1905 -- Fish and game laws organized under Kansas Fish and Game Department. Implementation of state law requiring license to hunt in Kansas. Twelve acres donated to the state by Pratt County Commission was deeded to the state.

1906 -- Ring-necked pheasants stocked in Kansas

1911 -- State Fish and Game Department placed under supervision of the University of Kansas Board of Regents

1923 -- Bison herd started at Garden City, with assistance of American Bison Society

1925 -- Fish and Game Department reorganized as Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission, comprising three members appointed by Governor

1926 -- First state fishing lakes built (Neosho and Meade)

1927 -- Reorganization of Commission. Agency given approval to organize a warden service, and pay wardens up to $150 per month. Fishing licenses required of men 18 to 70.

1928 -- Game farms established at Meade County State Park and Crawford County State Park

1933 -- Civilian Conservation Corps begins building projects in Kansas

1934 -- Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act (duck stamp act) passed by Congress

1935 -- Females from 18 to 70 first required to have a license to fish public waters

1937 -- Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration law (Pittman-Robertson Act) enacted

1938 -- Publication "Outdoors with the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission" (predecessor to "Kansas Wildlife & Parks" magazine) began

1939 -- Three-member board was abolished by the legislature and replaced by a six-member bipartisan commission of sportsmen from throughout the state, appointed by the governor. The commission was given the responsibility to appoint a director, salary not to exceed $3,300 per year. References changed from state game warden to director, and deputy game wardens to game protectors.

1939 -- Bureaus of Fisheries and Biological Survey are combined to create the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

1939 -- First land acquisition (Finney Game Refuge) using Pittman-Robertson federal aid funds

1942 -- Acquisition of land for Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area begins

1943 -- Legislature gives full authority to Commission to set seasons and bag limits

1949 -- First walleye stocking in Kansas waters (Clark State Fishing Lake)

1950 -- Federal Aid in Sport Fisheries Restoration law (Dingell-Johnson Act) enacted

1954 -- Construction begins on Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area

1955 -- State Legislature and Gov. Fred Hall create the State Park and Resources Authority

1955 -- First federal wildlife refuge created at Kirwin Reservoir

1956 -- First deer crossing sign erected, U. S. 36 in Cheyenne County

1958 -- Kanopolis State Park authorized by Kansas Legislature

1958 -- Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area dedicated

1960 -- Fall River State Park, Cross Timbers State Park authorized by Kansas Legislature

1960 -- First Kansas boating laws enacted

1961 -- Tuttle Creek State Park authorized by Kansas Legislature

1962 -- Cedar Bluff State Park, Meade State Park, Prairie Dog State Park authorized by Kansas Legislature

1963 -- Pomona State Park authorized by Kansas Legislature

1964 -- Cheney State Park and Webster State Park authorized by Kansas Legislature

1965 -- First archery and firearms deer season

1965 -- Crawford State Park, Lovewell State Park, Milford State Park, Scott State Park, Webster State Park authorized by Kansas Legislature

1965 -- U.S. Congress establishes Land and Water Conservation Fund

1966 -- Wilson State Park authorized by Kansas Legislature

1967 -- Elk City State Park, Perry State Park authorized by Kansas Legislature

1969 -- Glen Elder State Park authorized by Kansas Legislature

1973 -- Kansas Hunter Education Program started

1973 -- Federal Endangered Species Act passed by Congress

1974 -- First modern hunting seasons on antelope and turkey

1974 -- Sandhills State Park authorized by Kansas Legislature

1975 -- Clinton State Park, Eisenhower State Park authorized by Kansas Legislature

1975 -- Kansas Nongame and Endangered Species Act broadens agency responsibility to all vertebrate and non-vertebrate wildlife species

1979 -- El Dorado State Park authorized by Kansas Legislature

1980 -- Kansas Legislature passed the Nongame Wildlife Improvement Fund creating the Chickadee Checkoff donation line on the Kansas state individual income tax form.

1984 -- Milford Fish Hatchery completed

1987 -- Gov. Mike Hayden signs executive order merging State Parks and Resources Authority and Kansas Fish and Game Commission to form Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

1987 -- Kansas Waterfowl Habitat stamp created

1988 -- Hillsdale State Park authorized by Kansas Legislature

1994 -- Prairie Spirit Rail Trail authorized by Kansas Legislature

1994 -- First "Becoming an Outdoors-Woman" workshop at Rock Springs 4-H Center

1995 -- Trout program initiated

1996 -- Walk-In Hunting Areas program initiated

1996 -- Department website created

1999 -- Department debuts online license sales system

2000 -- Outdoor Kansas Kids program begins

2004 -- State Park No. 24 authorized by Kansas Legislature