Posted by: Press Release Posted by David Elliott
Publication date: 24.03.2021

Overcrowding concerns in public waterfowl hunting areas will be one of several topics discussed by the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism officers during their virtual public meeting on March 25th.

Tom Bidrowski, program manager for migratory birds for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), will describe a sharp rise in complaints from resident hunters about competition from non-resident hunters in places like the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area.

Unlike highland birds and large game, most Kansans rely heavily on public areas to hunt ducks and geese. Bidrowski will share his research on how other states are dealing with the problem, such as states limiting the number of licenses sold to non-resident waterfowl and / or restricting hunters outside the state to a limited number of days of hunting.

Other points that need to be discussed by the Commissioners are:

Migratory seasons:

  • Bidrowski will outline the framework for the 2021-22 waterfowl season in Kansas. The proposed season dates, limits, and limits of the management units are very similar to the 2020-21 waterfowl seasons in Kansas. This issue will be discussed again at the public meeting of the Commission on April 29th, followed by a final vote by the Commissioners.
  • KDWPT Migratory Birds Coordinator Rich Schultheis will present the proposed seasons and regulations for webless migratory birds, which include species such as cranes, pigeons, snipes and rails.

Raising the maximum age for young people:

  • KDWPT staff and commissioners will be discussing a possible raising of the maximum age to 17 for special youth hunting seasons in Kansas. Currently, government regulations limit the age for the juvenile waterfowl season to 15 years and the highland bird, turkey, and deer seasons to 16 years. KDWPT staff are confident that increasing age ratings would result in greater consistency between regulations and increase the likelihood of high quality hunting experiences for youngsters.

Deer seasons:

  • Levi Jaster, KDWPT coordinator for the big game program, will propose staff recommendations for the 2021-22 stag season in Kansas that are largely similar to previous seasons.
  • KDWPT Secretary Brad Loveless will set deer season approval quotas for non-resident hunters in 2021. The contribution of the Commission and the public will be encouraged and taken into account.

State park permits through kiosks:

  • Linda Lanterman, Director of KDWPT State Park, will discuss plans to install electronic payment machines in several Kansas State Parks. State park staff believe that electronic payment machines would make it easier for state park visitors to purchase various vehicle and camping permits at the discretion of the user. If approved, electronic payment machines could be operational in some Kansas State parks later this year.

Highland wild bird season:

  • Kent Fricke, KDWPT Small Game Coordinator, and Jeff Prendergast, KDWPT Small Game Specialist, will provide staff recommendations for the 2021-22 pheasant, quail and prairie chicken seasons, which are expected to follow the traditional seasonal framework. Both biologists will also update the 2020-21 season results and discuss reproductive projections for pheasants, quail, turkeys and prairie chickens.

Antelope and elk season:

  • Matt Peek, KDWPT Wildlife Research Biologist, will present the proposed season dates and approve the allocation for the antelope and elk hunting season 2021-22.

A full Commission agenda and information booklet can be found at https://ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/Commission/Meeting-Schedule/March-25-2021.

Commissioners will start the meeting on March 25th at 1.30 p.m., take a break at 5 p.m. and then meet for a public hearing at 6.30 p.m. During this time the Commissioners will vote on selected items. Public contributions will be welcomed during both the afternoon and evening sessions, and time will be allowed at the beginning of both sessions for comments on items that are not on the agenda of the session. For specific instructions on how to participate, see https://ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/Commission/Instructions-to-Participate-in-Virtual-Meeting.

A hearing-impaired interpreter can be obtained from the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Anyone with a disability can request other accommodation by contacting the Secretary of the Commission at 620-672-5911.

The next meeting of the KDWPT commission is scheduled for Thursday April 29th at the Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative in Beloit.

(Information courtesy of KDWPT.)