August 2006

No September Canada goose season means more days during regular season One change in Kansas hunters’ waterfowling opportunity this year is the decision to forego a September Canada goose season. The season was originally created to help control resident Canada goose populations in urban areas around Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence, and Kansas City ... Read More


Low Plains season opened Sept. 9, High Plains Sept. 16 What a difference a few days can make. A few weeks ago, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks reported that wetlands in central and northwest Kansas were in dire straits due to lack of rainfall. One of the agency's premier wetlands -- Cheyenne Bottoms , near Great Bend -- was nearl ... Read More


Highly-pathogenic strain not yet in North America; risk to hunters extremely low With the start of hunting seasons, bird hunters may be concerned about avian influenza, commonly known as “bird flu." Birds have long been susceptible to bird flu, but the latest strain -- highly-pathogenic H5N1 -- has killed more than 200 million domestic ... Read More


Whitetail either sex permits still available; no deer check stations this year Two deer seasons open in September: the muzzleloader season, which runs Sept. 9-22, and the youth/disabled season, which runs Sept. 23-24. Resident hunters who have yet to obtain a Whitetail Either Sex permit may obtain one at Kansas Department of Wildlife and Par ... Read More


Celebrations continue into early fall Each month, Kansas state parks conduct special events, some in conjunction with Free Park Entrance Days, some to celebrate a special historical event or geological attribute of an individual park, and others just for entertainment. Each park sets its own dates for these events, including Free Park Entran ... Read More


Proximity to Manhattan doubles the fun for many park users After Labor Day weekend, parks typically tend to start winding down for the season, but at Tuttle Creek State Park , a second season is only just beginning. With the emergence of Kansas State football onto the national spotlight during the 1990s, along came many campers. Camping at T ... Read More


Clay targets, .22 caliber rifle shooting, free dinner to highlight event On Wednesday, Aug. 30, the Topeka Chapter of Pheasants Forever , in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, is holding the annual novice shooting clinic at its Leopold Conservation Education Area by Perry Reservoir, north of the Perry State Park of ... Read More


Sept. 2-4 event to offer limited-access fields to young hunters The Westar Energy Green Team will host a dove hunt for novice hunters at the Jeffrey Energy Center, near Topeka, on Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2-4. Volunteers will guide novices to wheat stubble fields with limited access in early morning or late afternoon Saturday through Monday ... Read More


Kansas Hunting Atlas available; regulations online; hunters asked to look for banded doves Kansas hunters are preparing for the traditional start of fall hunting when dove season opens Sept. 1 -- a split season running Sept. 1-Oct. 14 and Nov. 1-16. Special hunts are being prepared for youth in some areas of the state, and seasoned hunters ... Read More


Past, present and future management of area to highlight discussion ST. PAUL - The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will conduct a public meeting Tuesday, Aug. 29 to discuss the past, present and future management of the Neosho Wildlife Area. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Osage Mission Neosho County Museum in St. Paul. Every ... Read More


Management plans, waterfowl reports to be discussed The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will hold a public informational meeting for the McPherson Valley Wetlands on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at the Kansas Sampler, Inman. The agenda will include a presentation by area manager Brent Theede, providing information on upcoming development plans, ... Read More


Impaired stream flows deplete many reservoirs; boating safety, waterfowl seasons may be affected The past year has not been good to the reservoirs of northern Kansas. Drought and heavy water use have plagued the region, and the resulting lack of stream flow into these reservoirs has fishermen wringing their hands and boaters cautiously motor ... Read More


The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission finalized 2006 waterfowl seasons in a public hearing at Pratt Community College Aug. 17th. Seasons and limits include the following:
EARLY TEAL
High Plains Zone: Sept. 16 - 23
Low Plains Zone: Sept. 9 – 24
Daily Bag Limit: 4
Possession Limit: Twice the daily limitShooting Hours: One-half hour before su ... Read More


2006 Kansas Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summary also coming soon Kansas hunters eagerly awaiting the September 1st opening of the 2006 dove hunting season don’t have to wait to start making plans. The 2006 Hunting Atlas, which includes maps showing locations of Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) and other public wildlife areas, is avail ... Read More


One-day classes scheduled at Lovewell State Park, Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks wants to introduce interested novices to the world of waterfowl hunting. The department is offering one-day classes at two locations: Sept. 9 at Lovewell State Park and Oct. 7 at Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area . Each ... Read More


Leftover deer permits on sale now The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has announced that about 1,600 nonresident deer permits are still available in several deer management units. The permits were not taken in the May nonresident application period. These permits are all firearms Whitetail Either Sex permits and are being sold ... Read More


Iola Aug. 29, Emporia Aug. 30, and Independence Aug. 31 The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is conducting a series of public meeting on draft deer permitting regulations in 14 locations across Kansas this month. Meetings already have occurred at Medicine Lodge, Wichita, Winfield, Salina, Colby, Phillipsburg, Hays. Seneca, Topeka, Kan ... Read More


Migratory bird seasons top evening public hearing agenda in Pratt The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission will conduct a public meeting and hearing at Pratt Community College Auditorium Thursday, August 17th. The afternoon session will begin at 1:30 p.m.; the evening public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend all se ... Read More


New hire begins work Aug. 10th ST. PAUL, MN - Quail Forever (QF) and Pheasants Forever (PF) announce the hiring of Elsa Gallagher as the organization's new wildlife biologist serving Missouri and eastern Kansas. Gallagher had spent the last six years with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Most recently, Gallagher served as the Departm ... Read More


Award honors longtime Wichita Eagle outdoor writer, photographer Mitchell Keeley, a 2006 graduate of LaCrosse High School, was named this year’s recipient of the Steve Harper Scholarship. Keeley plans to pursue a degree in wildlife biology at Fort Hays State University and will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Steve Harper was a longtime outdoo ... Read More


Salina, Colby, Phillipsburg, Hays August 7-10; Seneca, Topeka, Kansas City Aug. 14-16 The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is conducting a series of public meeting on draft deer permitting regulations in 14 locations across Kansas this month. Meetings already have occurred at Medicine Lodge, Wichita, and Winfield. Upcoming meetings in ... Read More