Hunters asked to avoid standing crops; pheasant and quail seasons to change next year

The 2008 Kansas pheasant season opens on Saturday, Nov. 1, marking the beginning of upland bird seasons.

Upland game bird seasons for 2008 including the following:

• pheasant season (statewide) -- Nov. 1 through Jan. 31, 2009;
• quail season (statewide) -- Nov. 8 through Jan. 31, 2009; and
• prairie chicken season -- Nov. 15 through Jan. 31, 2009, in the Northwest and East units. In the Southwest Unit, prairie chicken season runs Nov. 15-Dec. 31.

This is the structure for the 2008 season. Because many hunters like to make arrangements as much as a year ahead of time, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) reminds all hunters that in 2009, pheasant and quail season will both open on the second Saturday of November. The prairie chicken season will remain the same, opening on the third Saturday in November.

In addition, KDWP reminds all hunters to avoid standing crops. Many farmers have not yet harvested milo and some other crops. Hunters are asked to stay out of standing crop fields because most farmers do not want these fields disturbed until after they have been harvested. Permission is required to hunt private land, whether it is posted or not.

The daily bag limit on pheasants is four roosters, and the daily bag on quail is eight birds of either sex. The daily bag limit on prairie chicken in the East and Northwest units is two, and the daily bag in the Southwest Unit is one. (The prairie chicken Southwest Unit is bordered by Highway K-96 on the north and U.S. 281 on the east.) The possession limit on all three species is four times the daily bag limit.

A valid Kansas hunting license is required of all residents ages 16 through 64. Nonresidents must purchase a $72.50 nonresident hunting license, except that those nonresidents younger than 16 may purchase a youth nonresident license for $37.50. Anyone born on or after July 1, 1957, must have completed a certified hunter education course, except that youth 15 and younger may hunt under direct adult supervision without hunter education certification. Youth 12 through 15 may hunt without adult supervision if they have completed a certified hunter education course.

For complete hunting regulation information, consult the 2008 Kansas Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summary.

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