August 24, 2012

Low Plains Southeast Zone duck season to open Nov. 15

GREAT BEND – The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission approved season dates for the 2012-2013 duck and goose seasons at a public hearing conducted at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center near Great Bend on Aug. 23. Duck seasons are as follows: High Plains Unit – Oct. 6-Dec. 30 and Jan. 19-27, 2013; Low Plains Early Zone – Oct. 6-Dec. 2 and Dec. 15-30, 2012; Low Plains Late Zone – Oct. 27-Dec. 30 and Jan. 19-27, 2013; Low Plains Southeast Zone – Nov. 15, 2012-Jan. 27, 2013.

The 2012-2013 goose seasons are as follows: White-fronted geese – Oct. 27-Dec. 30 and Feb. 2-10, 2013; Canada and brant geese – Oct. 27-Nov. 4 and Nov. 7, 2012-Feb. 10, 2013; Light geese (Ross’ and snow) – Oct. 27-Nov. 4 and Nov. 7, 2012-Feb. 10, 2013; Light geese conservation order – Feb. 11-April 30, 2013.

Shooting hours for duck and goose hunting are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. The daily bag limit for ducks is 6 ducks with species and sex restrictions as follows: 5 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 pintails, 2 redheads and 1 canvasback. Daily bag limit for mergansers is 5 (only 2 of which may be hooded). Daily bag limit for coots is 15. Daily bag limits for geese are as follows: 3 Canada geese, 2 white-fronted geese, and 20 light geese. Possession limit for ducks and geese is twice the daily bag limit, except there is no possession limit for light geese. During the conservation order for light geese, there is no daily bag or possession limit.

Special youth waterfowl seasons allow youth 15 and younger to hunt under the supervision of an adult 18 years old or older. The adult may not hunt. Shooting hours and bag limits are the same as during the regular duck and goose seasons. Youth seasons are as follows: High Plains Unit and Low Plains Early Zone – Sept. 29-30; Low Plains Late Zone – Oct. 20-21; and Low Plains Southeast Zone – Nov. 3-4.

The Commission also approved changes to the falconry regulations, which bring Kansas state regulations in compliance with federal requirements and allows falconers to operate under a state-managed system with federal oversight.

Changes were approved to rehabilitation permit regulations as a result of changes in the falconry regulations related to the possession requirements for treatment of injured animals.

The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission will meet next on October 18 at Flint Oak, Fall River.

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