Complaints from other boaters, lake users impetus for change in state law Before 1994, Kansas boating laws required motorboats with above-water exhausts to have a muffled system and motors with exhaust stacks to have water-induction systems to reduce noise. The law was difficult to enforce, and when the boating laws were rewritten, the regul ... Read More

12,000 wetland acres to be restored and protected in four states The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission recently awarded $2.17 million in North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) funds for three projects within the Playa Lakes Joint Venture (PLJV) region during its Sept. 12 meeting in Washington, D.C. The combined projects will p ... Read More

National, state officials pledge comprehensive effort to connect children and nature A recent National Conference on Parks ended with a ground-breaking agreement designed to improve the health of America’s children. The National Association of State Park Directors, under the leadership of newly-elected President Greg Butts -- director of Ark ... Read More

Oct. 5 - 7 event stresses horsemanship, horse care The Flint Hills Competitive Trail Ride at Tuttle Creek State Park has been an annual event for the last 30 years. This year, the event will be held Oct. 5-7 at the park's Randolph Area. The event is sanctioned by the North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC), headquartered at Sedalia, Col ... Read More

Weeks of repair, cleanup required after June 30th ‘drowning’ of southeast Kansas park Elk City State Park is open for business, following weeks of repair and cleanup after severe flooding. Elk City Reservoir rose 32 feet above normal after heavy rains June 30th. Flood waters covered about 85 percent of the park’s electrical utility campsites ... Read More

Other locations stocked for opening day Trout season opens Oct. 15 in Kansas. While most of the designated trout waters in the state will be stocked with trout in time for opening day, three will not: the stilling basin below Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Hutchinson's Dillon Nature Center, and Lakewood Lake in Salina. Because of water conditions, H ... Read More

Public invited to attend all sessions The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission will conduct a public meeting and hearing Oct. 18 at the Colby Community Building, 285 East 5th, Colby. The afternoon session will begin at 1:30 p.m. The evening public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. The afternoon session will begin with staff reports on the departm ... Read More

Fourth Kansas lake to document presence of troublesome species The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has confirmed that zebra mussels have been found in Perry Reservoir. KDWP’s aquatic nuisance species specialist Jason Goeckler sent SCUBA divers to investigate on Tuesday, Oct. 10th, after a Perry boater contacted him about a sin ... Read More

Cool water brings fish up from the deep As water temperatures drop into the upper 60s, sport fish such as white bass, crappie, and walleye move up from cool, deep water and become more active. Here they feed, taking advantage of the abundant prey and preparing for the coming winter. At this time, they are easier to find and catch. Through mu ... Read More

Late Zone regular season opens Oct. 27; rest of state now open Kansas duck hunting is in full swing, with seasons in the High Plains Zone running Oct. 6-Jan. 1, 2008, and Jan. 19-27, 2008, and the Early Zone seasons running Oct.13-Dec.9 and Dec. 15-30. Still to come, however, are the Late Zone seasons -- Oct. 27-Dec. 30 and Jan. 19-Jan. 27, ... Read More

Numerous prizes to be raffled in fund-raising event The Kansas State University Ducks Unlimited chapter is planning a party. The event will begin at 2 p.m. Nov. 10 at Longhorns, 1115 Moro St. in Manhattan. In addition to food and beverages, event organizers will raffle a variety of waterfowling gear, including guns, duck and goose decoys, hu ... Read More

Hunters, anglers, and others enjoy convenience, reduced prices in fall and winter Many people don't think of Kansas state parks once summer is over, but many others see them as great places to visit and enjoy the outdoors without the congestion often encountered during the peak use months. During the off-season, hunters and anglers probably ... Read More

Voluntary conservation program promotes environmental quality For those involved in agriculture, fall is a busy time of the year. But Harold L. Klaege, state conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) says that even though producers may be busy, this may be the best time to sig ... Read More

Changes effective Jan. 1, 2008 also include deer permit changes The Kansas Wildlife & Parks Commission has approved a reduction in fees for youth big game, turkey and paddlefish permits. The commission took the action at a public hearing in Colby Oct. 18th. Effective Jan. 1, 2008, permit fees for youth 15 and younger will be reduced to h ... Read More

Approved regulation features expanded season for young, disabled hunters Turkey hunters can start making plans for the 2008 spring season. At a public hearing in Colby Oct. 18th, the Kansas Wildlife & Parks Commission approved a regular season that runs April 9 through May 31, 2008. Commissioners approved a recommendation from Kansas Dep ... Read More

Wildlife & Parks Commission sets fees for 2008 The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission approved changes in fees for rental of some state park cabins, effective Jan. 1, 2008. The changes include several new cabins that will become available in 2008. Cheney and Kanopolis State Park cabin rental fees were increased by $10 per night, while ... Read More

Removal of trout permit requirement for youth among changes The Kansas Wildlife & Parks Commission has approved a variety of changes in fishing regulations, effective Jan. 1, 2008. At their public hearing in Colby Oct. 18th, commissioners took the following actions:

Removed the requirement for youth 15 and younger to possess a trout ... Read More

Child-support debtors may not purchase KDWP licenses, permits Parents who are delinquent on court-ordered child support payments are not eligible to purchase license or permits issued by the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks. A law approved by the 2007 Kansas Legislature and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (House Bill 2393) requires the state ... Read More

November ushers in the majority of Kansas hunting seasons Autumn has arrived in the Sunflower State, ushering in Kansas hunting seasons, which will be in full swing by mid-November. Pheasant season -- perhaps Kansas’ most popular hunt -- opened Nov. 3 and continues through Jan. 31, 2008. Kansas ranks high among states for pheasant production ... Read More

Area open to youth only; registration deadline Nov. 2 ST. MARYS -- For the regular and January deer rifle seasons, the Westar Energy Green Team and Jeffrey Energy Center in St. Marys offers youth a special opportunity to hunt deer. The area is not open to all hunters, but youth 16 and younger with little or no deer hunting experience may hun ... Read More

Peak period of mating activity, other factors, puts deer on the move Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) statistics show that November is the month when the highest number of deer-vehicle collisions occur. Motorists are encouraged to be on particularly high alert about mid-month -- historically when deer-vehicle collisions are highest ... Read More

Public auction scheduled for November 14th In an effort to preserve an icon of the past, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) maintains small herds of buffalo across the state. These herds grow, however, and each year the agency has an auction to sell surplus animals that cannot be supported by the available habitat on the Sand ... Read More