Opening dates unchanged for 2008
PRATT -- The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission has approved a change in the opening date of pheasant season, moving it to the second Saturday in November, effective in 2009. This year's pheasant opening date will be the first Saturday in November, as it has been since 2006, because many hunters already have made lodging and vacation plans for this fall. The pheasant season runs through Jan. 31, 2009.

At a June 26 public hearing in North Newton, the commission also approved a recommendation to return the quail season closing date to Jan. 31, effective with the upcoming 2008 season. The closing date had been the third Sunday in January since 2006.

Surveys of hunters, landowners, and department staff indicated strong preferences to return the pheasant and quail seasons to their pre-2006 structure. Commissioners did not approve a department recommendation to return the opening of regular prairie chicken season in the east and northwest units to the first Saturday in November.

For 2008, upland bird seasons are as follow:

• pheasant ­- Nov. 1, 2008 through Jan. 31, 2009;
• quail ­- Nov. 8, 2008 through Jan. 31, 2009; and
• prairie chicken ­- Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 (early season, east of U.S. 281 only); Nov. 15, 2008, through Jan. 31, 2009 (northwest and east units); and Nov. 15, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2008 (southwest unit).

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