/^/ INTRODUCTION This folder is designed to answer some KANSAS FISH of the many questions from sportsmen re garding hunting in Kansas. Hunting “ Mid way U.S.A.” can be an exciting and reward ing experience and many persons are at AND GAME tracted to the fields and woods of Kansas during the fall of the year. Seasons and bag limits for the various game species are set each year during the first part of September by the Kansas For COMMISSION estry, Fish and Game Commission. However, there are standard opening dates for the prairie chicken, pheasant and quail sea sons. (Check information under each spe cies.) All seasons are announced through GUIDE FOR HUNTERS news media and printed regulations may be obtained from the County Clerk in each county or by writing the Commission at Box F, Pratt, Kansas.
SPECIES Kansas, located in the heart of the nation, has a great variety of game in plenti ful numbers. Portions of the state lie within the major bobwhite quail and pheasant ran ges of the United States. The Flint Hills area of eastern Kansas contains the largest prairie chicken population of any area in the nation. Located in the middle of the central flyway, Kansas hunters have ample oppor tunities to harvest their share of ducks, geese, doves and other migratory birds. Small game animals are generally plenti ful. Jackrabbits and cottontails may be taken during most of the year. Squirrels also pro vide hunting opportunities and the current population can well stand increased hunting pressure.
GAME RANGE PHEASANTS —Best pheasant hunting is normally found in the western half of the state. However, some northeastern counties are usually open to hunting of these birds. Season opens the second Saturday of Novem ber. Check regulations for open areas, bag limits and closing dates. PRAIRIE CHICKEN—Major range of the greater prairie chicken is shown above. Sea son opens on first Saturday of November. Check regulations for open areas, bag limit and closing date. QUAIL —Bobwhite quail are found over the mits will probably be issued to Kansas residents entire state with the best populations in the only. eastern half of Kansas. Scaled quail are found IMPORTANT GAME LAWS in the southwest portion with the same season as for bobwhites. Season opens on the third No game bird or game animal shall be shot Saturday of November. Check regulations for at, killed or pursued from a motorboat, airplane possible zoned hunting, bag limits and closing or automobile, and no wild game bird shall be date. shot at or killed unless that bird is in flight. DUCKS AND GEESE-Any suitable water Hunting on private lands is unlawful unless area in the state provides hunting opportunities permission has been obtained from the owner or for waterfowl. Good shooting may be had in feed person in charge of the land. fields used by ducks and geese during morning It is unlawful to hunt, kill, pursue, or have and evening hours. in possession any wild song and insectivorous MOURNING DOVES—Found statewide, dove bird or destroy the nests or eggs of such birds. shooting is usually best during the first two or It is unlawful to use directly or indirectly three weeks of the season; cool weather causes live waterfowl decoys for the taking of water migration south. Pass shooting near water holes fowls, nor may waterfowl be taken by means, aid and jump shooting in fields are popular hunting or use of cattle, horses or mules, or by baiting. methods. Season usually opens September first. Shotguns used for the taking of migratory SQUIRRELS—Gray squirrels are found in birds shall not be capable of holding more than eastern third of the state. Fox squirrels are most three shells in the magazine and chamber com plentiful in the eastern half but some hunting bined. The use of plugs in semi-automatic and may be had along water courses in western repeating shotguns is permitted provided that Kansas. such plugs cannot be removed without disassem COTTONT Al LS-F ound over the entire state bly of the gun. with high populations in the eastern one-half. Export of game birds and game animals from JACKRABBITS —Best hunting is found in the state of Kansas is legal provided that the the western part of the state with only a few game was taken in a legal manner and during normally found in the eastern third of the state. legal open season. The legal number of game DEER—Both whitetails and mule deer are birds or game animals which may be exported in Kansas. Their ranges overlap with mule deer shall consist of no more than two days bag limit more plentiful in the west and whitetails pre on each species. dominant in the east. The planned season in For a copy of the complete game laws, 1965 will be in specified management areas with write the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Com a limited number of permits for each area. Per mission, Box F, Pratt, Kansas. BOWHUNTING PUBLIC HUNTING AREAS Game birds and small game animals may The map to the right is designed to assist legally be taken in Kansas by means of bow you in locating the various areas open to public and arrow during regular open season and in hunting, Midway U.S. A. This may be used in con junction with a state road map so that you may a manner as prescribed by law for hunting pinpoint these areas and the highways leading to with firearms. them. Signs posted at the entrances to wildlife VARMINT HUNTING lands will give you additional information. Public hunting lands at the federal reservoirs are, in The hunting of certain birds and ani some instances, scattered tracts adjoining the mals is permitted by law at any time without water. In such cases, the reservoir manager should be contacted to determine hunting areas. regard to numbers. Included are coyotes, Public hunting areas managed by the Kansas prairie dogs, groundhogs and crows. Certain Forestry, Fish and Game Commission (indicated furbearers may also be hunted at any time by boldface type) are intensively managed to including red and gray fox, badger, bobcat maintain the best possible wildlife populations. Food and cover areas are arranged to provide and raccoon. Prairie dogs are found mostly ideal conditions for game. in the western half of the state while ground hogs inhabit the eastern third. Crows are PUBLIC HUNTING AREAS particularly plentiful in the winter with large concentrations usually located in the 1. MARAIS DES CYGNES WATERFOWL MANAGEMENT AREA, 6,343 acres-Portions central part of the state. The remaining list of this area open to waterfowl, quail and ed animals have rather general distribution. squirrel hunting. (Contact resident manager) (Note! The swift or prairie fox is protected 2. MIAMI COUNTY GAME MANAGEMENT at all times.) AREA, 277 acres-A ll game species. 3. STRIP PIT AREAS, 5,900 acres-AU game species. Local inquiry advised to determine LICENSES location of the scattered tracts. Resident Hunting License (Required of 4. BOURBON COUNTY STATE LAKE, 380 acres —All game species. all Kansas residents between the ages of 5. LEAVENWORTH COUNTY STATE LAKE, 16 and 70)* ...... $ 3.00 506 acres-A ll game species. Non-resident Hunting License (Required 6. DOUGLAS COUNTY STATE LAKE, 717 acres —All game species. of all hunters who reside outside of Kansas, 7. NEOSHO WATERFOWL MANAGEMENT regardless of a g e )* ...... $15.00 AREA, 2,956 acres-Waterfowl, dove, rabbit, Upland Game Bird Stamp (Required of squirrel and quail hunting permitted in cer all hunting license holders for the taking of tain areas. (Contact resident manager) 8. Pomona Reservoir, 3,600 acres — All quail, pheasant or prairie chicken) $ 1.00 game species. *Owners or tenants of land leased for 9. John Redmond Reservoir, approximately agricultural purposes and their immediate 18,000 acres — All game species. families living with them, may hunt upon 10. TORONTO RESERVOIR, 4,369 acres-All game species. such land without a hunting license. This 11. LYON COUNTY STATE LAKE, 582 a cres- exemption applies only for land actually All game species. owned or leased for agricultural purposes by 12. FALL RIVER RESERVOIR, 10,892 acres- the individual and dc not apply for hunt AU game species. 13. Council Grove Reservoir, 4,000 acres- ing on adjacent land o'v.r.ed or controlled by All game species. another. 14. TUTTLE CREEK RESERVOIR, 12,500 acres — All game species. ACCOMMODATIONS 15. WASHINGTON COUNTY STATE LAKE, 574 acres-A ll game species. Finding a place to stay is usually not 16. OTTAWA COUNTY STATE LAKE, 711 difficult with the exception of the first few acres-All game species. days of pheasant season. At this time, motel 17. CHENEY RESERVOIR, 12,000 acres-A ll game species. and hotel rooms are sometimes unavailable 18. JAMESTOWN WATERFOWL MANAGEMENT in the better hunting areas. Reservations AREA, 3,245 acres-A portion of the area should be made as far in advance as pos open to all game species. Used primarily for sible. Local Chambers of Commerce will be waterfowl hunting. glad to help if you can not get a reservation. 19. LOVEWELL RESERVOIR, 4,905 acres — All game species. Most maintain a list of private homes where 20. Kanopolis Reservoir, 5,000 acres — All accommodations can be secured. game species. PUBLIC HUNTING AREAS
21. KINGMAN COUNTY GAME MANAGEMENT AREA, 37. HAMILTON COUNTY STATE LAKE, 432 a cres- 1,562 acres—Portions open to all game species. All game species. 22. Wilson Reservoir, 4,880 acres — All game 38. Cimarron National Grassland, 106,000 acres sp ecies. (A small part of the area managed bythe Fish 23. CHEYENNE BOTTOMS, 19,790 acres-Portions & Game Commission)—All game species. of the area open to waterfowl and all other game species. (Contact resident manager) HUNTING ON PRIVATE LANDS 24. Kirwin Reservoir, 1,890 acres — All game Although Kansas has an ever-growing number of species. (Contact resident manager at Na public hunting areas in all parts of the state, the bulk tional Wildlife Refuge) of the hunting opportunities still must be found on 25. WOODSTON UNIT, Webster Reservoir, 210 acres — private land. The privilege of hunting on this land is All game species. dependent on the conduct of the individual sportsman. 26. ROOKS COUNTY STATE LAKE, 333 acres-A Although the title to all game is vested in the portion open for all game species. people as a whole, the access to this game is depen 27. WEBSTER RESERVOIR, 5,562 acres —All game dent upon cordial relations with the farmer and land species. owner. Entering upon the premises of any farmer for 28. CEDAR BLUFF RESERVOIR, 12,034 acres-A ll the purpose of hunting is strictly forbidden by law game species unless a hunter has first obtained permission to do so. 29. CLARK COUNTY STATE LAKE, 1,243 acres- This is not only the law, it is just good manners and All game species EXCEPT migratory waterfowl. common sense. Hunters should always remember that 30. Norton Reservoir, 3,785 acres — All game they are the guest of the landowner and should con specie s. duct themselves accordingly. 31. SHERIDAN COUNTY GAME MANAGEMENT Hunters must assume responsibility for policing AREA, (State Lake No. 1) 436 acres —All game their own ranks. The actions of a few thoughtless or species. careless persons can result in the closing of many 32. DECATUR COUNTY STATE LAKE, 481 acres- acres of land which might otherwise be available to All game species. sportsmen. As good sportsmen, we can encourage 33. FINNEY COUNTY GAME MANAGEMENT AREA, those with whom we come in contact to conduct them 852 acres —All game species. selves in a manner acceptable to the farmer and land 34. LOGAN COUNTY STATE LAKE, 271 acres-A ll owner. Through such action, better relationships will game species. be developed and more private land will be available 35. KEARNY COUNTY STATE LAKE (Lake McKin for hunting opporunities. ney) 3,000 acres—All game species, primarily waterfowl. IT IS UNLAWFUL TO HUNT ON ANOTHER PER 36. SHERMAN COUNTY STATE GAME MANAGE MENT AREA, 1,560 acres —All game species SON’ S PROPERTY WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION. EXCEPT migratory waterfowl.