Deer Hunting News - Kansas

Male Kansas White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus macrourus). Taken at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

First, over the counter deer permits go on sale July 30th. These permits are for Kansas residents.

KANSAS PUBLIC LAND HUNTING RESEARCH

There is a host of deer seasons and species for which residents can buy these tags.  They include Resident Whitetail Any Season, Statewide Archery, Muzzleloader Either-Species, and antlerless-only permits.  According to KDWPT, "the only deer permit that requires an application for resident hunters is the firearm either-species permit, which allows the harvest of a mule or white-tailed deer during the firearm season."

For more information visit ksoutdoors.com and look for license/permits.

Related articles

• Resident Firearm Either-species/either-sex Deer Permit Application Deadline July 12
• Fewer Antlerless Deer Licenses Available in most Michigan Regions for upcoming Season
• Application Deadline for Limited Resident Elk Permits July 12
• South Dakota and Michigan Deer Hunting Information and Deadlines

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.

KDWPT BIOLOGIST RECEIVES AWARD FROM MIDWEST ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES

PRATT ­– The Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA)

recently recognized Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) small game coordinator Jim Pitman as the 2013 “Wildlife Biologist of the Year.” Pitman was presented the award by KDWPT Assistant Secretary Keith Sexson at the June 27 Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission meeting.

Each year, MAFWA recognizes an individual who has shown an unparalleled initiative toward the better understanding of wildlife and their conservation, and Pitman couldn’t have been a better choice.

“It is a huge honor to be recognized my peers,” said Pitman. “A person's peers are usually the toughest critics, so winning an award from that group is the most meaningful recognition anyone could receive. I'm very appreciative of that recognition and humbled by it.”

Pitman’s most recent endeavor has been developing conservation strategies to address the potential listing of the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened or endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Pitman is the second KDWPT biologist in recent years to receive this award from MAFWA. In 2011, KDWPT Big Game Program Coordinator Lloyd Fox was also named Wildlife Biologist of the Year.

Comprised of 13 state and 3 provincial Midwest fish and wildlife agencies, MAFWA is an organization that strives to provide a common forum for fish and wildlife agencies to share ideas, information, pool resources, and form action initiatives to better manage and conserve fish and wildlife resources.

For more information on MAFWA and Pitman’s award, visit www.mafwa.org.

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WILDLIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM COMMISSION REJECTS PROPOSED COYOTE HUNTING CHANGE

GARDEN CITY– At the public hearing conducted June 27 in Garden City, the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission rejected a recommendation to prohibit coyote hunting with the use of vehicles and two-way radios during the regular firearm deer season. Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) law enforcement staff requested changes to the coyote hunting regulations because of incidents

involving individuals using vehicles and radios to hunt deer under the guise of coyote hunting.


Current regulations allow coyotes to be hunted from vehicles and with the use of radios.


However, game animals, including deer, may not be hunted from vehicles or using radios and cell phones. KDWPT law enforcement officers expressed frustration with enforcing those big game regulations.

During the Workshop Session on this regulation at the April meeting in Wichita, the Commission listened to coyote hunters who felt they were being punished for the actions of a few hunting deer illegally. Ultimately, commissioners agreed. However, the commission asked for documented incidents after the 2013 firearm deer season and promised to revisit this issue early next year.


In other public hearing items, the commission approved regulations pertaining to agritourism, which were brought into the KDWPT regulation system as a result of ERO 36, which moved agritourism duties under KDWPT.


Commissioners approved a variety changes to furharvesting regulations including allowing the use of all foothold traps for water sets (only smooth-jawed traps may be used on land), and allowing incidentally trapped muskrats taken by beaver trappers after the muskrat season has closed to be possessed with a limit of 10 per season. Otter pelts must now be tagged similar to bobcat pelts, and the lower canine teeth must be submitted to KDWPT at the time of tagging. The season quota of 100 otters was removed, as well as the requirement to notify KDWPT within 24 hours of otter harvest. Licensed fur dealers now have until May 1 to submit all record books to KDWPT, and the running season was extended 7 days to November 8.


The commission also approved a regulation requiring all hunters who hunt big game or wild turkeys with a crossbow to obtain a free Crossbow Survey Number from KDWPT before hunting. The number can be obtained online. And deer season dates specific to the Fort Riley Military Reservation were approved, and can be viewed at www.ksoutdoors.com.


The commission approved several recommendations to the Public Lands reference document, which lists use restrictions on specific public lands, including requiring the use of non-toxic shot on designated dove fields. Other Public Lands recommendations approved include a change in the definition of blinds and stands allowed (removing the word “tree” before stand), as well as the definition of baiting so that certain food plot practices used to attract doves are allowed.


The last public hearing item presented to the commission was the recommendation for the early teal season. Commissioners approved a 16-day season in the Low Plains Zone (east of Hwy 283,Sept. 7-22, 2013, and a 9-day season for the High Plains Zone (west of Hwy 283, Sept. 14-22, 2013. Because of much higher than average blue-winged teal numbers surveyed, the USFWS frameworks allowed for an increase in the daily bag limit for teal during the early season from 4 to 6, which was approved.

RESIDENT FIREARM EITHER-SPECIES/EITHER-SEX DEER PERMIT APPLICATION DEADLINE JULY 12

PRATT – The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism reminds resident hunters that Firearm

Resident Firearm Either-Species/Either-Sex
 Deer permits allow resident hunters
 to take a mule deer or white-tailed deer
of either sex

Either-Species/Either-Sex Deer permit applications must be submitted online by July 12in order to be considered for the 2013 drawing. Resident Firearm Either-species/Either-sex Deer permits allow for the taking of one white-tailed or mule deer buck, doe or fawn during the regular firearm season, using any legal equipment. Hunters who are unsuccessful at drawing a permit this year will be charged a $6.50 application fee, and in return, receive one preference point for next year's drawing.

Resident Firearms Either-Species/Either-Sex Deer permits are limited to two mule deer zones:
west and east. The West Zone is comprised of Deer Management Units (DMUs) 1, 2, 17, and 18, and the East Zone is comprised of DMUs 3, 4, 5, 7, and 16.

General resident permits are­ $37.50, landowner/tenant/manager permits are $22.50, and youth 15 and younger permits are $22.50. Applicants can view draw results online two to four weeks after the close of the application period at the same location the application was made. Successful applicants should receive their permit four to six weeks following the application deadline.

2013 Deer Season Dates

Youth/Disabled: Sept. 7 - 15, 2013

Muzzleloader-Only: Sept. 16 - Sept. 29, 2013

Archery: Sept. 16 - Dec. 31, 2013

Pre-Rut Firearm Whitetail Antlerless: Oct. 12 - Oct. 13, 2013

Firearm: Dec. 4 - Dec. 15, 2013

Extended Whitetail Antlerless: Jan. 1 - 12, 2014

Special Extended Whitetail Antlerless: Jan. 13 - Jan. 19, 2014 (units 7, 8, and 15 ONLY)

Extended Archery Season: Jan. 20 - Jan. 31, 2014 (unit 19 ONLY)

To apply for a 2013 Resident Firearm Either-Species/Either-Sex Deer permit, visitksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting/Applications and Fees/Deer.”

KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM TO MANAGE SOUTHEAST KANSAS NATURE CENTER

Unique outdoor education facility to be operated by KDWPT

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) will operate the Southeast Kansas Nature Center (SEKNC), Cherokee County, under a lease agreement with the city of Galena. The center sits on a hilltop in picturesque Schermerhorn Park, overlooking Shoal Creek south of the city.

The lease, finalized earlier this month, allows KDWPT to lease the center and 10.1 acres of Schermerhorn Park for $1.00 annually for a term of two years, with an option to renew for two additional years. KDWPT will manage the center, care for exhibits, maintain nature trails currently on the property, and provide educational programming. The city of Galena will continue to own and manage the park (including Schermerhorn Cave and the park area along Shoal Creek), as well as maintain the center.

Several exhibits and some equipment at the SEKNC are on loan from other sources. Those items, including a working bee hive and large insect collection, are excluded from the lease agreement and will continue to remain under private ownership.

“We are excited to take over the operation of the center so we can expand our educational presence to southeast Kansas,” said Ross Robins, KDWPT Education Section chief. “It is a valuable addition to our portfolio of education centers and we’re looking forward to fostering our partnerships with Pittsburg State, Galena schools and local organizations.”

Jennifer Rader, director of the SEKNC, states "I am thrilled to be a part of this new phase in the center’s life. Schermerhorn Park has an incredible diversity of wildlife and habitat perfect for outdoor education.” Rader also added that Galena residents are highly supportive of the nature center and what former director Linda Phipps has done for environmental education. “I plan to build on her legacy and provide more center-based and outreach programs for area schools, organizations and the public. We also want to explore internship and volunteer opportunities for local colleges, service projects for interested groups, and partnerships with other environmental education programs."

Schermerhorn Park is ideally situated in the 55-square mile Ozark Plateau geologic region in far southeast Kansas. The region features the oldest surface rocks in the state, and many of the hillsides are covered with hardwood forest dominated by oaks and hickories. Galena is an anchor point for the Kansas Historic Route 66 Byway, which stretches between Galena and Baxter Springs.

SEKNC is located at 3511 South Main Street (K-26), Galena. Hours of operation are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 pm. For more information, call the center at (620) 783-5207.

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OPERATION DRY WATER ADDRESSES BOATERS UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Concentrated efforts to curb drinking and boating are slated for June 28-30

TOPEKA – Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT) law enforcement officers will be on the lookout for boaters under the influence during Operation Dry Water June 28-30. Operation Dry Water is part of a national effort to reduce accidents and fatalities related to boating under the influence (BUI) of drugs and alcohol, and educate recreational boaters about the dangers of BUI.

KDWPT officers are responsible for patrolling Kansas waters and conducting boat accident investigations, boat safety inspections, BUI checks, safety programs, educational classes and other boating related activities. During Operation Dry Water, officers will be out in force looking for boaters whose blood alcohol content exceeds the state limit of 0.08. The weekend will include increased patrols, breathalyzer tests, life jacket checks, and boater education. Impaired

boaters can expect to be arrested or face other serious penalties. In Kansas, the consequences for BUI include fines, jail, and loss of boating privileges. During the 2012 Operation Dry Water, eight arrests were made for BUI offenses.

"We are dedicated to keeping boaters safe on our waters. Boating is a safe and enjoyable pastime when people stay alert and follow the rules,” said Kansas boating law administrator Major Dan Hesket. "Many factors contribute to the way alcohol affects a person on the water, such as the sun, wind, glare, dehydration and wave motion, causing a person to become intoxicated three times faster than on shore.”

BUI is a major problem across the nation. According to U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics 2012, alcohol is the primary contributing factor in recreational boating fatalities. Intoxicated boaters run a significantly increased risk of being involved in a fatal boating accident. During calendar year 2012, Kansas recorded 27 boat accidents, of which two resulted in a fatality, 12 resulted in injuries, and 13 involved only property damage. Property damages were estimated at $112,321.

Operation Dry Water 2013 is a joint program of KDWPT, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

For more information, visit www.operationdrywater.org, or ksoutdoors.com and click “Boating.”