Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KS -–(Ammoland.com)- The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) is introducing a new five-year initiative — the Kansas Quail Initiative — aimed at improving habitat conditions for bobwhite quail, an upland species that has declined throughout much of its range.

The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Kansas State Chapter was the first conservation group to provide financial support for this important conservation effort, committing $12,500. The NWTF also will help deliver and promote the program by helping locate interested landowners and assisting with habitat improvements.

The NWTF has 33 chapters in Kansas with more 2,800 members. More than $885,715 has been raised and spent by Kansas chapters on projects within the state.

“It was a no-brainer for the Kansas State Chapter to step up and become the first conservation organization to support the Quail Initiative,” said Todd Adolph, NWTF Kansas State Chapter president. “We have a positive working relationship with KDWPT, and I expect this initiative will be a big success.”

The Kansas Quail Initiative aims to increase quail populations by 50 percent in five years within “focal areas.” A northern focal area includes portions of Lyon, Osage, and Wabaunsee counties, and a southern focal area includes parts of Neosho and Labette counties.

National Wild Turkey Federation

KDWPT biologists identified these regions as areas with high restoration potential, and they both contain sizable amounts of public land that can be used for core habitat improvements.

“The fact that the NWTF has committed to this initiative shows that we’re not just about turkeys, and that our volunteers understand the urgency to conserve habitat for quail” said Jared McJunkin, NWTF conservation field western region supervisor.

For private landowners in the focal areas, this initiative will increase available cost-share assistance to 100 percent of the estimated costs of implementing quail-friendly practices on their property. KDWPT is committed to spending as much as $100,000 per year on private land habitat improvements in the focal areas for each of the five years of this initiative.

KDWPT also will emphasize the voluntary public access and habitat improvement program in these focal areas to promote enrollment in continuous Conservation Reserve Program practices.

To become an NWTF member, or for more information about the NWTF, go online to www.nwtf.org or phone (800) THE-NWTF.

Kansas Waconda Lake Youth & Women Pheasant Hunt A Big Success

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

GLEN ELDER, KS -–(Ammoland.com)- “There were 18 happy and tired kids — both girls and boys — leaving the Waconda Lake [Glen Elder Reservoir] area and heading home on the night of Saturday, Dec. 10,” said Chris Lecuyer, Glen Elder Wildlife Area manager.

These new hunters had just wrapped up a full day of activities after participating in the 14th Annual 2011 Waconda Lake Youth, Women, and Celebrity Pheasant Hunt. The event is co-sponsored by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) and Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, Inc., of Wichita.

“We began before sunrise with a biscuits and gravy breakfast served by the Waconda Struttin’ Dusters Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation,” Lecuyer said. “The youngsters listened to a quick talk concerning regulations and safety, and then we introduced them to celebrities and heroes who would join them for the hunt.

Celebrities included John Gillotte, the 2010 National Youth Crappiemasters Champion; Wayne Hubbard, creator and host of Urban American Outdoors TV show; and Guy Caster, former professional drag race car driver. The youth were also joined by four true heroes, soldiers who had been wounded in action, including Colonel Phil McCune and Colonel Tom Kurlick from the Fort Riley Warrior Transition Battalion, and Captain Aaron Isaacson and Second Lieutenant Chad Blow from the Kansas National Guard of Topeka.

Near-perfect morning weather greeted the hunters after breakfast. They were divided into three groups to hunt for the rest of the morning. Several non-hunting adults, parents, and family members went with each group to serve as mentors for the inexperienced hunters. The groups hunted in portions of Glen Elder State Park and the refuges of Glen Elder Wildlife Area.

“Generally, public hunting is not allowed in these parts of the Waconda Lake property except for special events such as this,” Lecuyer explained. “The young hunters were definitely up to our challenge, and the groups managed to bag 16 roosters in just three hours of hunting. Many of the young hunters harvested their first-ever pheasants, and nearly everyone had the opportunity to take a shot or two at the tough birds. A couple of the kids actually harvested multiple birds, and even Colonel Kurlick got his first pheasant.”

A hamburger, hot dog, and chili lunch was served at noon by volunteers from the Waconda Lake Association. The association also sponsored a prize contest for the youth with the longest tail feather from their bird. Devin Basnatt’s 22 1/2 inch tail feather won by more than 1 inch.

After lunch, a trap shoot was held near the Glen Elder Area Office. Three shooting stations were available for the participants to hone their shooting skills. A few of the young hunters and their mentors decided to continue hunting during the afternoon at other locations on the wildlife area.

The day’s events concluded in the evening with a barbeque brisket supper at Memorial Hall in Downs. After the meal, each young hunter received a prize package and heard a few words and got autographs from the celebrities. Attendees also listened to information about youth and mentor hunting opportunities, the importance of recruiting new hunters, and the work of conservation organizations.

This year’s youth participants were Bryce Nichols – Beloit; Rhiley Kaser – Osborne; Bryce Griffin, Andrea Howard, Noah Bradley, Matt Parks, and Cole Sauber – Salina; Cody Heiland – Topeka; Ryan and Megan Richards – Stillwell; Marcus Florence – Olathe; Derek McCarthy – Kansas City, Brandon Regester, Dylan Brittain, Nick Miller, and Jakhai Adams – Wichita; and Devin Basnatt and Sabian Dolvig – Rose Hill.

“We couldn’t have done this without donations from of a host of local businesses,” Lecuyer said. “And a special thanks goes out to all the volunteers and mentors who gave their time to the kids. Almost 50 adults gave up a substantial portion of their day or weekend to help these young hunters.”

KDWPT and Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors believe that offering youth opportunities such as the Waconda Lake Youth, Women, and Celebrity Pheasant Hunt is vitally important to ensure both the development of future hunting generations and well-rounded young people. For information about future special hunts at Glen Elder, phone (785) 545-3345.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KS -–(Ammoland.com)- The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) — the organization that represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies — has honored the Alexander Ranch of Barber County with the 2011 National Private Lands Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Award.

The award recognizes an individual- or family-run farm, ranch, or forest operation that has incorporated proactive conservation and environmental protection measures into its operation. The Alexander Ranch is owned and operated by Ted, Brian, and Mona Alexander.

The Alexander Ranch became eligible for the national award by winning the 2011 Kansas Wildlife Habitat Conservation Award. The national award program receives one nomination from each of the 56 states and territories represented by AFWA.

“The Alexanders’ decades of dedication to the improvement of native grasslands in an area once over-grazed and degraded by the encroachment of eastern redcedar deserves statewide recognition,” said Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) wildlife biologist Chris Berens, who nominated the Alexander Ranch for the award. “Their management efforts created a diverse grassland that benefits livestock and a wide variety of wildlife species.”

The ranch covers more than 7,000 acres and has flourished as a custom grazing operation for the past 27 years. Partnering with several agencies, the Alexanders have leveraged resources to optimize the land’s environmental capabilities. Through these partnerships, the ranch operated on a rotational grazing system with three grazing cells, each split into many smaller paddocks, allowing 40-45 days post-grazing recovery time for the grass in each paddock. However, in the past two years, the Alexander Ranch experimented with a higher stocking rate, higher stock density, and herd impact along with a shorter grazing seasons — resulting in longer periods of grass recovery — which seems to be a success.

Additionally, a cooperative effort with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program and KDWPT was key to many of the accomplishments on the ranch, which is home to several wildlife and aquatic species considered at-risk or in need of conservation. This partnership helped the Alexanders interseed forbs on old cropland acres previously converted to native grass, enhance water developments, restore riparian areas, and expand the grazing system.

The ranch has also entered into a “Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances” with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. This voluntary agreement guarantees to address the conservation needs of a species before they become listed as endangered or threatened by specifying actions that will remove or reduce threats to the species.

“Any number of landowners could have won the National Private Lands Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Award based solely on habitat enhancements and other stewardship accomplishments on their ranches,” said Berens. “However, it’s the off-the-ranch activities that make the Alexanders stand out.”

One of the most notable is their willingness to share what they have learned throughout the years with other ranchers, either through one-on-one mentoring or through one of the many conservation organizations to which Ted and Brian belong or serve on the boards. Additionally, they have opened their ranch to training opportunities for public, state, and federal agency staff and have allowed many university students to conduct wildlife research, including the interaction of wildlife and grazing practices.

“The Alexander Ranch is a great example of how excellent ecosystem management can benefit both the producer and Kansas wildlife,” Berens added. “Congratulations and many thanks to the Alexander Ranch for their contributions to promoting wise working-land practices in Kansas.”

Toll-Free Phone Hotline Puts Kansas Poachers On Hot Seat

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KS -–(Ammoland.com)- Each year, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) natural resource officers (NROs) check tens of thousands of hunters in the field, and about 96 percent of them are found to be law-abiding.

Unfortunately, many non-hunters sometimes associate these ethical hunters with that small percentage who are not.

KDWPT has 73 NROs to cover the entire state, so they need the help of hunters — and anyone else who enjoys the outdoors — to watch out for those who don’t take wildlife crime seriously. Whether it’s trespassing, shooting from a vehicle on the road, any other activity that appears to be a violation of the law, KDWPT officers need your help.

The easiest way to fight wildlife crime is by phoning KDWPT’s Operation Game Thief hotline, 1-877-426-3843. Using this toll-free number, concerned hunters and landowners can quickly turn in wildlife criminals simply by picking up the phone. All calls received through the Operation Game Thief line are immediately relayed to the natural resource officer nearest the violation. The line is available anytime of day or night, every day of the year, and callers may remain anonymous.

Nothing can spoil a good hunt more than poachers, who should not be considered “hunters.” Although they may seldom describe themselves as poachers, wildlife thieves are just that. These are the people who trespass, road hunt, litter, take more than their bag limit, drink while they hunt, use illegal equipment, take game out of season, take wildlife for which there is no season, or vandalize. Poachers not only damage the natural resources they should be committed to conserving, they reflect poorly on hunters in the eyes of the general public.

Operation Game Thief calls have resulted in arrests and convictions on violations ranging from public lands vandalism to deer poaching. In many cases, poachers have been arrested within minutes of the call. Even drug operations have been uncovered by alert hunters using this number.

But remember these two important reporting rules:

• never confront suspects; and
• provide as much specific information as possible, such as vehicle descriptions and license tag numbers, descriptions of people involved, locations, and the time and location the incident occurred.

Remember, when you see someone violating wildlife laws, they are stealing from you and damaging the image of legal hunters. Help bring them to justice by phoning 1-877-426-3843.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -–(Ammoland.com)- – For the first time, the nation’s biggest event for pheasant and quail hunters and bird dog enthusiasts is coming to Kansas City.

Pheasants Forever’s National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic will be held Feb. 17-19, 2012, at the Kansas City Convention Center in downtown Kansas City, Mo. The event will be sponsored by Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter.

The annual convention has topped 20,000 in attendance each of the last six events. The Quail Classic portion of the 2012 event will be a first, representing the strong tradition of bobwhite quail hunting and conservation found in Kansas, Missouri, and across the Great Plains and southeast United States. Both the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism and the Missouri Department of Conservation will participate in the event.

Kansas and Missouri are home to a combined 47 local Pheasants Forever chapters and 34 Quail Forever chapters. With more than 10,000 Pheasants Forever and/or Quail Forever members in the two states, Howard Vincent, Pheasants Forever, Inc.’s National President and CEO, says it’s time to bring the organization’s premiere event to Kansas City.

“Kansas is one of the elite states for pheasant hunting and wildlife habitat conservation, and Missouri has positioned itself as a clear leader in efforts to restore bobwhite quail populations,” Vincent said. “Kansas City is the perfect meeting place to have fun celebrating both great game birds.”

All things bird dog-related have been the biggest attractions at previous National Pheasant Fest events, and that’s expected to be the case at the inaugural appearance in Kansas City. Approximately 40 different sporting dog breeds will be represented; dog training seminars will be held throughout the three-day weekend; and attendees will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with breeders, trainers, and dog kennel and club representatives.

A “Youth Village” is another popular show attraction, where youth can participate in archery and air rifle ranges, a casting booth, laser shot, and more.

For more information, including exhibitor details, phone Brad Heidel, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Director of Corporate and Special Event Sales at 651-209-4956 or email bheidel@pheasantsforever.org.

Kansas Governor (Right) Hosts First Ringneck Classic Pheasant Hunt

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

OAKLEY, KS -–(Ammoland.com)- Kansas Sam Governor Brownback hosted the inaugural Kansas Governor’s Ringneck Classic on Nov. 18-20 in Oakley. Approximately 68 hunters joined the Governor for the hunt.

The weekend began with a community dinner on Friday night, then hunting and an awards dinner on Saturday, followed by a bonus hunt on Sunday.

“It was a beautiful, cold Kansas day, and I hope I can speak for all the hunters when I say that I had a fabulous time,” Brownback said. “I especially want to thank the city of Oakley and all of northwest Kansas for hosting the hunters. I also want to thank the Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism and everyone who helped to plan this event and make it possible.”

The Ringneck Classic was held to showcase Kansas as the premiere destination for pheasant hunting in the Midwest.

“Kansas is consistently ranked as one of the top three states in the country for pheasant hunting,” Brownback added. “This is an underutilized asset for our rural communities. If we do a better job telling folks about the high-quality hunting available here in Kansas, we will pull more of those tourism dollars into Kansas.”

Brownback used a shotgun passed down to him from his grandfather. He shot four pheasants, reaching the limit for individual hunters within three hours of beginning the hunt, and accompanied hunters for the remainder of the day.

“Hunting, and specifically pheasant hunting, is part of our heritage in western Kansas,” Kansas Secretary of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Robin Jennison said. “Northwest Kansas has traditionally been one of the state’s best pheasant hunting regions, and I am confident ‘The Classic’ will grow to be a prominent part of our Kansas hunting tradition. The hunt also will allow us to showcase the many other tourism opportunities in northwest Kansas.”

Lieutenant Governor Jeff Colyer also joined Jennison and the Governor, along with Kansas State Senator Ralph Ostmeyer and Kansas state representatives Gary Hayzlett and Don Hineman.

“Pheasant hunting in northwest Kansas has a long and cherished tradition,” hunt organizer Raelene Keller said. “The Oakley community is thrilled at the opportunity to represent Kansas and Governor Brownback as hosts for the inaugural hunt.”

Four soldiers with the 1st Infantry, Second Brigade at Fort Riley were Brownback’s special guests: Bronze Star recipient 1st Lt. Josh Willis and sergeants Christopher Dean, Justin Hillman, and Brad Slickers. All four men returned from duty in Iraq on Nov. 4, 2011

“These young men’s sacrifice is incredible,” Brownback said. “I’m honored that they were able to participate in the hunt. They are wonderful young men, and I had a great time with them.”

Hunters participating in the two-day event included George Brett, former Kansas City Royals baseball player; Tom Watson, professional golfer. Two live music performances highlighted Friday and Saturday nights. Heath Wright, with the country-western band Ricochet, performed live Friday night at Oakley High School, and Wright and Nashville singer Chuck Wicks each performed live on Saturday night at the banquet.

For photographs of the pheasant hunt, go online to on.fb.me/vfNWdc.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

KANSAS CITY, Mo. --(Ammoland.com)- Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QU) have announced that Ed Holland of Bucyrus, Kan., has been appointed as the newest member of the organization’s national board of directors.

The 17-member board meets three times a year and oversees the operations of PF and QU, the nation’s largest upland conservation organization. Born and raised in Kansas City, Holland has spent 30 years as a restaurateur, overseeing daily operations of Myron Green American dining restaurant. He is one of the Kansas City area’s leading proponents of upland conservation, support that’s led to his appointment.

“It’s an honor to be named to serve on the national board of directors for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever,” Holland said.

“I have been lucky enough to see great upland hunting in Kansas and would like to help make a difference in improving habitat for future hunters nationwide.” Naturally, Holland is excited that his hometown will be hosting Pheasants Forever’s National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic 2012, the organization’s largest event, on Feb. 17-19, 2012.

A passionate outdoorsman, Holland learned to appreciate upland hunting and the outdoors from his fellow rugby teammates at Kansas State University. During his senior year, he received his first shotgun and has been an avid hunter since. No matter how busy his schedule, Holland always finds time to spend with his family, teaching them the value of the outdoors.

“Hunting is really the one sport we have always done as a family,” he said. “When my son was growing up, hunting was a big motivator for me because it was an opportunity to spend time with him.”

PF and its quail conservation division, QU, is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. The organization has more than 130,000 members and 700 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally-raised conservation funds are spent.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

ST. PAUL, Minn. --(Ammoland.com)- Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) have announced the addition of two new Farm Bill wildlife biologist positions in Kansas. Kirby Calhoun will cover Dickinson, Clay, Ottawa, and nearby counties, while Mark Witecha will cover Ness, Lane, Hodgeman, and nearby counties.

The positions were created in partnership with the Kansas division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

PF’s Farm Bill biologists provide-on-the ground technical assistance to farmers who implement federal Farm Bill conservation programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Reserve Program. They also assist farmers with various programs and practices recommended by PF and partner organizations.

“I am really excited about the additions to the growing Kansas Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever team,” said Steve Riley, PF and QU Farm Bill wildlife biologist manager. “They come with some great experience, and both are just finishing up their master’s degrees. They will definitely help us achieve our habitat goals.”

Calhoun will complete his master’s degree in wildlife management from Texas A&M University this year. Previous to this, Calhoun spent 2010 working for the U.S. Forest Service as a wildlife biologist. He has four years of military experience and is a decorated Army veteran. Calhoun will work out of the NRCS Center in Abilene and can be reached at 785-263-1351.

Witecha previously interned at the Aldo Leopold Foundation near his home in southcentral Wisconsin. He will join Pheasants Forever in early June after finishing his master’s of science degree at Texas A&M, Kingsville, where he has been studying the effects of wildfire and drought on the abundance, movement, and species richness of small mammals. Witecha will be based out of the Ness City Service Center and can be reached at 785-263-1351.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KS --(Ammoland.com)- The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) reports that there were 17 hunting incidents in Kansas in 2010, five more than the record low of 12 in 2009. One of the accidents was fatal.

The one fatal accident occurred in Dickinson County when two turkey hunters had finished hunting for the day and were walking across a plowed field to their vehicle. The shooter stated that he was carrying his 20-gauge shotgun in the high ready position when he heard a turkey gobble behind him. He turned to his left, toward the victim, and the shotgun discharged, striking the victim in the side of the neck. The victim died at the scene.

In an average year, about 50 percent of Kansas hunting accidents involve swinging on game while hunting upland birds. That figure held true last year, when eight of the 17 cases involved swinging on game. Although the single fatality involved careless gun handling, 2010 showed a drop in the number of careless handling incidents, a point stressed in KDWP’s hunter education courses.

“We place great emphasis on gun handling skills in our courses — always controlling the muzzle, keeping the finger out of the trigger guard and off the trigger, as well as the other rules of safe gun handling,” says Kent Barrett, statewide Hunter Education Program coordinator for KDWP.

“We can only hope to prevent these unfortunate incidents from occurring in the future. In fact, they were all preventable. All of our instruction and all of our hunter education course activities included in our field days emphasize this point and constantly promote safe gun handling practices.”

Although there was an increase in 2010, the number of accidents is still very small compared to the number of hunters and hours spent afield. According to the latest available statistics in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 271,000 hunters spent more than 3 million man-days hunting in Kansas.

In addition to the official hunting incidents reported, three bowhunters fell from treestands, one fatally. In none of these incidents was the hunter wearing a restraint harness, as is taught in hunter education and bowhunter education courses.

“The simple use of a fall restraint system would have prevented these incidents from occurring,” Barrett notes. “Bowhunters need to remind themselves to use these safety devices.

“But the take away message from 2010 is that hunting is still incredibly safe,” he continues. “Studies consistently show that hunting is one of the safest outdoor activities, with only five injuries per 100,000 participants. With more 19 million hunters in the U.S., our volunteer hunter education instructors should rightfully feel pride in their efforts to educate students. They must be listening.”

As in past years, young hunters were involved in fewer incidents than more seasoned hunters; the average age of shooters involved in these incidents was 37.

Hunting is indeed safe. According to the National Safety Council, Injury Facts 2008 Edition, hunting is by far the safest sport. Figures show that while football players suffer 2,585 injuries per 100,000 participants, baseball players suffer 1,122 injuries per 100,000, and even billiards players suffer 15 injuries per 100,000 participants.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KS --(Ammoland.com)- The number of positive cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD in Kansas appears to be stable for now. On March 2, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) announced that 10 deer from northwestern Kansas had tested positive for chronic wasting disease, the same number as last year although two of those deer were found in counties farther east than any previous confirmations.

These were animals taken by hunters in the 2010 hunting seasons.

Six confirmed cases of CWD deer were taken by hunters in Decatur County and one each from Graham, Norton, Sherman, and Smith counties. The Norton, Sherman, and Smith cases were firsts for those counties. The cases included nine white-tailed and one mule deer. This season’s testing results brings the total number of confirmed CWD cases in Kansas to 40 since testing began in 1996. In total, 2,503 animals were tested for CWD for the 2010 deer seasons. Although most testing is finished for the year, KDWP will continue testing some vehicle-killed and sick or suspect-looking deer, as well as deer taken with depredation permits, through July 31. If U.S. Department of Agriculture funding is available, and new surveillance period will begin Aug. 1.

Annual testing is part of ongoing effort by KDWP to monitor the prevalence and spread of CWD. The fatal disease was first detected in a wild deer taken in Cheyenne County in 2005. Three infected deer were taken in Decatur County in 2007 and 10 tested positive in 2008, all in northwest Kansas.

CWD is a member of the group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Other diseases in this group include scrapie in sheep and goats, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or Mad Cow Disease) in cattle, and Cruetzfeldt-Jacob disease in people. CWD is a progressive, fatal disease that results in small holes developing in the brain, giving it a sponge-like appearance under the microscope. An animal may carry the disease without outward indication (only two of the 40 positive animals showed symptoms) but in the later stages, signs may include behavioral changes such as decreased interactions with other animals, listlessness, lowering of the head, weight loss, repetitive walking in set patterns, and a lack of response to humans. Anyone who discovers a sick or suspect deer should contact the nearest KDWP office.

“It must be noted that many symptoms of CWD are indicative of other diseases,” says KDWP wildlife disease coordinator Shane Hesting. “Thus, a sick deer may or may not be infected with CWD. CWD is a serious deer disease but is still a rare disease in Kansas. There is no vaccine or other biological method that prevents the spread of CWD. However, there is no evidence that CWD poses a risk to humans or livestock in the natural environment.”

Still, precautions should be taken. Hunters are advised not to eat meat from animals known to be infected, and common sense precautions are advised when field dressing and processing meat from animals taken in areas where CWD is found. More information on CWD can be found on KDWP’s website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us or at the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance website, www.cwd-info.org.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

WICHITA, KS --(Ammoland.com)- On Saturday, May 14, the Chisholm Trail Antique Gun Association (CTAGA) will conduct their annual NRA Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) beginning with check-in at 7:30 a.m. and running throughout the day.

The event will take place at the CTAGA Gun Range, northeast of Wichita off of K-254 highway near the Sedgwick-Butler county line, 15090 East 69th Street North in Wichita.

Youth 18 years old and younger are encouraged to attend the event. All participants must have completed a basic state hunter education course and present proof of hunter education certification. No prior hunting experience is required, but participants must be able to shoulder and control firearms.

Participants will compete in junior (age 14 and younger) or senior (age 15 through 18) categories. While the YHEC has a competitive side, the focus of the program is the personal challenge of improvement and the advancement of skills introduced in a basic hunter education course.

Challenge events include the following:

• shotgun course with clay targets, 12- and 20- gauge shotguns only, no adjustable cheek stocks or butt plates;
• muzzle-loading course with life-size game targets at 20 to 70 yards, .50 caliber muzzleloaders, ammunition, and No. 11 percussion caps provided. Participants may provide their own muzzleloader (.54 caliber or smaller) and respective balls and patches. In-line muzzleloaders with saboted bullets allowed but bullets and supplies not provided. No scopes allowed.
• light rifle (.22 caliber) course with life-size game targets at 15 to 60 yards. Equipment is limited to rifles designed for field use and hunting. Scopes no greater than 4X are allowed. High-velocity .22 ammo will be provided;
• archery course with 3-D game animal targets from 5 to 40 yards. Participants may bring their own bows and arrows. Some equipment restrictions include no more than six sight pins, no magnified sights, only one stabilizer 12 inches or shorter, field points only. Recurve bows will be provided. All compound bows will be shot at the longer distances. Compound bow shooters must bring their own arrows.
• wildlife identification to test knowledge of Kansas wildlife from animal mounts, hides, bird wings, tracks, horns/antlers, and other evidence. No identification guides are allowed.
• safety trail to test safe hunting and gun handling skills, game laws, and hunter ethics.

The cost of registration is $15, which includes all ammunition. (Do not bring ammunition unless allowed on above list.) All equipment and firearms will be provided if needed. The registration deadline is May 7, but space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. A light lunch will be provided for participants, volunteers, and parents. Awards will be presented at the completion of the challenge.

To register, mail a check and registration form to Jim Fry, 116 E. Sandhill Rd., Derby, KS 67037. Make checks payable to Jim Fry. For more information or registration forms, phone Jim Fry at 316-788-5026 or email yhec@att.net.

This event is sponsored by NRA Foundations Inc., Heartland Friends of the NRA, the Chisholm Trail Antique Gun Association, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, and Parks, and the Kansas Wildlife Officers Association.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KS --(Ammoland.com)- The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) reminds all nonresident deer hunters that the application deadline for 2011 permits is April 29, the last Friday in April.

All applications must be made online through the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us, or by phoning 620-672-5911 and asking for Licensing.

Mail-in applications are not available, and none will be accepted. Phone applications will be accepted through normal working hours on Friday, April 29. The online application deadline is midnight on April 29. This application applies to nonresident either-sex deer permits only. Nonresident Hunt-Own-Land and Antlerless White-tailed Deer permits will be available beginning July 25 over the counter.

Nonresident either-sex deer permits allow the taking of one white-tailed deer buck, doe, or fawn. The cost of the permit is $322.50, and if successful in the drawing, the applicant must also purchase a nonresident hunting license, $72.50, prior to hunting. The hunter applies in one of 18 deer management units and may also select one adjacent unit in which to hunt. Applicants also select one equipment type and season choice (archery, muzzleloader, or firearm) at the time of application. Muzzleloader permit holders may hunt during early muzzleloader season and regular firearm season using muzzleloader equipment only. If unsuccessful in the draw, the hunter receives a $301 refund and a preference point for next year’s draw.

A nonresident who successfully draws an Archery or Muzzleloader either-sex deer permit in Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 16, 17, or 18 may also apply for one of a limited number of Mule Deer Stamps for an additional fee of $102.50, submitted at time of application; if drawn, the applicant’s archery or muzzleloader whitetail permit converts to an either-species/either-sex archery or muzzleloader permit. Preference points do not count toward this stamp. If unsuccessful in the Mule Deer Stamp draw, the hunter will receive a $101 refund and be issued the whitetail permit.

A nonresident hunter who doesn’t want to hunt in 2011 can purchase a preference point online for $22.50. The preference point will count toward a nonresident whitettail either-sex deer permit in a future drawing.

To apply for a nonresident either-sex deer permit, go to the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us and click “Licenses/Permits” in the upper right-hand corner of the page. Then click “Buy your License/Permit Online” and follow the directions. To learn more about permits you may qualify for, go to kdwp.state.ks.us/deer_permit_guide.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

TOPEKA, KS --(Ammoland.com)- The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) will dedicate two new cabins at Prairie Dog State Park at 1 p.m. on Oct. 15. Park fees will be waived from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. while the cabins are open for public tours.

“These modern cabins will be a tremendous asset to the area,” says Mike Hayden, KDWP secretary. “I hope the public takes advantage of them and the surrounding natural resources available in Prairie Dog State Park.”

The deluxe cabins provide comfortable and affordable camping facilities without the inconveniences of tent camping or campers. Prairie Dog State Park manager Toby Kuhn believes the cabins to be a popular attraction. “There is a great deal of community interest in spending time outdoors without the hassle of tents or expense of campers,” says Kuhn.

The cabins have been named Prairie Dog and Eagle’s View. In addition to filling a recreational need, the cabins were built as a result of a multi-agency collaboration involving KDWP, Greenbush Southeast Kansas Education Service Center, the Kansas Department of Corrections, and the Kansas Wildscape Foundation. Inmates at the Norton Correctional Facility built the cabins through an educational program administered by Greenbush. The Kansas Wildscape Foundation provided funding for the cabins. KDWP provides a location for the cabins and operates and maintains the structures.

Mark Stock, KDWP cabin program administrator, says the cabin program is a success story about multiple partners working together to benefit the public: “The cabin program’s success is a direct result of each partner stepping up to the table and providing its expertise. Each agency’s contribution is critical for the overall program’s success.”

Prairie Dog State Park cabin reservations can be made starting Oct. 15, with the first night of occupancy beginning Nov, 1. For more information about these cabins, phone 785-620-877-2953 or go online to reserve.ksoutdoors.com.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

BELLVILLE, KS --(Ammoland.com)- The dove season opener on Sept. 1 signals the beginning of fall hunting, and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) land managers at Brzon Wildlife Area, north of Belleville, have planted fields to attract this popular game species.

Dove proso millet planted for doves has matured, and doves are already feeding on it. For the opening four days of season — Sept. 1-4— the area will be reserved for hunters 16 years old or younger and for novice hunters or persons who have not possessed any hunting license in the last three years. These hunters must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older. Regular adult hunters may hunt this area as long as they have at least one youth or novice hunter with them. The fields will be open to all hunters on and after Sept. 5.

The field planted specifically for dove management at Brzon is near the monument located on Fir Road, 8 miles north and 4 ½ miles west of Belleville. Several small ponds are located in the middle of the wildlife area and may provide additional dove hunting opportunities. Scouting prior to the season is always encouraged.

KDWP has been working to recruit new hunters for several years, and this Youth/Novice Dove Area is one of those efforts. Because hunter education classes can be difficult to work into busy schedules, the state of Kansas has made it easier to begin hunting without taking the class. Persons 15 and younger may hunt without hunter education as long as they are directly supervised by an adult 18 or older. In addition, anyone 16 years and older who has not passed a hunter education class may purchase a one-time “apprentice hunting license,” which allows them to hunt while accompanied by a licensed adult age 18 or older. The apprentice license is good for the calendar year.

During the dove season — and all migratory bird hunting seasons — a Harvest Information Program (HIP) stamp is required of all hunters who must purchase a hunting license. All shotguns must be plugged so they are capable of holding no more than three shells while hunting migratory birds. All hunters, trappers, and anglers must obtain permission prior to entering any private property, and if the property is posted “Hunting By Written Permission Only” or has signs or fence posts painted purple, a written permission slip signed by the landowner or his designee is required before entering the property.

This fall, take a youth or someone who has not hunted recently with you. Remember the slogan, “A little of your time….the time of their life! Pass It On!” For more information, contact Rob Unruh at 785-753-4971.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

MANHATTAN, KS --(Ammoland.com)- The Riley County Fish and Game Association, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), and Tuttle Creek Lake Corps of Engineers are seeking participants for their 8th annual youth/handicapped deer hunt, which will be held Sept. 11 and 12. Youth ages 11 through 16 and anyone with a certified disability are eligible to participate in this hunt. Participants need a deer permit, and if required by Kansas law, a Kansas hunting license and an approved hunter education course.

For those in need, scholarship assistance to purchase a hunting license and deer permit can be provided by the sponsoring agencies and associations. If participants do not have a rifle or ammunition for the hunt, these items will be provided. Each participant will be paired with an experienced hunter who will serve as guide. Arrangements have been made with area lockers where basic processing of harvested deer will be handled free of charge.

Other items provided for this hunt include accessible hunting blinds, hunting locations, hunter orange hats and vests, and transportation to the field. All participants will be required to attend a firearm safety presentation and sight-in at the Fancy Creek Range on Sunday, Aug. 22.

Other groups and organizations contributing to this hunt include the Friends of Fancy Creek Range, Kansas City Chapter of Safari Club International, and Tuttle Creek Lake Association.

For more information or an application, phone Steve Prockish at the Tuttle Creek Lake Corps of Engineers office, 785-539-8511, ext. 3167, or email Stephen.E.Prockish@usace.army.mil. Applications will be accepted through Aug. 1.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KS --(AmmoLand.com)- On March 2, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) announced that 10 white-tailed deer from northwestern Kansas had tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD).

These were animals taken by hunters in the 2009 hunting seasons. The agency is still awaiting the result from another deer sample that was presumed to be positive after preliminary testing at the K-State Diagnostic Veterinary Lab in Manhattan.

That “presumptive positive” has been sent to the National Veterinary Services Lab in Ames, Iowa, for confirmation.

The one presumptive positive deer was taken by a hunter in Decatur County, and another four deer from that county have been confirmed positive. The other confirmed positives include two from Rawlins County and one each from Sheridan, Graham, Logan, and Thomas counties. One deer each from Sheridan and Thomas counties were exhibiting clinical symptoms of CWD.

In total, 2,702 animals were tested for CWD, including 16 elk, 278 mule deer, and 2,408 white-tailed deer. Although the agency has completed testing of its target sample for this hunting season, biologists are still collecting heads from road-killed deer in northwest Kansas. In addition, the agency is collecting road-killed deer in Harper County, near an area where a captive elk herd had to be destroyed in 2001 because of CWD.

Annual testing is part of ongoing effort by KDWP to monitor the prevalence and spread of CWD. The fatal disease was first detected in a wild deer taken in Cheyenne County in 2005. Three infected deer were taken in Decatur County in 2007 and 10 tested positive in 2008, all in northwest Kansas.

CWD is a member of the group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Other diseases in this group include scrapie in sheep and goats, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or Mad Cow Disease) in cattle, and Cruetzfeldt-Jacob disease in people. CWD is a progressive, fatal disease that results in small holes developing in the brain, giving it a sponge-like appearance under the microscope. An animal may carry the disease without outward indication but in the later stages, signs may include behavioral changes such as decreased interactions with other animals, listlessness, lowering of the head, weight loss, repetitive walking in set patterns, and a lack of response to humans. Anyone who discovers a sick or suspect deer should contact the nearest KDWP office.

There is no vaccine or other biological method that prevents the spread of CWD. However, there is no evidence that CWD poses a risk to humans or livestock. Still, precautions should be taken. Hunters are advised not to eat meat from animals known to be infected, and common sense precautions are advised when field dressing and processing meat from animals taken in areas where CWD is found. More information on CWD can be found on KDWP’s website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us or at the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance website, www.cwd-info.org

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

BURLINGTON, Kansas —-(AmmoLand.com)-  On Jan. 27, a group of anglers were fishing near the warm-water discharge in Coffey County Lake when they spotted an unexpected wildlife specimen — a 5-foot, 4-inch alligator.

Fortunately, the grizzled reptile was dead, so the anglers netted the critter and notified lake authorities, who called Jason Goeckler, aquatic nuisance species specialist for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP).

“Alligators do not survive Kansas winters,” Goeckler said, “so this big guy was likely released by someone and then found refuge in the warm water of Coffey County Lake. We have no way of knowing how long it has been there.

Lake staff estimate the animal to be 6-8 years old, but we can’t confirm that or at what age it was released. What we can tell folks is that release of exotic wildlife such as this is irresponsible, illegal, and potentially dangerous to native species.”

In recent years, the spread of harmful, non-native species into Kansas waters has increased. The most notable example is the zebra mussel, which has been discovered in a number of Kansas waters and is known to be extremely destructive to native wildlife and municipal water systems. The cost of invasive species in the U.S. amounts to more than $100 billion annually.

The escape or release of animals and plants from aquariums, terrariums, or ponds and water gardens is harmful to pets and native wildlife, but it is avoidable. KDWP recommends that instead of releasing unwanted pets — including alligators.

Owners should use one of the following alternatives:

• find a new home for the pet;
• contact a pet dealer for proper handling advice or for possible returns
• give/trade with another aquarist, pond owner, or water gardener
• donate to a local aquarium society, school, or aquatic business
• contact a veterinarian or pet retailer for guidance about humane disposal of animals
• or seal aquatic plants and animals in plastic bags, freeze, and dispose in trash.

The American alligator is a warm weather species found from the southern Virginia-North Carolina border along the Atlantic Coast to Florida, and along the Gulf of Mexico as far west as the Rio Grande River in Texas. The only possible way for this animal to have reached Kansas is by human transport.

For more information about being a responsible aquarium hobbyist or aquatic pet owner, go online to www.habitattitude.net. For more information about aquatic nuisance species in Kansas, visit the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KS —-(AmmoLand.com)- The hunting seasons may be winding down, but many waterfowl hunters are still enjoying late-season hunting. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) reminds hunters who did not purchase a Harvest Information Program (HIP) stamp during the fall of 2009 that certification is still required for all migratory bird hunting. Any hunter who is required to have a hunting license must also purchase a HIP stamp to hunt ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, doves, rails, woodcock, snipe, and sandhill cranes. HIP is an annual program in which hunters provide information that helps biologists manage North America’s migratory game bird populations.

HIP is based on a voluntary survey of selected migratory bird hunters in the United States. When HIP stamps are purchased, state wildlife agencies collect information from hunters, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) randomly selects a sample of those hunters and asks them to provide information on the kind and number of migratory birds they harvest during the hunting season. Those hunters’ reports are then used to develop reliable estimates of the total harvest of all migratory birds throughout the country. In this way, hunters serve as biologists’ eyes and ears in the field, helping to improve wildlife conservation efforts and protect the hunting heritage.

To comply with HIP, hunters must identify themselves as migratory bird hunters and provide name, address, and date of birth when they purchase licenses — something most hunters do already. They must do this in every state in which they hunt migratory birds. Hunters are also asked to voluntarily answer several questions about their hunting experience during the previous year’s season. Answers to these questions are not used to compile harvest estimates but help the USFWS select hunters to survey.

Kansas relies on hunting license vendors to collect this information when selling HIP stamps. Therefore, migratory bird hunters need to make sure that their vendors get them signed up for HIP when they purchase their licenses. When a hunter is properly signed up, KDWP provides proof of participation. Hunters must carry proof of their participation in HIP wherever they hunt migratory birds. Hunters who hunt migratory birds without proof of participation in the HIP program can be ticketed or fined.

A Kansas HIP stamp costs $2.50, to cover administrative costs. USFWS receives no income from this program. USFWS uses names and addresses provided by hunters for survey purposes only, and all contact information is destroyed immediately after processing each year.

A 2010 Kansas hunting license, in addition to state and federal waterfowl stamps and the HIP stamp, is required to hunt waterfowl in the remaining seasons this winter. Waterfowl and HIP stamps purchased for these seasons expire June 30, 2010. Remaining seasons include the following:

Ducks

• High Plains Zone (west of U.S. 283) — Jan. 23-31; and
• Late Zone — Jan. 23-31, 2010.

Geese

• Canada geese — Nov. 11-Feb. 14 (daily bag three);
• White-fronted geese — Feb. 6-14 (daily bag two);
• Light geese —Nov. 11-Feb. 14 (daily bag 20);
• Light Goose Conservation Order — Feb. 15-April 30 (no bag or possession limits).

Shooting hours for all species are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. For complete hunting regulation information, consult the 2009 Kansas Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summary, available wherever licenses are sold or online at www.kdwp.state.ks.us.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KS —-(AmmoLand.com)- Twelve endangered whooping cranes were spotted by Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) staff at Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, near Great Bend, the evening of Nov. 4. Central Kansas is one of the most popular annual stopover points for migrating whooping cranes. In addition to the 12 birds reported from the Cheyenne Bottoms office, and another three were spotted on The Nature Conservancy property nearby.

In response to the sightings, Bottoms staff have closed the goose firing line. Pool 1B, where the birds are staying, is a refuge area. However, waterfowl hunters should be aware that other pools may be closed if the birds move.

At Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, about 30 miles south and east of Cheyenne Bottoms, another 14 whoopers were spotted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff. In response, the entire refuge is closed to hunting until further notice. For daily updates on Quivira’s whooper status, go online to www.fws.gov/quivira.

Although most whooping cranes usually have migrated through the Kansas by the opening of sandhill crane season — Nov. 11 this year — whoopers are sometimes sighted into early December. Sandhill crane hunters — and all migratory bird hunters — should expect to see whooping cranes throughout central Kansas and be sure of their targets before shooting. All sandhill crane hunters are required to take an online crane identification test before purchasing a sandhill crane permit. The test may be found by going to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us, and typing “sandhill crane” in the search box at the top of the home page.

Hunters who see a whooping crane are asked to report it to the nearest KDWP office. All hunters should check with public hunting areas before planning a hunt. The Cheyenne Bottoms phone number is 620-793-3066, and the Quivira number is 620-486-2393.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

WAKEENEY KS —-(AmmoLand.com)- Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) staff have verified that a mountain lion was photographed by a deer hunter northwest of Wakeeney. The sighting is the first ever live wild mountain lion documentation in Kansas although many other reports have been received in the past.

The hunter who took the photographs was setting in a tree stand when the mountain lion materialized near a pile of corn the man was hunting over. The hunter grabbed his camera and took multiple photos as the lion approached within 10 feet of the tree stand. The animal looked up at him, then moved out of site. The entire encounter lasted less than a minute, and the lion never stopped walking.

“KDWP received photographs of the animal, and staff were able to verify that the location was in Kansas, and the story seemed legitimate,” said Matt Peek, KDWP furbearer research biologist.

Although the origin of this mountain lion is unknown, mountain lions have appeared with varying frequency in other Midwestern states since the 1990s, presumably moving from western populations that have increased for decades. Most of these animals have been young males, which are capable of moving hundreds of miles in search of females and suitable habitat.

This is the second apparently wild mountain lion verified by evidence in Kansas in modern times. In November, 2007, a young male mountain lion was shot by a landowner in Barber County. Prior to that, the last documented occurrence was in 1904.

“KDWP receives numerous reports of mountain lion sightings annually,” Peek added, “but almost all have either been cases of mistaken identity or lacked physical evidence indicating a mountain lion had been present.”

There is no open hunting season for mountain lions in Kansas. Landowners may kill wildlife on their premises, including mountain lions, for damage to property or for being in or near buildings, but such animals may not be possessed with intent to use.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KA —-(AmmoLand.com)- On Nov. 7-8, Kansas hunters have the opportunity to add to their ranks by taking a youngster hunting. These two days are reserved for hunters 16 and younger to hunt pheasants and quail under the supervision of an adult 18 or older. (The adult may not hunt.) The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) began the season to hopefully turn the tide of declining hunter numbers and introduce youth to hunting opportunities in uncrowded and noncompetitive situations.

Studies show that the most effective hunter recruitment tool is experienced hunters mentoring new hunters. But as Gregg Patterson of Ducks Unlimited says, “When you have boys and girls without a hunter in the household, it’s tough to give them the experience. Many young people are interested in hunting, but they don’t have anyone to take them. Hunters willing to mentor need to look outside their immediate families and groups of friends and reach out to any youngster who shows interest.”

“The Kansas Hunter Education program graduates 7,000-9,000 people each year, the vast majority younger than 16 years,” adds hunter education instructor Mike Nyhoff. “Classes are filled with interested young people, many of whom have friends who encouraged them to attend. But many graduates never have the opportunity to hunt because they have no one to take them. This is where young hunters with mentors — and mentors who have young family members or friends they mentor — need to reach out. Kids need to ask their mentors if they will add a friend to their group, and mentors need to ask their kids if they have a friend who would like to join them. And adults who have never taken a kid hunting need to get involved, as well.”

The commitment to mentoring can be as simple as asking the kid down the block to hunt. To help make the trip more comfortable, invite a non-hunting parent or guardian, and perhaps recruit another hunter, or gain a friend, in the process. Some parents have never been hunting and don’t know how to teach their children. When they see the excitement on their youngsters’ faces and experience the outdoors themselves, they might catch the fever and become lifelong hunters.

There are organizations that will help match interested mentors with interested youth. Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, Inc. (www.outdoormentors.org) has teamed up with Big Brothers/Big Sisters to make a difference in the lives of many young people. But they need more mentors.

KDWP and private conservation organizations such as Pheasants/Quail Forever, National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), Ducks Unlimited (DU), and many local groups set up youth hunts. Find a local PF/QF group online at pheasantsforever.org, a local NWTF group at ntwf.org, or a local DU group at ducks.org. Local sportsmen’s organizations may be found in the phone book.

“The youth pheasant and quail season was established for kids, not the skilled hunter,” says Nyhoff. “In the past, hunters have always accepted their responsibility to ensure the future of hunting, and it is imperative that adult hunters accept the challenge today. If you can’t make the Nov. 7-8 youth season, it’s not too late; the regular season begins Nov. 14 and runs through Jan. 31.”

This Nov. 7-8, take KDWP’s 2009 Pheasant and Quail Youth Season Challenge. For information on this challenge, go online to www.kdwp.state.ks.us. Then click “Hunting/Hunting Programs/2009 Pheasant and Quail Season Challenge.”

Ducks Unlimited

CHARLESTON, S.C. –-(AmmoLand.com)- JAMESTOWN, Kansas --(AmmoLand.com)- Partners gathered on September 19th for a dedication and greenwing event on the Jamestown Wildlife Area. One of 12 expansive wetlands deeded by the U.S. Congress to the State of Kansas in 1859, Jamestown WA was once a waterfowl migration cornerstone made of fresh and saltwater marshes, riparian areas, and native grasslands of the Lower Republican River Basin.

Greenwings, Ducks Unlimited members under 18, had the opportunity to band Canada Geese under the supervision of Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks personelle. Following the banding, speakers representing a variety of partners discussed the importance of the project and the area.

As with many wetlands across North America, Jamestown wetlands were deeded to settlers and drained for other land uses resulting in the loss of many thousands of acres of important wildlife habitats. Today, conservation organizaitons and agencies striving to restore and protect these crucial wildlife habitats are celebrating great strides in the Jamestown Wetland Project.

Dedication speakers included Kansas Greenwing Chair Jane Irvine, Asst. Secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Keith Sexton, Past Chair of the Kansas Alliance for Wetland and Streams Dennis Haag, Playa Lakes Joint Venture Conservation Policy Director Barth Crouch, Pheasants Forever Field Representative Jordan Martincich, Executive Director of CloudCorp Kirk Lowell, Representative Elaine Bowers, Kansas House District 107, and Mayor Judy Hill of Jamestown.

The overall goals of the project are to expand the present day Jamestown WA from 4,620 acres to as much as 7,285 acres, thus creating a 13-mile wetland habitat corridor. Additionally, 3,500 acres will have wetlands and grasslands restored to habitat representing the pre-settlement landscape in 1859. To date, our conservation partnership has accomplished 35% of these land acquisition and restoration goals.

Partners on the project include Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, North American Wetland Conservation Council, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams, Pheasants Forever, Westar Energy, Kansas Wildlife Federation, CloudCorp, Cloud County Board of Commissioners, City of Jamestown, Cloud County Convention and Tourism, Jewell County Board of Commissioners, Republic County Board of Commissioners, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and over 30 private individuals.

About:
With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with more than 12 million acres conserved. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands ? nature’s most productive ecosystem ? and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres important to waterfowl each year.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KS — -(AmmoLand.com)- The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has announced conversion of the agency’s current Furharvester Education Correspondence Course to an online course. The paper correspondence course will no longer be issued. Any paper tests received after Aug. 15 will not be accepted. The online course is currently available free of charge.

“We have never had enough furharvester instructors to meet the demand for classes,” says Keith Sexson, KDWP assistant secretary for operations. “As a result, we have had to provide a paper correspondence course that has not really filled our needs as a learning tool. The new online course is much more thorough and will do a much better job of preparing students for the trapping experience.

“Instructor-led furharvester education courses will still be offered but will continue to be limited in number and location,” Sexson adds. “The online course will provide the majority of certifications, which will save considerable money in staff time for data entry, printing, processing, and mailing costs.”

To take either the online course or an instructor-led course, students will go to the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us. From there, click “Other-Services,” then “Education,” then “Furharvester” to reach the furharvester education page. To choose an instructor-led course, click “Course Schedule.” To take the online course, click Kansas Furharvester Education online course. Students will be asked to create an account and will then be sent an email confirming their account creation and providing a link to start the course. Once the course is complete, students will be issued an official Kansas Furharvester Education certificate that they may print out at home.

“One advantage of the online course is that it allows the students to log in and out as they desire,” says Wayne Doyle, statewide Hunter Education Program coordinator for KDWP. “They do not have to complete the course at one sitting, and quizzes are given as they progress through the course. A wrong answer to a quiz question will require them to return to the missed instruction and get it right before proceeding.”

Once students have completed all sections of the course, they will take a final test and must score at least 84 percent to be certified. If they fail the test on the first try, they can re-study and re-take the test until they get a passing score.

For more information on the course, phone 620-672-5911 and ask for Hunter Education.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT – -(AmmoLand.com)- At an Aug. 6 meeting in Medicine Lodge, the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission approved seasons for late-migrating waterfowl. Following frameworks allowed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and recommendations from Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) staff, the upcoming 2009-2010 late waterfowl seasons will allow 74 days of duck hunting in the Low Plains Zone and 97 days in the High Plains.

Duck regulations and season dates for the fall and winter of 2009-2010 are as follow.

Bag limits, possession limits, shooting hours
Five ducks is the daily bag limit, which may include no more than two redheads, two scaup, three wood ducks, and one duck from the following group — one pintail, one canvasback, one hen mallard, one mottled duck (except for the first five days of the season, in any zone, when mottled ducks may not be taken). The daily bag limit for coots is 15, and a daily bag limit for mergansers is five, which may include no more than two hooded mergansers. The coot and merganser seasons will run concurrent with the regular duck seasons.
Possession limits for all species (ducks, coots, and mergansers) are double the daily bag.
Shooting hours for all species are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Duck Season Dates

• High Plains Zone Youth — Oct. 3-4.
• High Plains Zone (West of U.S. 283) — first segment, Oct. 10-Jan. 5, 2010; second segment, Jan. 23-31, 2010.
• Early Zone Youth — Oct. 3-4.
• Early Zone — first segment, Oct. 10-Dec. 6; second segment, Dec. 19-Jan. 3, 2010.
• Late Zone Youth — Oct. 24-25.
• Late Zone — first segment, Oct. 31-Jan. 3, 2010; second segment, Jan. 23-31, 2010.

(For details on zone boundaries, see the 2009 Kansas Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summary, available Sept. 1 at most KDWP offices and license vendors.)

During the youth seasons, youth must be 15 years old or younger and accompanied by an adult, who cannot hunt. The supervising adult must be at least 18 years old, and the adult does not have to have a hunting license or stamps required of waterfowl hunters.

For Canada geese, season segments are Oct. 31-Nov. 8 and Nov. 11-Feb. 14, with a daily bag limit of three. For white-fronted geese, the season segments are Oct. 31-Nov. 8; Nov. 11-Jan. 3, 2010; and Feb. 6-14, 2010, with a daily bag limit of two. The light goose season segments are Oct. 31-Nov. 8 and Nov. 11-Feb. 14, 2010, with a daily bag limit of 20. (Under a federal Light Goose Conservation Order, light geese may also be taken from Feb. 15-April 30, with no bag or possession limits.)

All waterfowl possession limits are twice the daily bag limit, except for light geese, which have no possession limit.

For falconers, federal frameworks allow no extended season in the High Plains Zone. In both the Early and Late zones, the season runs Feb. 24-March 10, 2010. Because of the 107-day hunting limit imposed by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty, and the increased length of the September teal season from nine to 16 days, there are seven fewer days left for falconers in the Early and Late zones, and none available in the High Plains Zone.

For more details, visit the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us, or phone 620-672-5911.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, Kansas - -(AmmoLand.com)- The Special Hunts Program offers a variety of limited hunts, and many are designed to introduce youth and novices to hunting, usually in an uncrowded place with a good opportunity for success. The program provides limited hunting access to public lands that are normally off-limits to hunters. However, the program recently added special hunts on private lands, paying landowners a lease fee to allow limited access to hunters.

Special Hunt opportunities on private lands are concentrated in the eastern portion of Kansas, in more populated counties. In this region, landowners have been wary of the regular Walk-In Hunting Access program, which allows unrestricted access, because of the prospect of heavy traffic. They have been more receptive to a program that restricted access, both in hunter numbers and days. Interested hunters will apply to hunt specific game on specific days. Those lucky enough to be drawn will be provided with permits to be placed on the dash of their vehicles and carried with them, so the landowners and KDWP officers can easily verify that they have permission.

The original deadline for Special Hunts in September and October was Aug.1. However, with the addition of the private land opportunities, the deadline has been extended to Aug. 8.

Apply now by going online to www.kdwp.state.ks.us. Click “Hunting” and then “Special Hunts.” If you do not have computer access, apply by telephone at 620-672-5911 and ask for special hunts.

The deadline for Special Hunts in November through February is Oct. 1.

About:
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is a cabinet-level agency with a Secretary appointed by the Governor. A seven-member, bipartisan commission, also appointed by the Governor, advises the Secretary and approves regulations governing outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife resources in Kansas. The commission conducts business during regular public sessions.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, Kansas – -(AmmoLand.com)- For most hunters, late summer is the time when thoughts turn to fall hunting seasons, which begin with dove season Sept. 1. For first-time hunters, preparation usually means taking a hunter education course prior to going afield.

In most cases, anyone born on or after July 1, 1957, must successfully complete an approved course in hunter education before hunting in Kansas. Those hunting on their own land are exempt. Anyone 16 or older may purchase a one-time deferral of hunter education, called an “apprentice hunting license,” for the same price as a regular hunting license. This license is valid only through the calendar year in which it is purchased, and the holder must hunt under direct supervision of a licensed adult 18 or older. Anyone younger than 16 may hunt without hunter education certification if they are under direct supervision of an adult 18 or older. Hunters 12 years of age and older may hunt without adult supervision provided they possess a valid hunter education certificate and the appropriate licenses and/or permits. No one younger than age 11 can be certified.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has scheduled a number of hunter education courses to accommodate those who have not yet taken one. The following is a list of currently-scheduled courses. Others will be scheduled in the future. Most courses require pre-registration. Contact KDWP’s Pratt Operations Office, 620-672-5911, for names and numbers of coordinating instructors, or visit the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us, for updated course listings.

Volunteer instructors set the dates and locations for these classes. The majority of classes are held from August to October, the period of peak demand. There are also a good number of classes offered in early spring prior to the turkey season. There are very few classes offered between November and February. Check the website regularly to find a class that fits your schedule.

About:
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is a cabinet-level agency with a Secretary appointed by the Governor. A seven-member, bipartisan commission, also appointed by the Governor, advises the Secretary and approves regulations governing outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife resources in Kansas. The commission conducts business during regular public sessions.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, Kansas – -(AmmoLand.com)- The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) Hunter Education Section is offering two courses in advanced hunter education geared toward waterfowl hunting. The first course will be held Aug. 15 at the McPherson Valley Wetlands, northwest of McPherson. The second course will be held Oct. 3 at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, located on U.S. Highway 156 northeast of Great Bend on Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area.

If you’ve never participated in the thrill of hunting waterfowl, or if you’ve hunted before but would like to learn more, this is the course for you. Each course will feature round-robin training, with participants learning techniques for calling, decoy setting, safety and tactics, conservation, duck identification, retrieving (with and without dogs), and prevention of wounding loss. In addition, participants will pattern shotguns, learn range estimation techniques, and practice shooting clay targets with nontoxic shotshells. Instructors will include experienced duck hunters gleaned from the ranks of KDWP staff and Hunter Education Program volunteers.

A $25 pre-registration fee is required but will be refunded to all registrants who show up for the course. The registration deadline for the August course is Aug. 11. The registration deadline for the October course is Sept. 29. Each class is limited to 40 participants. To register, contact the KDWP Hunter Education Section at 620-672-5911. Advanced hunter education courses are designed to hone the skills of hunters in specific areas. They do not meet the state requirements for hunter education certification.

About:
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is a cabinet-level agency with a Secretary appointed by the Governor. A seven-member, bipartisan commission, also appointed by the Governor, advises the Secretary and approves regulations governing outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife resources in Kansas. The commission conducts business during regular public sessions.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— -(AmmoLand.com)- By facilitating agreements between corporate landowners and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has helped open or secure over 250,000 acres for public hunting access.

The milestone was recognized at a recent meeting of agency commissioners.

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Commissioner Dr. Jon Gassett said, “The Elk Foundation has been vital in this process—without them we wouldn’t be nearly as successful in obtaining these landowner agreements. The Elk Foundation gets things done with coal and timber companies that we, as an agency, have a hard time accomplishing. They have built a great relationship with landowners in Kentucky.”

Participating companies include Molpus Timberlands, KY River Properties, Begley Lumber and International Coal Group. Some lands were previously closed, others were historically open but scheduled to be leased—each situation was different.

David Ledford, initiative director for the Elk Foundation in Kentucky, explained, “Each agreement is different because each landowner had specific goals and sideboards. We worked with companies on an individual basis and helped them determine how to structure hunting access on their lands. Some agreements came together quickly, others took time, but the results are good news for hunters in Kentucky.”

At a June 11 meeting, Gassett presented Ledford and RMEF Regional Director Bill Carman with limited edition art prints as a token of thanks from Kentucky hunters.

Most of the state’s 11,300 elk are on private lands. More than 46,000 people applied for a chance to hunt them, and this fall more than 1,000 lucky selectees will take to the hills in pursuit of a Kentucky elk. Helping hunters and other wildlife enthusiasts access this growing resource is imperative, says Ledford.

Gassett said, “The coal industry has done great things for wildlife in Kentucky. In fact, without the coal industry, elk wouldn’t be here. We appreciate what they’re doing for public hunting access, too.”

For more information and regulations governing public hunting opportunities on corporate lands, visit the KDFWR Web site at http://www.kdfwr.state.ky.us.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KS – -(AmmoLand.com)- Time is short to apply for one of the Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks (KDWP) special hunts for beginning hunters. The Special Hunts Program offers a variety of limited hunts, and many are designed to introduce youth and novices to hunting, usually in an uncrowded place with a good opportunity for success.

Not all special hunts are for youth or novices only. Some are open to all hunters, and each special hunt targets specific game species, including doves, upland game, waterfowl, and deer. Some take place during special the special youth/disabled deer season Sept. 12-20, some during the youth upland game season Nov. 7-8, and others during special youth waterfowl seasons which have yet to be set. Still others occur during regular hunting seasons and are open to everyone. Special hunts will be conducted in all regions of the state on both public and private land.

The program offers “mentor/novice” hunts — where a youth or mentor is matched with an experienced hunter — by draw through KDWP’s online Special Hunts application system. Applicants have until Aug. 1 to apply for September and October hunts. A second application period will open about August 15 with an Oct. 1 deadline to apply for hunts in November through February. Each individual can apply once for each draw period.

Mentors and novices can each make individual applications. Many veteran hunters who have experienced great personal hunting success are now finding new satisfaction in serving as mentors, introducing others to this great pastime. Mentors are also allowed to hunt in youth/mentor hunts (but not all special hunts). Mentors are adults 21 or older who hunt with a novice. A novice is a youth 18 or younger or any person who has never previously hunted. Parents or grandparents may take children or grandchildren who have never hunted but are now showing an interest, but mentors and novices do not have to be related.

Hunter Education is not required because youth 15 and younger accompanied by an adult 18 or older do not need hunter education certification. However, persons 16 and older who have not hunted before and do not have hunter education must obtain a one-time apprentice hunting license, which exempts them from the hunter education requirement through the calendar year in which it is purchased.

Special hunts are popular and are open to all with equal opportunity. The only restriction to some of these hunts is that there must be at least one novice for each mentor. They offer the chance to introduce a relative, friend, or neighbor the wonder of the hunt in a wildlife-rich setting.

Apply now by going online to www.kdwp.state.ks.us. Click “Hunting” and then “Special Hunts.” If you do not have computer access, apply by telephone at 620-672-5911 and ask for special hunts.

Remember the deadline for the drawings: application must be made by Aug. 1 for September through October hunts and the deadline for November through February hunts is Oct. 1.

About:
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is a cabinet-level agency with a Secretary appointed by the Governor. A seven-member, bipartisan commission, also appointed by the Governor, advises the Secretary and approves regulations governing outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife resources in Kansas. The commission conducts business during regular public sessions.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT Kansas - -(AmmoLand.com)-The Kansas Hunter Education Instructor Association (KHEIA) — an independent group of volunteer instructors — has recently inducted three people to the Kansas Hunter Education Hall of Fame.

• Stacy Hageman, Zenda
• Wayne Doyle, Pratt
• George Peterson, Topeka

Join three others in the Hall of Fame, which was opened in 2006.

Hageman is administrative assistant for the statewide Hunter Education (HE) Program, working out of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) Pratt Operations Office. In nominating her, Gary Coleman, Valley Falls, called Hageman “the silent, usually taken for granted, driving force behind the Hunter Education Program in Kansas. She is the ‘go-to’ person in the office who gets the job done and gets it done right. Without her knowledge and expertise, the program would certainly have a few more bumps in the road. She has juggled job and family and has always been a delight to work with.”

Peterson is a 33-year volunteer instructor from Topeka who has been referred to as a “fundraiser extraordinaire.” In their nomination letter, Mary and Gene Peterson, also of Topeka, noted that George has taught more than 5,500 students and is now teaching children of his original students. He has been honored with KDWP’s Order of the Buffalo — a special honor for exceptional hunter education instructors — twice, in 1978 and 2005, and has been president and secretary of the Shawnee County Hunter Education Association.

“George helped raise approximately $50,000 for improvements to the hunter education facilities at Shawnee State Fishing Lake,” the Petersons noted in their nomination. “He served on the Friends of the NRA committee for four years and helped raise thousands of dollars to promote shooting sports and hunting in Kansas. He is also NRA certified to teach ‘Refuse To Be a Victim,’ a program designed to teach women safety strategies.” Peterson has many other HE-related certifications and affiliated memberships, including being a life member of the NRA and serving as vice-president of the Kansas State Rifle Association.

Tim Wright, Topeka, nominated Doyle for the Hall of Fame. Doyle has been statewide coordinator for KDWP’s Hunter Education Program since 1998 and has been involved with the program for 25 years. “Under Wayne’s guidance, the HE program has grown by leaps and bounds,” Wright’s recommendation states. “He has used innovative tools and technology to expand and improve the scope of the program.”

Wright noted that Doyle’s accomplishments include incorporating Laser Shot hunting simulators into the program; developing an instructor intranet for ordering supplies and setting class schedules and rosters; equipping instructors with trailers and supplies for trail walks, live fire, and archery equipment; working with instructors to incorporate computer technology in the classroom; and developing an alternative delivery class where students spend several hours of study at home followed by a day of hands-on training in the field.

Criteria for nominees to the Kansas Hunter Education Hall of Fame include a minimum of 15 years service as a certified HE instructor, any KDWP employee, or anyone who has given significant support to the HE program. Nominees do not have to be KHEIA members. Selection is limited to a maximum of five inductees per year, and awards are to be presented at least once every three years. Previous inductees include Ed Augustine, Junction City; Lloyd “Butch” Harris, Topeka; and Dean Wieners, Leoti.

About:
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is a cabinet-level agency with a Secretary appointed by the Governor. A seven-member, bipartisan commission, also appointed by the Governor, advises the Secretary and approves regulations governing outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife resources in Kansas. The commission conducts business during regular public sessions.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KS - -(AmmoLand.com)- The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has announced that this year’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Workshop scheduled for Sept. 25-27 is full, with 128 women registered. There is a lengthy waiting list, and applications are no longer being accepted.

“The fact that we are filled to capacity three months before the workshop demonstrates the important need that this fun and educational program fills in connecting women with the outdoors.” says Ross Robins, KDWP’s Education Section chief. “It also reflects well on long-time program coordinator Jami Vonderschmidt and on the skill and experience of our volunteer instructors.”

The Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program (BOW) is designed to provide women a chance to learn about the outdoors and outdoor recreation in a friendly, non-threatening environment. During the three-day workshop at Rock Springs 4-H Center, volunteer instructors teach participants a variety of skills, including fishing, shotgunning, orienteering, rifle marksmanship, botany, dog handling, archery, and more. Kansas held its first BOW workshop in 1994, and this year marks the 16th anniversary of the event.

Studies have shown that many women do not participate in outdoor recreation because they have not had an opportunity to learn the outdoor skills that make outdoor activities enjoyable. The popularity of BOW proves that when that opportunity is offered, many women take advantage of it with enthusiasm. Women who participate in this program learn the outdoor skills that allow them to fully enjoy the outdoor environment, while building self-confidence.

Registration for the 2010 workshop opens next May. Women wishing to ensure a spot in next year’s workshop should mark their calendars and register early. For more information, phone 620-672-5911.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KS – -(AmmoLand.com)- Bullfrogs have been bellowing from farm ponds, streams, and lakes since the Kansas weather warmed up, and many campers and anglers are anxious to target a few of these amphibious “tubas” and put some fine eating on the table. They’ll get their chance on July 1, when the bullfrog season begins.

Bullfrog hunting, or “frogging,” as many people call it, is a great way to beat the heat on a sweltering Kansas summer night. With days running 100 degrees or more in late June this year, many outdoor enthusiasts have been staying close to the air conditioning, but the freedom of summer nights beckons with the call of the bullfrog. At this time, shorts and a T-shirt are all that’s needed to cool off in the water and pursue this popular quarry.

Froggers can enjoy a season that runs July 1 through Oct. 31 although most frogging activity is in the hotter months of July and August. The daily creel limit is eight, with a possession limit of 24. A valid fishing license is required, and while bullfrogs may be taken by hook and line, dip net, gig, bow and arrow, or crossbow (firearms not allowed), many froggers prefer to take them by hand. All that’s needed is a flashlight, a sack, an old pair of tennis shoes, and some stealth. The only other necessary ingredient is access to a local pond, lake, or stream.

The best method is to walk quietly through the water at night and shine a bright light along the bank until a pair of glowing eyes appear. Temporarily blinded by the light, frogs can be grabbed or netted.

The fruits of this effort are not only fun times but good food. Frog legs are regarded as a delicacy and have a taste and texture resembling a cross of shrimp and fish. A popular way to cook them is to dip the legs in egg and then into a mixture of flour and corn meal, seasoning salt, and pepper. Then the legs are fried to a golden brown in about 1/2 inch of oil. This gourmet meal is a bonus to a great summer evening that both kids and adults will always remember.

About:
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is a cabinet-level agency with a Secretary appointed by the Governor. A seven-member, bipartisan commission, also appointed by the Governor, advises the Secretary and approves regulations governing outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife resources in Kansas. The commission conducts business during regular public sessions.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KS – -(AmmoLand.com)- The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) will conduct a basic wing-shooting clinic at the Pratt Gun Club this July. The course will include four sessions conducted on Tuesday evenings beginning July 14 and is open to anyone age 12 or older. The course is designed for beginning shotgun shooters and will provide instruction from the very basic to more advanced techniques.

Each session will begin at 7 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. Session 1 will cover basic safety, proper shotgun fit, stance, and live fire at incoming and outgoing targets. Session 2, on July 21, will introduce techniques needed to hit targets at various angles and distances. Session 3, on July 28, will introduce more difficult targets, such as hard-crossers, rabbit, and odd-trajectory targets. Session 4 will complete the clinic on Aug. 4 by presenting targets in wing-shooting situations.

The clinic will cost $25 for all four sessions, payable at Session 1. Guns, ammo, targets, and eye and ear protection will be provided. It is anticipated that each student will fire two to four boxes of 20 gauge ammunition per session, or 50-100 rounds. Only KDWP guns and ammunition will be allowed on the range.

Because the class size is limited to 12, pre-registration is required. Phone the KDWP Hunter Education Section at 620-672-5911 to register.

About:
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is a cabinet-level agency with a Secretary appointed by the Governor. A seven-member, bipartisan commission, also appointed by the Governor, advises the Secretary and approves regulations governing outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife resources in Kansas. The commission conducts business during regular public sessions.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

PRATT, KS – -(AmmoLand.com)- In a joint effort between private landowners and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), a number of special hunts will be conducted on private lands this fall. Called the Special Hunts On Private Lands Program, these hunts are the result of 2008 surveys of landowners and sportsmen who live in urban areas of Kansas. One of the objectives was to determine a way to increase hunting access in more urban portions of the state. The survey revealed that providing a program that controls the number of people using private land would be desirable to some landowners who may consider enrolling in an access program. A more controlled environment with less crowding was also preferred by hunters.

For a number of years, KDWP has conducted special hunts on public land as part of the agency’s Hunter Recruitment and Retention Program, or “Pass It On.” Special hunts offer a less crowded experience with better harvest opportunities, but because approximately 98 percent of Kansas land is private, opportunities for such events are limited. KDWP staff see access to private land for these events as a way to expand hunting opportunities while providing landowners with both personal and monetary benefits.

Under the Special Hunts On Private Lands Program, landowners work with district wildlife biologists to determine how many days and what type of hunting they will allow on their property. Random drawings determine which hunters are allowed to hunt properties on specific dates. Successful applicants are provided with permits to be placed on the dash of their vehicle and carried with them so that both the landowner and KDWP officers can easily verify that each person hunting has permission.

Resident landowners, absentee landowners, tenant farmers, estate managers, trust managers, and others who manage privately-owned land in the eastern half of Kansas are eligible to apply for enrollment in the program. This past spring, six private landowners and the Kansas University Endowment Association enrolled in the program, providing special turkey hunting opportunities, primarily for youth.

The area targeted is a portion of the state where additional hunting access can be made available if participants have more control over the number of people using their property. This area was chosen as a priority for the program because of a lack of public access to private land and proximity to urban centers. Any private land with high-quality habitat and hunting opportunities will be considered for enrollment. To allow time to post property and publish a special hunts brochure prior to the hunting seasons, the deadline for the fall signup is July 13.

Benefits to landowners are both personal and financial. State law provides that private individuals who lease their land to the state for recreational purposes have a defense against damages or injuries resulting from ordinary negligence. In addition, landowners know who is on their property, and they may select specific species, dates, and hunt types that meet their desires.

Maximum payments to landowners may be as high as $2,300 or more, depending on the time of year, number of acres, species to be hunted, and number of hunting days negotiated in the lease agreement.

Access to lands enrolled in the special hunt program will be limited to foot traffic only, unless agreed to in the lease and posted otherwise. Each property will have special restrictions for species of harvest, access dates, and type of hunt that will be listed on the application.

For more information on the program or applications, write Jake George, Private Lands Coordinator, KDWP, 512 SE 25th Ave., Pratt, KS 67124; phone 620-672-5911, ext. 160; or email jakeg@wp.state.ks.us.

About:
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is a cabinet-level agency with a Secretary appointed by the Governor. A seven-member, bipartisan commission, also appointed by the Governor, advises the Secretary and approves regulations governing outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife resources in Kansas. The commission conducts business during regular public sessions.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

Kansas - -(AmmoLand.com)- The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has announced that 2009 nonresident deer permit applications will be accepted beginning May 1, with one major change from previous years — applications must be made online through the KDWP website.

The application deadline is midnight on June 1. Downloadable mail-in applications will not be available, and none will be accepted.

This application applies to Nonresident White-tailed Deer permits only. Nonresident Hunt-Own-Land and Antlerless White-tailed Deer permits will be available July 13 over the counter.

This change will streamline the process for both applicants and licensing personnel and was made in part because the majority of applications last year were made online.
Nonresident White-tailed Deer permits allow the taking of one white-tailed deer buck, doe, or fawn.

The cost of the permit is $333.21, and if successful in the drawing, the applicant must also purchase a nonresident hunting license, $72.50, prior to hunting.

The hunter applies in one deer management unit and may also select one adjacent unit in which to hunt. Applicants also select one equipment type and season choice (archery, muzzleloader, or firearm) at the time of application. Muzzleloader permit holders may hunt during early muzzleloader season and regular firearms season using muzzleloader equipment only. If unsuccessful in the draw, the hunter receives a $301 refund and a preference point for next year’s draw.

A nonresident who successfully draws an Archery or Muzzleloader White-tailed Deer permit in Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 16, 17, or 18 may also apply for one of a limited number of Mule Deer Stamps for an additional fee of $102.50, submitted at time of application; if drawn, the applicant’s archery or muzzleloader whitetail permit converts to an either-species/either-sex archery or muzzleloader permit. Preference points do not count toward this stamp. If unsuccessful in the Mule Deer Stamp draw, the hunter will receive a $101 refund and be issued the whitetail permit.

A nonresident hunter who doesn’t want to hunt in 2009 can purchase a preference point online for $21.50. The preference point will count toward a Nonresident White-tailed Deer permit in a future drawing.

To apply for a Nonresident White-tailed Deer permit, click here. To learn more about permits you may qualify for, click here.

About:
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is a cabinet-level agency with a Secretary appointed by the Governor. A seven-member, bipartisan commission, also appointed by the Governor, advises the Secretary and approves regulations governing outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife resources in Kansas. The commission conducts business during regular public sessions.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

Kansas – -(AmmoLand.com)- Kansas volunteer hunter education instructors will conduct an eight-week advanced course in wingshooting beginning Thursday, June 18, through August 6. The course will run from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Thursday evening for eight consecutive weeks at the Powder Creek Shooting Park, 8601 Monticello Road in Lenexa. (Sunday afternoons will tentatively be offered as make-up days.) Multiple instructors will be available each night, and each student will receive individual instruction and assistance.

The cost of the course is $7.50 per night for 50 targets. Students must furnish their own club-approved target ammo (no reloads allowed). Appropriate ammunition for Powder Creek is lead shot only, size 7.5 or smaller shot with a cartridge case length of no more than 2.75 inches. (Appropriate target ammunition is available for sale at the Powder Creek clubhouse.) The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will furnish 20-gauge training shotguns, but students are encouraged to bring their own shotguns, 12-gauge or smaller.

“The first week will include easy incoming hovering targets, and each week following, the presentations will be more and more challenging,” says course coordinator Butch Moberly. “We will throw doubles and fling rabbits in the later classes. The later portion of the course will include some challenging presentations to hone wingshooting skills.”

Participants are not required to attend all classes. A safety briefing will be provided for each student each evening.

The only prerequisite for this course is a certified hunter education course from any state. For more information, email Moberly at Kansashuntered@yahoo.com or phone 913-634-1832.

About:
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is a cabinet-level agency with a Secretary appointed by the Governor. A seven-member, bipartisan commission, also appointed by the Governor, advises the Secretary and approves regulations governing outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife resources in Kansas. The commission conducts business during regular public sessions.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

Kansas – -(AmmoLand.com)- Spring turkey season is in full swing, and many hunters are enjoying the abundance of this large game bird. Other hunters who enjoy turkey hunting but also like to quail hunt may be wondering why turkey populations have surged in recent years while quail populations have declined in much of the state. Jim Pitman, small game biologist for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), has some answers.

“Some hunters have speculated that because turkey populations are on the rise and quail are in decline in the same areas of the state, then turkeys must be eating quail or competing with them for resources,” Pitman says. “They assume turkeys are having a negative impact on quail. In reality, both populations have been influenced by a large-scale landscape conversion that has occurred over several decades.”

Pitman explains that wildlife biologists have been studying both quail and turkeys intensely for more than 75 years and have never documented a single occurrence of a turkey eating a young quail.

“It is a common rumor that turkeys have been shot with quail in their crops, but no biologist has ever seen a specimen or a photograph,” he says. “Another problem with this claim is that most quail hatch in late June or early July, well after the turkey season has closed. It would be highly unlikely that a legally-harvested turkey would have a quail chick in its crop even if the phenomenon was known to occur. The main factor contributing to declining quail populations and increasing turkey populations is a landscape conversion from grasslands and shrubs to woodlands.”

Satellite images confirm this. Woodland habitat increased 23 percent in eastern Kansas from 1984 to 2000, and if the 1950s landscape were compared to the present landscape, the woodland increase would have been much greater. This landscape transformation occurred throughout Kansas but has been most severe in the Flint Hills and eastward. The additional trees have improved habitat for many woodland species such as turkeys, deer, and squirrels, but these changes have degraded habitat for grassland species like quail.

“Large trees are required by turkeys for roosting, and as woodlands have matured and expanded into the prairie, more areas have become suitable for turkeys,” says Pitman. “These trees have shaded out low-growing bunch-grasses and shrubs required by quail for nesting and protective cover. Additional woodland has also benefited quail predators such as hawks, owls, raccoons, and opossums. Other factors have contributed to quail decline, but more trees in the landscape has had the greatest negative impact.”

This does not mean that good quail hunting can’t be found in Kansas. In the past few years, quail numbers have increased in portions of central Kansas, from north to south. So turkey hunters should enjoy the opportunity to bag multiple turkeys this spring, as well as in the fall. And plan a fall quail hunt, as well.

About:
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is a cabinet-level agency with a Secretary appointed by the Governor. A seven-member, bipartisan commission, also appointed by the Governor, advises the Secretary and approves regulations governing outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife resources in Kansas. The commission conducts business during regular public sessions.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

Kansas - -(AmmoLand.com)- The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks reports a total of 10 chronic wasting disease (CWD) occurrences from among almost 2,700 deer tissue samples collected and submitted for lab analysis by KDWP in recent months.

Eight of the CWD-positive deer tissue samples had been reported earlier by KDWP, and two additional “positives” were recently confirmed in the final batch of samples submitted for lab analysis, according to Shane Hesting, KDWP’s wildlife disease coordinator.

A total of 2,693 tissue samples were collected by the department throughout the 2008 hunting seasons. Included in that total of samples collected were nine elk; none of the elk samples tested positive for CWD. KDWP has conducted annual sampling of deer and elk since 1996 to help track the occurrence of CWD.

“Emphasis was placed on obtaining more samples in northwest Kansas to assess the prevalence and distribution of the disease, since that area is adjacent to past CWD occurrences in neighboring states and is the only area of Kansas where it has been documented,” Hesting said.

“About 20 percent of the total samples collected in Kansas were from that 12-county area,” he added. “Therefore, the increased number of detections may be the result of more intensive sampling combined with the natural spread of the disease.”

All ten deer confirmed as CWD-positive were white-tailed deer taken by hunters in northwest Kansas. Of the CWD-positive deer confirmed by KDWP, five came from Decatur County, two from Sheridan County, two from Rawlins County, and one from Cheyenne County.

CWD had been documented previously in Kansas. During the 2007 season, three Decatur County whitetails were confirmed as CWD-positive. The first detection in a wild Kansas deer was a white-tailed doe killed by a Kansas hunter in 2005 in Cheyenne County. Prior to that, CWD was detected in a captive elk in Harper County in 2001.

Although research is underway, there is currently no vaccine or other biological method of preventing CWD. The only tool is to prevent the spread of CWD to new areas, because once the infective particle (an abnormal prion) is deposited into the environment — either through an infected carcass or from a live animal — it may exist for a decade or more, capable of infecting a healthy deer.

Despite the recent occurrences, the likelihood of finding CWD in a wild deer harvested in Kansas is small. That small likelihood decreases even more the farther from northwestern Kansas the deer lived. In recent years, numerous cases of CWD have been documented in neighboring areas of Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming.

CWD is a fatal illness to infected deer and elk. Humans have never been known to contract the disease. CWD is a member of the group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Other diseases in this group include scrapie in sheep and goats, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease) in cattle, and Cruetzfeldt-Jacob disease in people. None of the ten CWD-positive deer from the 2008 seasons exhibited any outward symptoms of CWD that are common in the terminal stages of the disease.

CWD is a progressive, fatal disease that results in small holes developing in the brain, giving it a sponge-like appearance under the microscope. Decreased brain function causes the animal to display neurological symptoms such as depression, droopy head, staggering, loss of appetite, and a lack of response to man. The continuing deterioration of the brain leads to other symptoms such as weight loss, drooling, and excessive thirst. Caution is advised because of unknown factors associated with prion diseases, but no human health risks have been discovered where CWD occurs.

The symptoms of CWD include loss of body weight, stumbling, holding the head at an odd angle, circling, non-responsiveness to people, and pneumonia. Any sick deer or elk should be reported it to the nearest KDWP office or the Emporia Research Office, 620-342-0658.

Hunters can help protect the health of the Kansas deer herd by taking the following steps to avoid accidentally introducing CWD to a new area in Kansas:

do not transport deer carcasses far from the area where the deer lived, especially from areas where CWD has been detected, such as northwestern Kansas; and if a carcass is transported, the hunter should make sure that carcass waste is not dumped into the environment where local deer or elk can come into contact with it. Carcass waste can be disposed of by double-bagging it and taking it to a landfill. The Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance maintains an online clearinghouse of information about the disease. More information is also available on the KDWP website. Contact Bob Mathews at KDWP’s Pratt office (620/672-5911) for more information.