Extended antlerless whitetail deer season shortened; two units opened to game tags
PRATT -- The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission approved 2007 hunting seasons for deer, antelope, and elk at its April 19 public hearing in Dodge City. Deer seasons for 2007 include the following:

• early muzzleloader season -- Sept. 15-28;
• youth/disabled persons season -- Sept. 29-30;
• archery season -- Oct. 1-Dec. 31;
• early firearms (Deer Management Unit 19 only) -- Oct. 13-21;
• regular firearms season -- Nov. 28-Dec. 9;
• extended whitetail antlerless only season -- Jan. 1-6, 2008; and
• extended archery (Deer Management Unit 19 only) -- Jan. 7-31, 2008.

While deer seasons are similar to last year’s, there are two notable changes from 2006. First, the extended season for whitetail antlerless deer was reduced from seven days last season to six days in January of 2008. Also, whitetail antlerless game tags are authorized in two additional units (1 and 2, located in northwest Kansas) where they were not authorized in 2006.

Antelope seasons for 2007 include the following:

• archery season -- Sept. 22-30 and Oct. 13-31;
• muzzleloader-only season -- Oct. 1-8; and
• firearms season -- Oct. 5-8.

Firearm and muzzleloader antelope permits are available for residents only, and the 2007 application deadline is June 8. Archery permits, for residents and nonresidents, may be obtained through Oct. 30. Nonresident antelope permits, for archery hunting only, were available for the first time in 2006, and a total of five nonresident archery permits were sold.

Elk seasons on Fort Riley for 2007 include the following:

• archery and muzzleloader -- Sept. 1-30; and
• firearms -- Oct. 1-Dec. 31.

Elk season dates for 2007 outside Fort Riley (except Morton County) are:

• muzzleloader -- Sept. 1-30;
• archery -- Oct. 1-Dec. 31; and
• firearms -- Nov. 28-Dec. 9 and Jan. 1-March 15, 2008.

Only residents are eligible for elk permits. Elk hunting on and around Fort Riley began in 1990. Most of the elk hunting opportunity occurs on the fort. However, lengthened seasons and unlimited hunt-own-land permits have been allocated off the fort since 1999, and elk hunting was opened statewide (except Morton County) last season. This framework allows landowners to deal with elk causing crop damage or other conflicts. Hunt-Own-Land permits are unlimited; eighteen Hunt-Own-Land Elk permits were issued last year. Seven Any-Elk permits and 12 Antlerless-Only Elk permits were authorized for the 2007 limited draw. Application deadline is July 13, except Hunt-Own-Land permits, which are available through the next to last day of the season.
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