March 8, 2012
Big game and turkey regulations to highlight public hearing; audio/visual streaming available
TOPEKA — The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission will conduct a public meeting and hearing on Thursday, March 22, at the Kansas Historical Society History Center, 6425 SW 6th Avenue in Topeka. The afternoon session will begin at 1:30 p.m. and recess at 5 p.m., and the evening session will begin at 7 p.m.

The afternoon session will begin with time for public comments on non-agenda items, followed by a general discussion period on the following topics:

• Secretary’s remarks;
• Fort Riley presentation;
• 2012 legislative update;
• agency and state fiscal status;
• tourism briefing;
• webless migratory birds;
• early migratory bird seasons;
• commercial mussel harvest;
• prairie chicken seasons;
• Outdoor Recreation Management System (ORMS) update; and
• otter season update.

The afternoon will also include a workshop session, in preparation for potential future regulatory action, covering preliminary recommendations on the following regulations:

• falconry regulations;
• public land regulations;
• KAR 115-25-7 — antelope, open season, bag limit, and permits;
• KAR 115-25-8 — elk, open season, bag limit, and permits;
• KAR 115-25-5 — turkey, fall season, bag limit and permits; and
• KAR 115-25-9a — deer, open season, bag limit, permits, and additional considerations.

The commission will recess at 5 p.m., then reconvene at 7 p.m. at the same location to hear general public comments on non-agenda items, followed by a public hearing on regulations and Secretary’s Orders. Evening public hearing topics include the following:

• KAR 115-4-2 — big game and wild turkey, general provisions;
• KAR 115-4-4 — big game, legal equipment and taking methods;
• KAR 115-4-4a — wild turkey, legal equipment and taking methods;
• KAR 115-25-9 — deer, open season, bag limit, and permits; and
• Secretary’s Orders for deer.

Time will be set aside in both the afternoon and evening sessions for public comment on topics that are not on the agenda. If necessary, the commission will recess on March 22 and reconvene at the same location at 9 a.m., March 23, to complete unfinished business.

Live video and audio streaming of this meeting will be broadcast through the KDWPT website, www.ksoutdoors.com.

If notified in advance, the department will have an interpreter available for the hearing impaired. To request an interpreter, call the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Any individual with a disability may request other accommodations by contacting the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission secretary at 620-672-5911.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 26, at the Great Plains Nature Center, 6232 East 29th Street North in Wichita.
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