March 1, 2012
Special hunts application deadline March 18; regular season April 11-May 31
PRATT — To encourage youth involvement in turkey hunting, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) will offer special hunts on select state wildlife areas this spring. In addition, KDWPT is joining with private landowners to offer special turkey hunts on private lands. Private land special hunts will be offered in 12 counties — Chase, Clay, Douglas, Leavenworth, Marshall, Osage, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Reno, Riley, Sumner, and Wabaunsee — opening more than 3,700 acres for 83 special hunts.

Public lands special spring turkey hunts will be held on Benedictine Bottoms, Grand Osage, Kansas River Fitzgerald Tract, and Noe (Jackson County) wildlife areas, as well as Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge and Pottawatomie SFL No. 2.

Special hunts range from youth-only and youth-mentor hunts to open hunts. All special hunt opportunities are available by online application and a random drawing. Those applicants who are drawn for a hunt will be notified by email with additional hunt information and their special hunt permit. The online application and hunt information is on the KDWPT website, www.ksoutdoors.com under Hunting/Special Hunts Information. The application deadline is Sunday, March 18.

Access to lands enrolled in these special hunts will be limited to foot traffic only, unless posted otherwise. Each property will have special restrictions for dates allowed and type of hunt that will be listed on the application.

For more information or applications, contact Tina McFerrin, KDWPT, 512 SE 25th Ave., Pratt, KS 67124; phone 620-672-0791; or email tina.mcferrin@ksoutdoors.com.

The 2012 spring turkey season runs April 11-May 31. Turkey permits allow hunters to use a shotgun, crossbow, or bow throughout the regular season. Archery-only and youth/disabled seasons run concurrently, April 1-10.

Turkey permits for units 1, 2, and 3 may be purchased online from the KDWPT website or over the counter at any license vendor. Detailed information on spring turkey hunting seasons, permits, and fees may be found on the website under Hunting/Applications and Fees/Turkey. This page also includes results of the resident-only, limited-draw permit application for Unit 4.

Archery hunters, anyone 16 years old or younger, and those with disability permits may hunt April 1-10. (All youth must have an adult supervisor during the youth season.) Hunters younger than 16 are not required to have hunter education certification to hunt while they are supervised by a person 18 or older, but they must have a turkey permit. (During the regular season, persons age 12 through 15 may hunt without adult supervision if they have completed a certified hunter education course.) Hunter education certification may not be obtained until age 11, and all hunters younger than 12 must have adult supervision to hunt at any time.

A spring turkey atlas showing all public hunting lands and spring Walk-In Hunting Access program lands will be available at KDWPT offices and the KDWPT website in late March.
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