The 22nd Annual Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt will be held April 11-12, 2008 in El Dorado “We have a strong hunting tradition in Kansas and the annual one-shot turkey hunt is a great way to celebrate that tradition and kick off the spring turkey hunting season,” Governor Kathleen Sebelius said. As governor, Sebelius has participated in th ... Read More

Shikar-Safari Club Interational award puts Stones in elite company Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) natural resource officer Larry Stones has been honored with the Shikar-Safari Club International Wildlife Officer of the Year award. Stones, from Kirwin, received the award in February in recognition of efforts above and beyond a ... Read More

Becomes 35th state caucus to join National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses Sportsmen have an influential ally in the Kansas Legislature since formation of the Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus on March 25. The Kansas Caucus becomes the 35th state affiliated with the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC). A sportsmen’s caucus is for ... Read More

Easy-to-use guide displays Kansas birds in stunning photos, reveals best birding spots With exceptional habitat diversity and its key location at the hub of the Northern Hemisphere's migration corridors, Kansas is a bird-watcher's paradise. More than 470 avian species have been documented within its borders. From spectacularly beautiful bird ... Read More

Rules affect life jackets, vessel identification stickers, no-wake zones, and more The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has announced several changes to Kansas boating laws and regulations that went into effect Jan. 1. Boaters should be aware of these changes in order to ensure safety and avoid potential citations. Safe opera ... Read More

Improved accident analysis, theft deterrence among benefits of plan The U. S. Coast Guard is requesting comments on the costs and benefits of expanding the existing 12-character Hull Identification Number (HIN) in order to provide additional information identifying vessels. The existing 12-character HIN is required on all recreational boats ... Read More

2008 deer, antelope seasons highlight evening public hearing The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission will conduct a public meeting and hearing at the Finnup Center at Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City April 17. The afternoon session will begin at 1:30 p.m. The evening public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. The afternoon session will include su ... Read More

Zero-tolerance policy planned for 2008 boating season Kansas boaters are advised to pay special attention to life jacket requirements this boating season, according to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP). “We plan to take a zero-tolerance approach to life jacket violations this year,” said Dan Hesket, KDWP boating law administ ... Read More

Hoisington to host event; $1,000 prizes offered in four divisions On April 19, Cheyenne Partnership of Hoisington will host the 2008 World All-Round Waterfowl Calling Championship near Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area. Callers must compete in each of four divisions: Canada Goose, snow goose, white-fronted goose, and mallard duck. Five judges w ... Read More

After seven printings, classic guide gets facelift Fort Hays State University has announced the Second Edition of Pasture and Range Plants, a highly popular and valuable guide to plant life in the Great Plains. The first edition was compiled by Fort Hays State University (FHSU) with the help of the Phillips Petroleum Co., which donated the m ... Read More

Painting of ring-necked ducks wins state honors, moves on to national competition Layne Anderson, an 18-year old senior at Olathe Northwest High School, captured Best of Show honors for Kansas at the Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest on March 26 in Wichita. Her acrylic painting of a pair of ring-necked ducks won the top spot in the judging and w ... Read More

National Wild Turkey Federation’s Munker’s Creek Limbhangers Chapter hosts 8th annual special hunt Ten lucky youngsters made memories to last a lifetime on April 5 at the 8th Annual Council Grove Turkey Hunt. The Munker’s Creek Limbhangers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) hosted the event. It was the second youth hunt or ... Read More

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve begins new tradition introducing youth to outdoors The National Park Service (NPS) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are joining the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) to sponsor a kids’ fishing clinic at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve on Saturday, April 26, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The event is design ... Read More

Rare alligator snapping turtle weighs more than 120 pounds An alligator snapping turtle weighing more than 120 pounds and estimated to be more than 100 years old is now on display at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Pratt Education Center, 2 miles east and 1 mile south of Pratt. The massive reptile was given to the education cente ... Read More

High-tech treasure hunt is feature event of OK Kids Day This year’s OK Kids Day at Lovewell State Park on April 19 promises to be a fun and educational event where kids can participate in hands-on activities in Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and geocaching. Crystal Fangmeier, University of Nebraska Extension Specialist, will pre ... Read More

Greensburg man honored for wildlife habitat work; 2008 applications now available Jason Johnson of Paradise Island Farms, near Greensburg, was recently recognized as the 2007 Quail Unlimited/Budweiser Adopt-A-Covey Central Plains Regional Award winner by Bob Peterson, Quail Unlimited (QU) Central Plains regional director. Peterson selected J ... Read More

Book describes almost 1,000 miles of rivers available to the public For years, Kansas canoe, kayak, and float-trip enthusiasts have pined for places to put boats in the water and enjoy a peaceful day on the river. While those places have always existed, they haven't been well-known. With the publication of Dave Murphy's Paddling Kansas, Kans ... Read More

Hard-fighting sportfish migrating upstream from Kansas reservoirs for spring spawn Water temperatures in streams feeding larger Kansas reservoirs have begun to warm, spurring white bass on their annual spring spawning run. According to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), anglers are just beginning to catch white bass in strea ... Read More

Deer and antelope seasons set at Commission’s April meeting GARDEN CITY -- The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission listened to recommendations concerning the deer and antelope seasons at its public hearing Thursday night in Garden City. Commissioners approved the following season dates for deer.
The archery season will begin Sept. 22, 2008 ... Read More

Application may be downloaded and mailed or completed online PRATT -- The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has announced that 2008 nonresident deer applications are now available online (click here, then on "Application 2008 Deer Nonresident"). To apply by mail, complete the downloaded application and mail to the address pro ... Read More

Proceeds help underprivileged children attend Outdoor Adventure Camp Looking for some bargains on fishing, hunting, and camping equipment? Attend the May 5 Outdoor Writers of Kansas (OWK) charity auction at the Econo Lodge, 2222 W. 6th St., in Lawrence. The event will begin at 7:30 p.m., featuring a discounted shopping spree at Cabela's and ... Read More

Springtime offers excellent viewing opportunities; scope, bird ID book suggested
Mudflats get busy when hungry shorebirds migrate through Kansas. These long-distance travelers stop to rest where food is plentiful in marshes and playas. Drenched soil teems with small invertebrates that help fuel shorebird flights to the breeding grounds, and ... Read More

College and secondary school students given opportunity to compete at Sedgwick event The Kansas Trapshooters Association (KTA) will host a special trap shooting event for youth at this year's state trap shooting championships -- 3432 East 117th St. North, in Sedgwick -- on June 7. The event is sponsored by the Amateur Trapshooting Hall of Fa ... Read More

Opportunity for public to comment on proposed changes to species' status The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is mandated by the Kansas Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1975 to review all current and proposed threatened and endangered (T&E) species every five years, and 2008 marks another year for review. ... Read More

Many parks combine OK Kids and Free Park Entrance days first weekend in May April showers have brought May flowers to Kansas state parks, and with flowers come warm weather and more outdoor events. Many of the highlights of state park events are OK Kids Days. This May, several state parks will conduct events specifically for youth. These eve ... Read More

“Deer FAQ” delivers answers on sweeping changes, two years in the making What are deer permit options this year? How have deer seasons changed for 2008? How many deer permits may be purchased? These and other questions are answered in the online “Deer Frequently Asked Questions” at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) website. ... Read More

Bus tours, presentations, re-dedication ceremony, barbecue to highlight event On June 1, staff of various agencies at Lovewell Reservoir will celebrate the lake's 50th birthday at the Community Arts Center, 421 Main in Courtland. The Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District, the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), the Kansas Department of Wildlife and P ... Read More

Boys Scouts, 4-H join habitat conservation effort The Stranger Creek Limb Hanger’s Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) will be planting 200 trees at Wyandotte County Lake on May 3, with the help of the Boy Scouts of America and Wyandotte County 4-H. Each year, NWTF provides oak trees to enhance habitat on areas that suppor ... Read More

Event will cover grassland, forest, riparian management, and much more Vaughn Juhnke, winner of the 2006 Kansas Agroforestry Award will be hosting the 2008 Agroforestry Field Day at his McPherson County farm on Thursday, May 29. Agroforestry is the integration of trees, shrubs and other vegetation into agricultural production. The goal of agro ... Read More