The Voice of Outdoor Kansas November- December 2014 P.O. Box 771282 Wichita, KS 67277-1282 News & Events Pages 2, 4-6, 10, 12, 14-15 Anglers & Habitats Mountain lion Pages 11, 18, 38 Hunters & Habitats confirmed in Pages 2, 7, 12-13, 17, 20, 25, 27, 34-35, 37-39, 43-44 Labette County Mountain lion photographed on trail cam Natural Resource in southeast Kansas Management A deer hunter from Labette County got a surprise recently when he checked his trail Pages 4, 8-10, 14, 16-22, 24-25, camera he had set up for deer. He found a single image of a mountain lion walking 29-31, 33, 36-37, 40, 43 away, down the trail, the characteristic long tail prominently displayed. Kansas Depart- ment of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) staff visited the site last week and veri- fied the photo’s authenticity. This is the tenth mountain lion verified by KDWPT since Outdoor Recreation 2007, but the first in almost two years. Pages 3, 20, 39-41 The first confirmed mountain lion in 2007 was killed by an individual in Barber County. Since then, most of the sightings have been confirmed with photographs taken by remote, motion-triggered cameras commonly used by deer hunters to keep track of KIDS' WILD FRIENDS deer movement near their stands. Pages 15, 18, 21, 26, 32, 41-41 In each instance, KDWPT staff traveled to the sites where photos were taken to vali- date the photographs. Staff investigates sightings whenever evidence, such as tracks, a cached kill or a photograph exists. Biologists assume most sightings are of transient Go to our Web site, young males, coming from established populations in nearby states. www.kswildlife.org, “It’s not uncommon for young males to travel great distances looking for home for additional KWF information ranges,” said Matt Peek, KDWPT furbearer biologist. “So far, these animals appear to be passing through, rather than staying and establishing home ranges in Kansas.” Protecting the Land... Passing on Our Traditions Kansas Wildlife Federation • Page 1 KANSAS WILDLIFE President's Message FEDERATION By Troy Schroeder Officers and This year has passed quickly for me. It is already that time of year when we Board of Directors are asking you to send in your member- ship dues for 2015. Memberships are very important to us. Not only do they Kansas Wildlife Federation, Inc. provide funding for projects and activi- P.O. Box 771282 ties but give us more clout for influenc- Wichita, KS 67277-1282 Business: 785-650-3182 ing legislative or administrative action Fax: 316-755-2239 related to wildlife. Thus we would like E-mail: [email protected] to increase membership in 2015. Website: www.kswildlife.org When you send in your membership, we suggest you ask a few friends to join KWF OFFICERS our ranks as well. We are continuing the President: option for you to give gift memberships Troy Schroeder to new members for half price when 1785 CR 390 you pay for one Basic ($30) member- this newsletter. Albert, KS 67511 ship. As I am writing this note, we are Home: 785-650-3182 New for this year, with a donation of gearing up for the upland bird season. E-mail: [email protected] $75 or more you get a free ticket to our Early word is that we have more birds annual meeting. That includes registra- than last year and hunters should find Immediate Past President: tion, lunch, and afternoon informational success in some areas. Of course habitat Don Snider sessions as well as the evening auction it still the key and areas with good 2319 W. 60th North and banquet where we give Conserva- habitat, providing adequate cover for Wichita, KS 67204 tion Achievement Awards to Kansans nesting and brood rearing will have Home: 316-755-0920 that have made a significant contribu- E-mail: [email protected] birds. However, it will take more than tion to wildlife conservation in 2014. If one year to rebound from last year’s all you have items you would like to do- time low resulting from three years of Administrative Vice President: nate for our auction, please let us know Angela Anderson drought. I am hearing that quail seem to 853 Road 300 and we will arrange pick up. have done better this year than pheas- Allen, KS 66833-9356 In addition to memberships we are ants. The more normal rainfall this year Cell: 620-481-9547 interested in donations or planned giv- resulted in lots of lush growth so we E-mail: ing. If you are interested in making a will have good cover to hunt and to help [email protected] tax deductible donation for tax purposes birds overwinter. We won’t know for or selecting charities to support through sure what we have until the rest of the Conservation Vice President: your estate or will, please keep KWF in fall crops are harvested and hunters take Steve Sorensen mind. For more information contact us to the field on opening day. 9 Weatherly Ct. (see article in this issue of the newslet- Please keep up with us by checking Valley Center, KS 67147-8547 ter). Our contact information is listed in our website at www.kswildlife.org. Home: 316-755-2239 Cell: 316-214-3001 Fax: 316-755-0321 E-mail: [email protected] Field care critical for Secretary: Matt Nowak tasty venison 1007 N. 2nd Lansing, KS 66043 Venison is healthy culinary trerat if cared for properly Business: 913-684-8979 “Gamey,” “tough,” and “dry” are three the video. Home: 913-727-3871 adjectives that should never describe your After a shot has been placed and the E-mail: [email protected] deer meat, and if proper practices take deer recovered, a hunter should immedi- place while in the field, the reward can ately tag the carcass and begin cooling the Treasurer: be quite a culinary treat. Whether you meat. This can be done by immediately Brian Snider are processing a deer for the first time, or field dressing, or gutting, the carcass. The 1058 N. Crestway St. are looking to try a different process, the first step in dressing the deer should be Wichita, KS 67208-2807 Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and to remove the deer’s entrails. Next, prop Home: 316-210-1277 Tourism has a brief, easy-to-follow video open the ribcage and let cool air circulate E-mail: [email protected] on field dressing your harvest that will throughout the body cavity. After a few walk you through the process from start to Editor: Steve Sorensen finish. Just visit ksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting/Big Game Information” to view Continued on Page 8 Kansas Wildlife Federation • Page 2 KANSAS WILDLIFE FEDERATION Officers and Board of Directors KWF DIRECTORS Northeast District: Ted Beringer 15313 W. 80th Terrace Lenexa, KS 66219-1530 Home: 913-541-1859 E-mail: [email protected] Northcentral District: Nick Levendofsky 440 Marble Rd. Courtland, KS 66939 Cell: 785-527-0941 E-mail: [email protected] 239 Kansas schools are now Northwest District: Dave Hendricks P. O. Box 488 enrolled in National Archery in WaKeeney, KS 67672-0488 Home: 785-743-2644 the Schools Program E-mail: [email protected] It provides a lifetime of fun, enjoy- gram are Northern Heights, Emporia Southeast District: ment and friendly competition for all and Osage City. Schools with inter- Phil Taunton ages. est in the program may contact the 2508 Loma Vista Drive The Kansas Department of Wildlife Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks Emporia, KS 66801-5856 Parks and Tourism and NASP training and Tourism at (620) 672-5911. Olpe Home: 620-342-5016 Cell: 620-794-5373 instructors will host a National Archery High School’s NASP program will be E-mail: [email protected] in the Schools Program (NASP) Basic completely funded by KDWPT and the Archery Instructor’s Workshop at Flint Hills Chapter of the Quail and Southcentral District: Olpe High School, October 27th. The Upland Wildlife Federation. Carl Conley purpose of the workshop is to train and Schools and interested instructors 320 S. 2nd certify educators from Olpe, Hartford, may contact the Kansas Department Clearwater, KS 67206-9454 Reading and other local schools as of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism at Home: 620-584-2733 NASP Archery Instructors. 620.672.5911 for more information Cell: 620-641-3026 Kansas entered the NASP program concerning the NASP Program and the E-mail: [email protected] in 2006 and the program has grown October 27th workshop. Donations steadily since. State and National tour- to help fund the National Archery in Southwest District: Open naments are held every year, rewarding the School programs in other schools 2015 NWF Representative: all participants with a medal, and top would be greatly appreciated. Troy Schroeder scoring archers with prizes ranging Kansas Department of Wildlife, from brand new bows to academic Parks and Tourism Natural Resource 2015 NWF Alternate scholarships. The National Archery in Officers Jesse Gehrt and Dave Adams Representative: the Schools Program allows students helped kids participate in a modi- Angela Anderson who might not otherwise engage in tra- fied National Archery in the Schools ditional sports to participate. Students Program at Council Grove Reservoir KWF Affiliates: with special challenges, who cannot on Saturday, October 11 (see photo). Geary County Fish & Game Association participate in the traditional team More than 40 youth participated in the Junction City, KS sports, have excelled in archery and archery, shotgun, and pellet gun “in- love to participate. struction and safe handling” stations. Kansas Wildlife Officers The NASP program is second All youth received door prizes and one Association only to table tennis in safety in high lucky ‘Ambassador to the Outdoors Iola, KS school sports in the U.S.