September 2008

Special hunts offered on seven tracts in four counties; signup requiredThe Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks and KU Endowment have created an opportunity for youths under 16 to hunt deer. More than 1,200 acres owned by KU Endowment will be open to limited hunting during the weekends of Sept. 13-14 and Sept. 20-21.The hunting opportunity ... Read More


Plan outlines history, standardized approach to management of speciesThe Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has developed a plan to manage striped bass hybrids -- commonly known as “wipers” -- in Sunflower State waters.An artificially-produced cross between a striped bass and a white bass, wipers were first produced at a temporary hatchery ... Read More


Fairgoers can enter drawing for free state park cabin weekends; Kansas Wildscape selling raffle tickets for bass boatThe 2008 Kansas State Fair -- Sept. 5-14 -- offers a wide variety of sights, sounds, food, music, and other entertainment for fair visitors. This year, it also offers a chance for a free weekend at a Kansas State Park cabin. In a ... Read More


Video demonstrates how boaters can help stop spread of aquatic nuisance speciesZebra mussels have spread to six Kansas lakes (Lake Afton, Winfield City Lake, and Cheney, El Dorado, Marion, and Perry reservoirs), with John Redmond Reservoir and Coffey County Lake pending further tests. But as the boating season comes to a close, Kansas Departmen ... Read More


Hunt for Hunger honors Arndt’s commitment to outdoors with scholarshipBeau Arndt -- the avid hunter, outdoorsman, and Emporia State University freshman who was killed by a poacher while hunting in December 2007 -- has been honored with a scholarship in his name at Emporia State University (ESU). The Beau Arndt “Love for the Outdoors” Scholarshi ... Read More


Event designed to promote healthy outdoor activitiesOn Oct. 6-7, the Kansas Recreation and Park Association (KRPA) will conduct a two-day event entitled the Kansas Health Summit: Built Environment and the Outdoors. The event will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Century II Convention Center in Wichita.The summit will promote the concep ... Read More


Weekend hunts on refuge offer quality hunts for participantsYoung waterfowl hunters and their mentors are being offered a special hunting opportunity at Neosho Wildlife Area during the upcoming early teal season, which runs Sept. 13 – 28 east of U.S. 283. Neosho Wildlife Area is located one mile east of St. Paul in Neosho County.The wildlife ar ... Read More


Migrating teal numbers similar to last year, well above long-term averageTeal are the smallest ducks, but they are popular among waterfowl hunters; they are the first waterfowl that hunters may pursue each year, and their numbers are generally high. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this year's blue-winged teal estimated populati ... Read More


Six species considered for addition to list, three for removalIn accordance with state law (K.S.A. 32-960), the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will conduct public informational meetings to present background information regarding certain species that may be considered for listing or delisting as threatened or endangered species. These ... Read More


More than 70 state park, wildlife area cabins now availableKansas state park cabins continue to grow in popularity as more of these modern and comfortable facilities are built across the state. Reserving cabins is now more convenient than ever, as the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has unveiled an online cabin reservation system ... Read More


Tournament fosters young shooters; Sept. 15 entry deadlineOn Saturday, Sept. 20, the Kinsley Gun Club will host its Annual Kids Klassic trap shooting tournament for high school and junior high students. Each youngster will fire at 100 targets. A $20 entry fee will include a custom T-shirt, dinner, and a chance to win a door prize, including a n ... Read More


Park University graduate brings passion for conservation back homePheasants Forever (PF)/Quail Forever (QF) have appointed Jordan Martincich as the organization's new regional representative for eastern Kansas. Martincich's primary duties with PF/QF will include starting and supporting chapters and members in the region. He will also assist cha ... Read More


Locate playa lakes by countyWondering how many playas are in your backyard? New maps from the Playa Lakes Joint Venture (PLJV) pinpoint locations of more than 60,000 playa wetlands in 155 counties across six states in High Plains. All 155 maps are available for download from the PLJV website.Multiple sources of geographic data went into making ... Read More


Winter and spring weather extremes negatively affected some areas“Good to excellent.” That’s the general prognosis for pheasant, quail, and prairie chicken hunting in Kansas this fall. However, there are some areas where the prospects are not so good due to weather extremes since last fall, so hunters will need to do some pre-season homework an ... Read More


Special event designed to encourage youth participation in outdoor shooting sportsYouth from Morris and surrounding counties are invited to a free shotgun, pellet rifle, and archery shooting and safety clinic on Saturday, Oct. 11, at Council Grove Reservoir. Sponsored by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), the U.S. Army Corps of ... Read More


Halloween critters, hayrack ride, and "monster" myth-busters play featured"Monster Myths by Moonlight" is the title of an Oct. 11 event at Milford State Park. The event will run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and include a hayrack ride and exploration of the nature trails by moonlight.Biologists will man the nature trail, where pa ... Read More


Entry forms due by Oct. 11Kids, get out the colored pencils, crayons, markers, or pastels because the Kansas Wildscape Foundation, along with Capitol Federal Savings, is hosting an art contest. Youngsters 15 and younger are asked to depict their favorite outdoor scene or activity, using whatever two-dimensional medium they prefer (pencils, pain ... Read More


Visitors to enjoy tours of bison enclosure, hay wagon rides, access to restricted areasKansas State University's Konza Prairie Biological Station will holds its biennial Visitors' Day on Saturday, Sept. 27. The event will give visitors a chance to view and walk the historic Kansas Flint Hills and the tallgrass prairie and view on-going research ... Read More


Conservation Achievement Award deadline Dec. 1Throughout the state, Kansans are actively involved in programs to conserve the environment and promote environmental education and outreach. Often, these dedicated groups and individuals go unnoticed.To give these people the recognition they deserve, the Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) annually ho ... Read More


Channel catfish, bass, and bluegill stocked; catch-and-release the first yearOn Saturday, Oct. 4, the west gate at Jewell State Fishing Lake will be opened to the public. Rains in spring, summer, and fall have raised the water level nearly 14 feet, and with this adequate water level, the fishery is being renovated. Although it will take a coupl ... Read More


Limited to 35 participants, clinic to cover all aspects of Kansas fishingThe Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, the City of Ft. Scott, and local merchants are sponsoring a women-only fishing clinic on Oct. 4 at the Ft. Scott City Lake rearing pond, located south of Ft. Scott and 3 miles west of U.S. Highway 69 on the east side of the lake ... Read More


Two Johnson County families establish nearly 2,000-acre conservation easement The Kansas Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) recently signed an agreement on a nearly 2,000-acre conservation easement in the Flint Hills of Chase County. TNC acquired the easement from the C.E. and Lonah Birch and the Robert and Linda Mooney families, both of S ... Read More


$18,175 allocated for specific projects; another $30,000 for outreach and educationThe Kansas State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) recently announced selection of the following Hunting Heritage Super Fund proposals for funding 2009 projects in the Sunflower State. These proposals had been evaluated and ranked earlier by t ... Read More


One of many events around the U. S. recognizing hunter, angler successesThe Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) will host an event to celebrate the contributions of hunters and anglers to fish and wildlife conservation. The National Hunting and Fishing Day observance is set for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at KDWP’s Pratt Ope ... Read More