CABINS OFFER LAKE-HOUSE EXPERIENCE

State parks, some wildlife areas, offer comfortable alternative to roughing it

PRATT — Looking for a special summer Kansas state park or more remote area experience? Rental cabins are available throughout the year at 19 Kansas state parks, four state fishing lakes, and one wildlife area. Some cabins are rustic while others feature many of the comforts of home and all enhance the pleasure of parks and lakes across the state.

Anglers, hikers, birdwatchers, boaters, and other outdoor enthusiasts can choose from a variety of cabins, ranging from primitive to modern. (Cabins also are popular with hunters in winter.) Scenic surroundings and economical fees make these enticing reprieves from the hustle and bustle of daily life even more appealing.

Courtesy KDWP

Some cabins feature amenities such as full bathroom with shower; kitchen with microwave, refrigerator, and cook-top stove; beds for as many as nine people; screened-in porch; fire ring; and barbecue grill. All cabins have heating and air conditioning, table and chairs, basic pots and pans, and table service for four are also offered at many cabins, making them all-season getaways. Cabins without water or full bathrooms are located near park shower houses.

Reservations are required, and cabins are in high demand, so renters are encouraged to call or go online well in advance of a planned trip to make sure a cabin is available. Some are handicapped-accessible. For a list of all state park cabins, go to the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us. Click "State Parks," then "Locations With Cabins." To reserve a cabin, go online to reserve.ksoutdoors.com. Prices vary depending on location, timing, and amenities. Weekly and monthly rates are available.

It’s easy and economical to plan a home-state vacation or weekend getaway with the comforts of home. And enjoy all the outdoor recreational opportunities of one of many fine Kansas state parks, or an even more remote location at a state fishing lake or wildlife area.

LEFTOVER NONRESIDENT DEER PERMITS ON SALE JUNE 15

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4,395 permits left over from May nonresident drawing
PRATT — The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has announced that leftover nonresident deer permits will be sold online and over-the-counter on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 12:01 a.m. June 15. After the initial nonresident deer permit drawing in May, KDWP had 4,395 permits left over in 11 deer management units for the 2011 season. These permits will go on sale for those nonresidents who were unsuccessful in the initial drawing or did not apply.

With these permits, the hunter designates unit and equipment/season choice, as well as one adjacent unit, at time of purchase. They will be sold to any nonresident who does not already have a 2011 permit at license vendors, online at the KDWP website (www.kdwp.state.ks.us under “License/Permits”), or by phoning 620-672-5911 and asking for Licensing.

The number of leftover Nonresident Whitetail Either Sex Deer permits includes the following: Unit 6 — 259; Unit 8 — 448; Unit 9 — 326; Unit 10 — 590; Unit 11 — 872; Unit 12 — 488; Unit 13 — 435; and Unit 14 — 628; Unit 15 — 181; Unit 16 — 118; and Unit 18 — 50.

Hunters who purchase a leftover permit will lose any preference points they may have accumulated for next year's drawing. Applicants who were successful in the nonresident drawing may not purchase a leftover permit. No hunter may purchase more than one permit that allows the take of an antlered deer. An antlered deer permit is required before purchasing a Whitetail Antlerless-Only Deer permit.

Updated information on the number of permits leftover may be found on the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us. Click "Hunting/Applications and Fees/Deer/Quotas and Draw Stats." Those without internet access may phone620-672-5911 and ask for Licensing.

KDWP ISSUES DUPLICATE LICENSES AND PERMITS

Lost license or permit easily replaced
PRATT — The dog ate it. My wife threw it in the washer. My kids thought it would make a good finger-painting project, and it was lost at school. My uncle tried to start a fire with it.

While these may seem silly excuses for losing a hunting or fishing license, park permit, or other issue from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), they are legitimate. And with recent storms throughout the Sunflower State, more serious causes for lost licenses have been reported.

However you may have lost or destroyed a license or permit, KDWP has a simple process for replacing it. Duplicates of all licenses and permits may be purchased for $12.50 at the Pratt Operations Office or at any licensed agent, such as a sporting goods store or bait shop. Or goonline to the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us, and click “License/Permits” in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

If you don’t have a computer or easy access to a license vendor, phone 620-672-5911 and ask for Licensing. They will fix you up and have you back in the great outdoors in no time.

KANSAS WETLAND EDUCATION CENTER PLANS CHILDREN'S SUMMER PROGRAMS

From dragonflies to spiders and soil, kids learn about nature; preregistration required
GREAT BEND — The Kansas Wetlands Education Center, on Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area northeast of Great Bend, will conduct a number of children’s programs this summer. These one-hour programs will be offered at no charge. Programs for kids age four through seven will run from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and programs for those age eight through 12 will run from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Programs include plenty of hands-on activities, with trips outside if possible. Each program will include activities, games, and/or crafts and sometimes a story.

Parents are asked to dress children in old clothes and shoes and bring sunscreen, insect repellant, and water. Children age seven and younger must be accompanied by an adult. The registration deadline is one week before the class. To register for a program, or for more information, phone 1-877-243-9268. There is a limit of 20 per class. Although there is no program charge, donations for supplies are appreciated.

The following programs will be held in July:

• "Dancing Dragonflies," July 7 (register by July 1) — the aerial antics of dragonflies are matched by their power as predators of the air. Discover the two very different worlds dragonflies live in and search for them above and below the water. Make your very own dancing dragonfly to take home.
• "Dog Days of Summer," July 14 (register by July 9) — from the rare black-footed ferret to the burrowing owl, many creatures depend upon the prairie dog and the habitat their "towns" create. Participants will investigate who shares prairie dog burrows and make a nesting wildlife chain.
• "The Itsy Bitsy Spider," July 21 (register by July 15) — feared and misunderstood, spiders are fascinating creatures that create engineering marvels and complete amazing physical feats. Search for spiders and make a web.
• "What's in the Soil?," July 28 (register by July 22) — the soil is a complex, interesting system with millions of inhabitants. Learn what is living under the ground we walk, make an edible soil profile, and get an up-close look at dirt.

FLATHEAD HANDFISHING SEASON JUNE 15-AUG. 31

Handfishing open only in specific waters

PRATT — The Kansas flathead catfish handfishing season opens June 15, providing thrills and plenty of great table fare for those hearty souls who anticipate this unique adventure. The season runs June 15-Aug. 31, a time when those of strong nerve may catch flathead catfish using nothing but their hands and wits. Although such anglers may be few, the season offers a special challenge at a time when summer heat has slowed many other types of fishing.

In addition to a limited season, there are restrictions during the handfishing season. Only flathead catfish may be taken, and legal handfishing hours are sunrise to sunset. A special $27.50 permit is required in addition to a regular fishing license. Handfishermen may not use hooks, snorkeling or scuba gear, or any other man-made device or possess any fishing gear except a stringer. Stringers may not be used until the fish are caught by hand and are at or above the surface of the water. No man-made object that attracts fish — such as a barrel, box, bathtub, or any other object — may be used. The season is only open in the following waters:

• the entire length of the Arkansas River;
• all federal reservoirs from beyond 150 yards of the dam to the upstream end of the federal property; and
• the Kansas River from its origin downstream to its confluence with the Missouri River.

Everyone who purchases a handfishing permit will be given a questionnaire they must complete and submit no later than 30 days after the close of the handfishing season. Handfishing permits may be purchased online or at select locations around the state. To find vendors or purchase permits online, go online to kdwp.state.ks.us/news/License-Permits.

Glen Elder Youth Fishing Tournament Postponed

High water forces delay
GLEN ELDER — Due to high water levels at Glen Elder Reservoir, the 7^th Annual Youth Fishing Tournament has been postponed until July 23. Heavy rainfall this week on top of previous storms the last two weeks has caused the water level to reach 6.2 feet over conservation pool, with the potential for another 4-feet rise through the weekend. The Marina and Boller Point boat ramps had been closed earlier, and the Osage boat ramp is closed as of Thursday, June 2.

The schedule of events will remain the same for July 23 with registration at the park office between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. and fishing until 3 p.m. Anyone who had previously signed up for the fishing tournament the weekend of June 4 will still be on the list for July 23. Those who cannot make that date are asked to call the park office at 785-545-3345 and let staff know. Phone this number for further information.

STATE WILDLIFE GRANT PROCESS UNDER REVIEW

Guidelines focus on species in greatest need of conservation; public input deadline July 1
PRATT — The State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program has provided funding for wildlife conservation programs for more than 10 years. In Kansas, this has meant nearly $10 million for many kinds of projects designed to keep species off threatened and endangered lists. Notable projects funded through this program include the Prairie Window Project by Dyck Arboretum at Hesston, which helped landowners restore and maintain native prairies; the compilation of a substantial amount of new information on the status and distributions of sensitive species; and a project that assessed natural areas of northeast Kansas.

The use of these funds has been guided by the Kansas Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan (CWCP), entitled "A Future for Kansas Wildlife.” Found on the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us (Other Services/Kansas CWCP/Kansas CWCP), this plan was approved in 2005 as a requirement before Kansas could obtain and apply additional SWG funds. Now KDWP is in the process of revising this dynamic plan, with the revision scheduled for completion in 2013.

The first step in this process is a review of the basic native species list. This is the list of all vertebrate species as well as many invertebrate animals to be considered for potential changes on the Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) list. There are currently 316 species on this list, and this plan update will consider all needed changes — those to be added to the list, deleted from it, or name changes according to the latest information.

“A Future for Kansas Wildlife” on the KDWP website also includes Appendix II, which describes the process by which any native species will be evaluated for possible listing as a SGCN. Top ranked species on this list are given priority in projects funded through the SWG program. This an opportunity for the public to look over the native species list and recommend any needed changes. Find the list under “Kansas CWCP Updates and Revisions” under “Other Services,” as well as further instructions for this process.

July 1 is the deadline for recommending changes to the Native Species List. Then work will begin on re-evaluating the Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Use the contact portal on the website to submit any recommendations.

For more information, contact Ken Brunson at 620-672-0792 or email him atken.brunson@ksoutdoors.com .