April 9, 2013Range-wide lesser prairie chicken conservation plan submitted to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in hopes of precluding a listing under the Endangered Species ActPHOENIX, AZ. – The lesser prairie chicken is a grassland grouse species native and once common to parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma. However, declin ... Read More

Sept. 26, 2013Plan is alternative to federal Endangered Species Act listing TOPEKA – The fourth draft of a comprehensive conservation plan for the lesser prairie-chicken has been submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for endorsement, a plan offered by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) and state wildlife age ... Read More

Oct. 10, 2013Despite drought during the reproductive season, some upland game hunters may experience a memorable harvest this fallPRATT – The 2013 Upland Bird Forecast is now available for viewing online at ksoutdoors.com, and although population levels are projected to be less than favorable, upland bird hunters willing to travel to northern K ... Read More

October 24, 2013 Range-wide plan provides model for state leadership in conservation of a species proposed for listing under the ESA Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) endorsed the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Lesser Prairie-Chicken Range-Wide Conservation Plan, a landmark, collaborative planning e ... Read More

BURLINGTON – The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) Commission approved a proposal to raise fees for fishing and hunting licenses at their public meeting in Burlington on October 22, 2015. The new fees will be effective January 1, 2016. KDWPT staff have been discussing fee increases since early last spring and presented a draft proposal ... Read More

PRATT – The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) Commission conducted a public hearing in Liberal on Oct. 20, 2016. The seven-member nonpartisan commission approved several regulations brought before them by KDWPT staff. All public hearing items were discussed and workshopped at previous public commission meetings.Regulations governing th ... Read More

PRATT – The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission conducted a public meeting in Topeka on March 23 and voted on big game seasons, including deer, elk and antelope. Secretary’s Orders for 2017 deer permit quotas were also presented.Items reviewed during the Workshop Session included recommendations for migratory bird seasons, including s ... Read More

The 19th Annual Kansas ECO-Meet State Finals competition was held at the Webster Conference Center, near Salina, on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017. The event hosted 29 high school teams from across Kansas to see which would win the top spot.ECO-meets are quiz-bowl-type competitions that test high school students on their knowledge of Kansas plants and ... Read More

PRATT ­– Kathy Carroll, Bonner Springs, identified 334 unique species of birds in the Sunflower State last year while participating in the fifth annual Kansas Birding Big Year contest that ended on Dec. 31, 2017. Her efforts won 1st place in the intermediate category and was the overall high among all entrants. The Kansas Birding Big Year conte ... Read More

PRATT – The same strong storm systems that ruined many dove hunts came at a perfect time for this year’s teal season. Many wetlands have been filling since Sunday. The combination of improved habitat, a cool front, and hunting seasons in northern states has brought thousands of blue-winged and green-winged teal to Kansas. Some of the best hunti ... Read More