HAYS ORGANIZATIONS PLAN YOUTH OUTDOOR FESTIVAL

Image via Wikipedia Shotgun, rifle, archery shooting and fishing and furharvesting demonstrations highlight event
HAYS — On Aug. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hays area conservation groups, businesses, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism will offer a free day of target shooting and outdoor activities for youth ages 17 and younger. Called the 14th Annual Youth Outdoor Festival, the event will be held at the Hays City Sportsmen's Club 1/4 mile north of I-70, Exit 157.
All targets, shooting materials, and equipment will be supplied for the event. Trap, skeet, archery, air rifle/BB gun, muzzleloader, small-bore rifle, computerized laser shot target, and paintball shooting will be offered. Furharvesting demonstrations will complement the event.
This is an excellent opportunity to introduce youth to the world of shooting sports, hunting, and furharvesting. Hunter education certification is not required, but youth participants must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers specializing in their field of shooting will closely supervise youth at each shooting station. Registration for the event will be completed on site, and participants can enjoy a free lunch.
In addition to the free shooting opportunities and lunch, several door prizes, guns, fishing tackle, and other outdoor equipment will be given away. For more information phone Kent Hensley at 785-726-3212, email kent.hensley@ksoutdoors.com, or phone Troy Mattheyer at 785-726-4212.

Related articles

• Opportunity for Indiana Youth to Learn Hunting and Outdoor Skills (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
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TUTTLE CREEK SHOOTING RANGE GETS 50-METER LANE

Fancy Creek Range gets upgrade with help of grants
MANHATTAN — The Friends of Fancy Creek Range will dedicate a new 50-meter shooting lane on Saturday, April 16, at 10 a.m. at the range in Tuttle Creek State Park, near Manhattan. The range dedication is free, but regular range fees will apply for those who want to test their skills on the new lane.

The Fancy Creek Range 50-meter lane was constructed with grants from the federal Wildlife Restoration Act, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Justin Corbet Shooting Foundation, and the National Rifle Association (NRA) Foundation.

During the year, the range hosts a variety of events and services, such as NRA Kids Day and Women on Target, from the Women of the NRA. The range also offers range safety and officer training, 50- and 100-meter rifle lanes, 7-, 10-, and 22-meter pistol lanes, and rimfire silhouette shooting.

The Fancy Creek Range is located approximately one-half mile east of the junction of U.S. Highway 77 and Kansas Highway 16. Because the range is located within Tuttle Creek State Park, a park permit is required to enter. The range is normally open the first and third weekends and the fourth Thursday of every month.

For more range information, contact Kerry Moore, Friends of Fancy Creek Range, at 785-485-5527.

K-STATE DUCKS UNLIMITED CHAPTER IN “SWEET 16”

Student organization to hold banquet and dinner April 29
MANHATTAN — The Kansas State University Ducks Unlimited chapter (KSU DU) has recently been recognized as a “Sweet 16 Collegiate Chapter” by Ducks Unlimited (DU), placing them in the top 16 among 100 collegiate chapters nationally. DU adopted the NCAA Basketball Championship terminology because the announcement came during the recent tournament in March. The K-State chapter has more than 20 active committee members who hail from all parts of Kansas, as well as Texas and Missouri. Since the beginning of 2010, this chapter raised more $10,000 for wetland conservation.

“Chapters are ranked by the dollars they raise, and the highest-ranked chapter automatically wins,” says chapter spokesman Scott Alexander. “There are no upsets in this bracket. The only prize for making the Sweet 16 is being acknowledged in Ducks Unlimited, the national organization’s magazine. There’s no award ceremony, just pride and bragging rights.”

On April 29, KSU DU will host a dinner banquet at Purple Wave Auction Group in Manhattan. The doors will open at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. and a live auction following.

“The chapter would strongly encourage everyone to come out and support their alma mater, the ducks, or both,” Alexander says. “Chances are there may be a young man or woman on the committee from your home town who would also appreciate your support. The K-State DU chapter is looking to make a run at the “Elite 8” for 2011, and a successful fundraising banquet would help that effort. The chapter is also looking for more committee members from the K-State student body.”

"The true reward for our efforts as a college chapter is knowing that we are contributing to DU's efforts and are helping to ensure that future generations can experience waterfowl migrations at least as numerous as what they are today," adds chapter president Patrick Mellard.

Those who are able to attend or have questions about the event should contact Mellard at pmellard@ksu.edu.

WILDLIFE AND PARKS COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 21 IN WICHITA

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Public hearing on antelope and elk seasons; workshop on deer, fish bait regulations
WICHITA — The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission will conduct a public meeting and hearing on Thursday, April 21, at the Great Plains Nature Center Auditorium, 6232 East 29th Street North in Wichita. 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 on-agenda items, followed by a general discussion period on the following topics:

• Secretary’s remarks;
• 2011 legislative update;
• agency and state fiscal status;
• vehicles on the ice;
• fishing regulations;
• late migratory bird seasons;
• park regulations;
• falconry regulations; and
• K.A.R. 115-16-3 — nuisance bird control permit application, provisions, and requirements.

The afternoon will also include a workshop session, in preparation for potential future regulatory action, covering preliminary recommendations on the following regulations:

• early migratory bird seasons;
• duck zone regulations from 2011 through 2015; and
• furbearer regulations.

The commission will recess at 5 p.m., then reconvene at 7 p.m. at the same location to hear more general public comments on non-agenda items, general discussion of potential changes in deer regulations, and continued workshop discussion on the following topics:

• KAR 115-25-9a, deer — open season, bag limit, permits; and additional considerations; and
• aquatic nuisance species and bait regulations.

This workshop session will be followed by a public hearing on the following regulations:

• KAR 115-25-7, antelope — open season, bag limit, and permits;
• KAR 115-25-8, elk — open season, bag limit, and permits; and
• KAR 115-7-9 — weigh-in black bass fishing tournaments.

Time will be set aside 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 April 21 and reconvene at the same location at 9 a.m., April 22, to complete unfinished business.

Live video and audio streaming of this meeting will be broadcast through the KDWP website, www.kdwp.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 and Parks Commission secretary at 620-672-5911.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 23, at the Norton Community High School, 103 West Woodsfield in Norton.

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