CROSSBOW SURVEY ID NUMBERS NOW ONLINE

crossbow (Photo credit: Lady T 220)

Number required for crossbow hunters who have deer permits valid during archery season in units 1, 12, 15, and 19
PRATT — On May 25, Governor Sam Brownback signed into law a bill that included provisions for a crossbow pilot project in as many as four deer management units during an archery big game season by anyone issued a big game permit valid during the archery season. The two-year pilot project will sunset on Jan. 31, 2014, at which time the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) Secretary must report to the Kansas Legislature about the project.

For this pilot project, any person with a deer permit valid during the archery season for deer management units 1, 12, 15, and 19 may use a crossbow during the archery season, regardless of age or disability. Each person age 16 through 54 shall obtain a free crossbow hunter survey number from KDWPT before hunting with a crossbow during archery season.

Hunters may obtain a crossbow survey ID number by going online at the KDWPT website,ksoutdoors.com, and clicking on the Crossbow Survey ID display ad, or by typing the following URL into their web browsers: https://programs.ksoutdoors.com/Crossbow-Survey-ID-Number . Here, they must enter their KDWPT number, first name, last name, and email address (if available). An email address is not required, but if one is given, a confirmation email will be sent to them. Those who do not have access to the Internet may obtain a crossbow survey ID number at any KDWPT office. Those who sign up at a KDWPT office will also receive a printed receipt.

There can only be one survey ID per KDWPT number. For more information, phone 620-672-5911 and ask for the IT Help Desk.

Also new this year, hunters who have a youth big game permit valid during the archery season and those 55 and older who have a big game permit valid during the archery season may hunt with a crossbow. Those hunters do not need a crossbow survey ID number.

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2012 KANSAS HUNTING ATLAS COMING SOON

Atlas locates all Walk-In Hunting Access areas and public wildlife areas

PRATT — Want hunting access to one million acres of private land? The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) provides just that and more in the 2012 Kansas Hunting Atlas. This essential hunting tool includes maps showing locations of Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) areas and public wildlife areas and will be available online at the KDWPT website, ksoutdoors.com, the week of Aug. 27. Click “Hunting/Where to Hunt in Kansas” to find a link to the document. Printed copies of the atlas will be available in late August or early September at KDWPT offices and hunting license vendors around the state.

The atlas provides dozens of full-page maps covering the entire state. Online visitors can view and print the complete atlas or select specific maps. Hunters can also download maps to GPS units for easy navigation. Each map includes an index listing the game species most likely to occur on properties listed.

For information on hunting seasons and regulations, copies of the 2012 Kansas Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary will be available at KDWPT offices and license vendors the first week in September, but hunters can view or download the complete publication from the KDWPT website after the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission meeting Aug. 23. Type “Hunting Regulations” in the search box at the department’s homepage or click “Hunting/Hunting Regulations.

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WILDLIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM COMMISSION MEETING AUG. 23 AT GREAT BEND

feral hogs (Photo credit: amy_b)

Duck, goose season dates to highlight public hearing
GREAT BEND — The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission will conduct a public meeting and hearing on Thursday, Aug. 23, at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K156 Highway, northeast of Great Bend. 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 non-agenda items, followed by a general discussion period on the following topics:

• Secretary’s remarks;
• agency and state fiscal status;
• 2013 Legislature;
• feral swine control efforts in Kansas;
• Tourism Division briefing;
• waterfowl management briefing;
• Cheyenne Bottoms signage project; and
• big game permanent regulations.

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

• fishing regulations;
• spring turkey regulations;
• park fees;
• alcohol on Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism property;
• scoring methods for poaching penalty;
• senior hunt-fish licenses/pass pricing; and
• agritourism regulations.

The commission will recess at 5 p.m., then reconvene at 7 p.m. at the same location for a public hearing on the following regulations:

• KAR 115-14 series on falconry;
• KAR 115-18-1 — wildlife rehabilitation permit, application, reporting and general provisions, new regulation; and
• late migratory bird seasons.

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 Aug. 23 and reconvene at the same location at 9 a.m., Aug. 24, to complete unfinished business.

Live video and audio streaming of this meeting will be broadcast through the KDWPT website,ksoutdoors.com.

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, Parks and Tourism Commission secretary at 620-672-5911.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for Oct. 18 at Flint Oak, 2639 Quail Road, near Fall River.

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DAILY HUNTING PERMITS REQUIRED AT MELVERN WILDLIFE AREA

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Free permits will help with game management
MELVERN — In an attempt to gather better information regarding how game populations respond to management activities and hunter harvest, Melvern Wildlife Area and Lyon State Fishing Lake will require daily hunting permits beginning Sept. 1. Melvern Wildlife Area is a popular destination for many hunters and provides more than 10,000 acres of public hunting for a variety of game, including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, and waterfowl. Providing high-quality habitat for each of these game species and a superior experience for the hunters pursuing them requires the best tools and information available, and data gleaned from these permits will help area biologists with their habitat management plans.

The hunting permit will be free and required for anyone hunting on these wildlife areas for any species of game. A new permit must be filled out and returned each day. Permits can be obtained at 10 locations on Melvern Wildlife Area and two locations on Lyon State Fishing Lake. At these locations, permits will be stored in metal boxes called “iron rangers,” which are similar to mailboxes.

Prior to hunting, hunters will fill out the top portion of the card and deposit it in the iron ranger. The bottom portion must be kept on their person while hunting. When the hunter is finished for the day, the bottom portion should be filled out and returned to an iron ranger. The information collected will be used to help direct management in the future. Additionally, these permits will provide much-needed information regarding game population trends on the area as well as hunter preferences, participation, success, and satisfaction with their hunting experience.

When the fall hunting season finally arrives, remember to stop by an iron ranger prior to hunting Melvern Wildlife Area or Lyon State Fishing Lake and fill out a permit. Cooperation and participation in this new program will help the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism collect valuable information to ensure a high-quality hunting experience for future generations. For more information, phone the Melvern Wildlife Area Office at 620-699-3372.

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KINGMAN STATE FISHING LAKE TO BE DRAINED FOR REHAB

Shoreline and fishery improvements scheduled; no fish salvage allowed
KINGMAN — In an effort to improve fishing and eliminate an expanding white perch population — an aquatic nuisance species (ANS) — Kingman State Fishing Lake (SFL) is scheduled to be drained and renovated this fall. Periodic renovations are standard practice in small lakes when fish populations became unbalanced due to expansion of undesirable fish species. Kingman SFL has been drained and rehabilitated six times since 1947. Currently, the majority of the fish biomass in the lake is composed of common carp, gizzard shad, and white perch. The quality and quantity of sport fish has decreased in the lake, and the fishery is not currently meeting the needs of anglers. Angler use in 2011 was approximately one-third of that seen during the last angler survey at Kingman in 1999.

Biologist believe hot, dry weather has created the best conditions for renovating this fish population because the drought has dried up many upstream pools that may have harbored undesirable fish species. After the lake is drained, the existing water in the lake basin will be treated with rotenone, a fish toxicant. Because Kingman is an ANS-designated water due to white perch, fish salvage will not be allowed, reducing the risk of white perch transfer into non-infested waters.

Dewatering of the lake will begin in mid-August. During renovation, a number of lake improvement projects will take place, including fish habitat placement, boat ramp extension, and chemical treatment of problematic shoreline vegetation. Upon refilling of the lake, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, and channel catfish will be restocked.

“Hopefully, fall rains and increased spring flow will fill the lake by spring of 2013,” says Sean T. Lynott, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s regional fisheries supervisor for southern Kansas. “After the renovation, the lake will not be closed to fishing because some adult fish will be stocked immediately to prey on any undesirable fish not eliminated by the chemical treatment. Additionally, the newly-stocked fish should grow quickly without competition from rough fish, so fishing should quickly improve in the years to come.”

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6TH ANNUAL TJ’S MEMORIAL YOUTH DEER HUNT SEPT. 8-9

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Youth ages 10-16 invited to participate in guided hunt; application deadline Aug. 25

ELLIS — Thanks to the success of last year’s TJ’s Memorial Youth Deer Hunt, Hunting Heritage Group and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) will host the 6th Annual TJ’s Memorial Youth Deer Hunt during the special youth and disabled hunting season. This year, the hunt will be held Sept. 8-9. Hunters will hunt from a blind with an experienced guide/mentor on private land that adjoins Cedar Bluff Wildlife Area in Trego County. Two young hunters will hunt in specially-designated areas on Cedar Bluff Wildlife Area.

The first morning will consist of classroom instruction along with a trip to the range to sight in rifles. Once rifles are sighted in and everyone has had lunch, guides and youth hunters will go afield. All hunters will return to the meeting area that evening. Those youth who are unsuccessful that day will be invited to hunt the following day.

Youth participants for this hunt must be residents of Kansas ages 10 through 16. One disabled veteran and one disabled youth will also be selected to participate in the hunt. In addition, candidates for the hunt must complete and submit an application form by Aug. 25. Application forms may be obtained at the KDWPT website, ksoutdoors.com (type “TJ’s” in the search box) or by contacting Natural Resource Officer II Jason Hawman at 785-483-0504. There is no charge for the hunt, and lodging will be provided.

Special hunts like this are part of the Kansas Hunter Recruitment and Retention Program called "PASS IT ON." This program addresses the need to recruit new hunters and retain existing hunters in order to ensure the future of hunting in Kansas.

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MANAGED FIELDS EXCELLENT FOR SEPT. 1 DOVE OPENER

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

KDWPT-managed areas are magnets for elusive mourning doves
PRATT — Many hunters view Sept. 1 as the opening of hunting season, with dove season beginning on that day. It’s been a blistering hot, dry summer, but mourning doves seem to thrive in hot, dry weather, and Kansas hunters should have no problem finding this acrobat game bird when the season opens. Hitting them may be another matter, so target practice prior to season is important.

Although the mourning dove is the primary quarry, Kansas hunters enjoy pursuing four species of doves in split fall and winter seasons. The season for all doves runs Sept. 1-Oct. 31 and Nov. 3-11. During these segments, two native species (mourning and white-winged doves) as well as two exotic species (Eurasian collared and ringed turtle doves) may be taken. In addition, an exotic species season runs Nov. 20-Feb. 28, 2013. During this time, only Eurasian collared and ringed turtle doves may be taken.

To enhance public hunting opportunities, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) manages fields specifically to attract doves. Dove fields may include standing or mowed sunflowers, unharvested strips of wheat and burned crop stubble, mowed wheat, mixed plantings, or any combination of techniques.

Some areas have restricted hunting dates or times, and others may be restricted to youth, novice, and/or disabled hunters. Some may also require hunters using managed dove fields to obtain and complete a daily hunt permit or obtain access through a drawing. Other areas are open to the general public. Fields within waterfowl management areas require non-toxic shot only. Daily hunt permits are free and located in “iron rangers” (similar to mailboxes) at the field near you.

Use the KDWPT website, ksoutdoors.com, to find details on areas specially managed for doves. Click "Hunting/Migratory Birds/Doves/Managed Hunting Areas" for details on a managed dove area.

Hunters are reminded that there are no bag and possession limits for Eurasian collared doves and ringed turtle doves. However, during the regular dove season — Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 and Nov. 3-11 — if the take of exotic doves exceeds a hunter’s daily bag of 15 mourning and white-winged doves (single species or in combination), the exotic doves must be transported with a fully-feathered wing attached. The possession limit for mourning and white-winged doves is 30.

Doves are excellent table fare. Whether wrapped in bacon and grilled, baked in a pie, or skewered for shish-ka-bobs, this game bird is a favorite of many. But don’t wait until Sept. 1 to get ready. Hunters should be scouting areas and obtaining permission on private ground or planning for a public land hunt now. Shooting clay targets for a couple of weeks will save shells once the season opens, but stock up on shells anyway; this is one of the most difficult game birds to hit. These things done, all that remains is knowing the law and cleaning the grill.

All dates and regulations needed for hunting doves may be found online at the KDWPT website, ksoutdoors.com. On Aug. 23, the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission will approve final regulations for ducks and geese at the Wetland Education Center, 592 NE K156 Highway, near Great Bend. Once that action is complete, KDWPT can post the 2012 Kansas Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summary, on the agency’s website, where hunters can go to learn more about identifying dove species. At that time, click "Hunting/Hunting Regulations" to view or download this booklet.

Printed copies of the 2012 Kansas Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summary, as well as the Kansas Hunting Atlas, will be available where licenses are sold the first week in September.

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