Public Lands Regulations
Laws governing fish, wildlife, and state parks in Kansas can be in the form of a statute passed by the Kansas Legislature or a regulation which is a directive of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Statutes empower agencies to create regulations, and regulations ensure that the statutory goals are practically achieved.
- Kansas statutes can be found on the Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes webpage. KDWP statutes are primarily listed in Chapter 32.
- Kansas regulations can be found on the Kansas Secretary of State's website. KDWP regulations are primarily listed in 115
- Kansas public lands like state fishing lakes and wildlife areas have special use restrictions that can vary by location. Kansas Public Lands Special Use Restrictions (PDF 180.50 kB)
- Summaries of Kansas hunting, furbearing, fishing, and boating regulations can be found in both English and Spanish here.
Please note, this is not a complete list. See the links above to view all current KDWP regulations.
- Some areas listed here have special restrictions in addition to Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks regulations on department lands and waters. For more information, contact individual location offices.
- Commercial guiding of hunters is not allowed on public lands owned or managed by KDWP, including Walk-in Hunting Access areas.
- Camping at state fishing lakes and wildlife areas is allowed in designated areas only and is limited to limited to a stay of not more than seven consecutive days on that department managed land unless otherwise established by posted notice or authorized by written permit from the department. (Learn about camping at Kansas State Parks here.) Not all state fishing lakes and wildlife areas allow camping. For those that do, campsites are first-come, first-served and cannot be reserved.
- Camping is not allowed at walk-in hunting areas.
- Target shooting is allowed only in designated areas.
- Baiting while hunting or preparing to hunt is illegal on public lands.
- Only two portable blinds or stands are allowed per hunter. Portable blinds may not be left unattended overnight. Stands and portable blinds must be marked with the owner’s name and address or KDWP number. Decoys may not be left unattended overnight.
- On some wildlife areas, dove fields may be designated as non-toxic shot only by posted notice.
Blinds and stands may be used on department lands, subject to posted requirements and under the following conditions: (1) stands may not be placed more than 14 days prior to the season and shall be removed within 14 days of the close of the season; (2) ladders, screw-in metal steps, and steps attached by ropes, cables, or chains may be used to access stands and must be removed with the stand; (3) natural blinds may be used and shall be constructed of natural herbaceous materials or woody debris present on site; (4) any person may use these stands if not occupied; (5) only two portable blinds or stands per department owned or managed area are allowed per hunter; (6) marked with the owner’s name and address or KDWPT number; (7) portable blinds may not be left unattended overnight; and (8) any stand not conforming to the requirements may be removed or destroyed by department staff.