72.50 nonresident hunting license, except that those nonresidents younger than 16 may purchase a youth nonresident license for $37.50. Anyone born on or after July 1, 1957, must have completed a certified hunter education course, except that youth 15 and younger may hunt under direct adult supervision without hunter education certification. Youth 12 through 15 may hunt without adult supervision if they have completed a certified hunter education course. Anyone 16 or older may purchase a one-time deferral of hunter education, called an “apprentice hunting license,” for the same price as a regular hunting license. This license is valid only through the calendar year in which it is purchased, and the holder must be under the direct supervision of a licensed adult 18 or older. A hunting license and hunter education are not required while hunting one’s own land.

For complete hunting regulation information, consult the 2011 Kansas Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summary, available wherever licenses are sold or online atwww.kdwpt.state.ks.us.

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KDWPT OFFERS LANDOWNERS $$$ FOR PUBLIC FISHING ACCESS

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Nov. 3, 2011
KDWPT’s FISH program is currently enrolling ponds, streams, and river access for 2012
PRATT — Kansas landowners can make as much as $150 per acre on their farm ponds and $1,500 per mile on streams for allowing angler access eight months out of the year. Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) fisheries biologists are preparing for the 2012 fishing season by conducting fall lake samplings, stocking fish, and working with landowners to enroll their waters in the Fishing Impoundments and Stream Habitats (FISH) program.

The FISH program solicits willing Kansas landowners to allow public access to their ponds, streams, and rivers from March 1 to Oct. 31, providing supplemental income for landowners while increasing public fishing opportunities. The FISH program offers to lease ponds for $75 to $150 per acre, depending on location and boating access availability. Some areas of the state lack public fishing opportunities, so this year, signup bonuses are available.

Kansas’ streams also provide great fishing opportunities, and the FISH program leases these for public access, as well. Stream lease amounts vary depending on fisheries quality but range from $500 to $1,500 per mile for fishing access. A new initiative of FISH is to garner public access for paddle sports like canoeing and kayaking, and landowners who also allow paddle sports could receive annual leases of $1,500 to $2,250 per mile. Funding is limited, and longer stretches of stream are preferred. Interested landowners should discuss joining with up- and downstream neighbors to increase chances of enrollment.

Kansas’ navigable rivers — the Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas — are public waters. However, the public must have access to use these resources. To increase this access, FISH leases access sites. Big river access site lease rates range from $1,500 to $2,000 per year, depending on location.

These partnerships provide the public with many high-quality angling opportunities. Landowners receive additional income from their land, some liability protection, and increased law enforcement patrols. Some landowners also receive supplemental fish stockings and habitat improvements. KDWPT wants to significantly increase enrollment in 2012, so landowner incentives to participate are greater than ever before.

The FISH program provides the opportunity for willing landowners to partner with KDWPT to help expand fishing opportunities in Kansas. Landowners are compensated; landowner rights are protected; property is respected; fishing resources are wisely used; and the future conservation of the state’s natural resources is supported. Enrolling in the FISH program is a win for all involved.

Anyone who owns a pond, stream reach, or big river access and is interested in joining KDWPT to preserve this great outdoors heritage should considering enrolling in this program. Details — including program contact form, rates, sign-on bonus maps, program rules, and detailed benefits for landowners and anglers — may be found online at FISH.KSoutdoors.com.

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