Permits to be sold to raise money for conservation projects
EMPORIA -- Seven Kansas conservation organizations were awarded a 2009 Commission Big Game permit in a drawing conducted at the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission meeting Jan. 8 in Emporia. A total of 108 applications were submitted for the seven available permits.

Winners of the permits include the following:

• Friends of National Rifle Association (NRA), Tallgrass Chapter (elk) -- Rick Chrisman, field representative, 913-294-9956, Rchrisman@nrahq.org;
• Friends of NRA Southwest Kansas Chapter (deer) -- Rick Chrisman, 913-294-9956, Rchrisman@nrahq.org;
• Colby Community College (deer) -- Barry B. Kaaz, director, 785-460-5429, barry.kaaz@colbycc.edu;
• •Ducks Unlimited, Northwest Kansas Chapter (deer) -- Bill Jenkins, district chairman, 785-821-1887, jenkins@kcoe.com;
• Pheasants Forever, Sunflower Chapter (deer) -- Charles "Rick" Doeden, vice president, 785-475-2877, ctdoeden@kans.com;
• Ducks Unlimited, Kaw River Chapter -- (antelope) -- Adam D. Tyner, chairman, 785-617-0110, adam@tynerinsurancegroup.com; and
• Pheasants Forever, Smoky Hill Chapter (deer) -- Shayne Wilson, treasurer, 785-628-1415, slwilson@ruraltel.net.

Commission big game permits were first awarded in 2006. Winners purchase the permits and typically auction them off at their respective conventions and banquets to raise funds for conservation projects. Last year, six winners raised $24,200. (One winner did not pay for a permit.) KDWP received $19,309 of that amount for conservation projects in Kansas. After the price of the permit is deducted, 15 percent of permit sales proceeds go to the local organization's chapter, and 85 percent goes to fund Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks-approved conservation projects.

The winners in 2008 were Fort Riley Pheasants Forever, which sold their deer permit for $500, with $150.87 being spent on habitat; Columbus Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) sold their deer permit for $4,350, with $3,423.67 being spent on spring turkey Walk-In Hunting Access and Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area; Concordia Chapter of the NWTF sold their deer permit for $4,350, with $3,423.67 being spent on spring turkey WIHA and Kaw Wildlife Area restoration; Kansas Ducks Unlimited State Chapter sold their elk permit for $8,500, with $7,006.42 being spent on Jamestown Wildlife Area wetlands; High Plains Friends of NRA sold their deer permit for $3,500, with $2,652.50 being spent on hunter education; and South Central Kansas Friends of NRA sold their deer permit for $3,500, with $2,652.50 being spent on hunter education. The six permits sold for $24,200 with $19,309.63 being spent on conservation projects.

In 2009, KDWP had 111 applications with three disqualified because they had won in one of the three prior years, making 108 valid applications.
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