SPRING TURKEY ATLAS AVAILABLE ONLINE; SEASON OPENS APRIL 12TH

Printed atlases available in late March; KDWP web log features WIHA discussion

The Kansas youth spring turkey season runs April 7-9, and the regular season opens April 12 and runs through May 31. To help Kansans find places to hunt turkeys, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has announced that its 2006 Kansas Spring Turkey Hunting Atlas is now available online. Maps may be downloaded by county, or the entire atlas may be downloaded.

In addition, printed copies of the atlas will be available in late March at most KDWP offices. Printed copies may also be requested by phoning 620-672-5911. There is no charge for the atlas.

For turkey hunters, this much-anticipated publication of county-by-county maps includes all publicly-accessible land -- including Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) properties, state and federal wildlife areas, and federal wildlife refuges.

More than 136,000 acres of WIHA tracts have been enrolled this spring. Originally confined to the eastern one-third of the state, the spring turkey WIHA program has expanded to include counties in central, northcentral, and northwestern Kansas. Properties shown on the atlas are enrolled for spring only. Special signs identify the areas as open in spring only. For more information, visit the KDWP website or phone 620-672-5911.

Hunters are also invited to visit the KDWP web log to submit their comments on the WIHA program.

-30-