Regulations dealing with vehicles on state lands and deer management units heard

The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission conducted a public meeting on Jan. 10 in Independence. During the public hearing portion of the meeting, commissioners heard three proposals to amend regulations.

Parks Division director Jerry Hover presented the Commission with a proposal to amend K.S.A. 115-8-13, which deals with the use of motor vehicles on KDWP lands. The amendment, which was approved unanimously by the commission, defines vehicles legal on KDWP roads as motorized vehicles registered with the state or corresponding authority for legal operation on interstate highways, federal highways and state highways. However, the amendment also allows persons with disabilities to apply for permits that will allow them to use certain motorized vehicles on designated areas of public lands. This permit is designed to provide disabled persons with better access to public land recreation opportunities and is specific to each public area or state park. The permits will be issued by local area and park managers.

In other public hearing action, Wildlife and Parks Commissioners approved staff proposals to revoke K.A.R. 115-4-6a, which established archery deer management units. Archery deer management units were stricken from deer-related statutes during the 2007 legislative session.

The Commission also voted to revoke K.A.R. 115-4-14, which defined the Landowner Deer Management Program. The program had just one applicant, and that landowner withdrew last year. The program is unnecessary due to changes that will occur in the nonresident deer permit allocation process. As a result of those revocations, the Commission also passed amendments to K.A.R. 115-4-6, which defines firearm deer management units. The amendments removed reference to the landowner deer management program, deleted the reference to firearms in unit descriptions.

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