HUNTING IN KANSAS, 1963 Information-Education Division Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission

Sportsmen who hunt in Kansas are fortunate indeed because the Sunflower State can claim some of the fin est upland game bird hunting in the nation plus adequate migratory waterfowl and good populations of small game animals. For variety and quality of hunting, Kansas has much to offer.

Prairie Chicken— The major hunting area for this species is the eastern one- third of the state, mostly in the famed Flint Hills area. The region supports the largest population of prairie chicken left in the U. S. today.

Quail— The bobwhite quail is found throughout the state but i t is most abundant in the eastern third to one-half. Good hunting is also found along watercourses in the western part of the state. Scaled quail inhabit the southwestern portion in huntable populations.

Pheasants— A major hunting attraction, the pheasant provides allure to the western h a lf of Kansas. Some hunting for this species is also found along the northern border in eastern Kansas. Best hunting is found west and north of a line running through Salina and Pratt.

Ducks and Geese— Several waterfowl management areas plus the large federal reservoirs have combined to attract and hold ducks and geese in Kansas. Good hunting is available on public lands adjacent to these water areas and also on private agricultural lands where waterfowl food is available.

Doves— Dove hunting is popular in Kansas with good populations of these birds present until cold weather drives them south. The first three weeks of September are usually the best.

Squirrel— The hardwood forests of eastern Kansas provide excellent hunting for the fox squirrel. Lesser numbers are found along all streams and rivers. Rabbits— Cottontails are found throughout the state wherever there is adequate cover. They are most plentiful in the eastern two-thirds of Kansas. Jack rabbits are most p len tifu l in the western one-half of the state.

KANSAS HUNTING LICENSE FEES:

Resident (required of a ll Kansas residents between the ages of 16 and 70)------1p3»00 Per Year.

Non-Resident (required for a ll non-residents regardless of age)-$l5.00 Per Year

SPECIAL STAMPS:

An Upland Game Bird Stamp is required for the hunting of quail, prairie chicken, and pheasants. The stamp must be affixed to the license and the hunter’ s name must be written across the stamp. Cost of the stamp is '$1.00. (Residents under 16 or over 70 need not possess this stamp.)

Federal law requires that a ll persons over 16 years of age who hunt geese, ducks, coots and mergansers must have in their possession a Federal Migratory Bird Stamp. Cost of this stamp is '$3.00. PAGE 2 Hunting licenses are available from the County Clerk in each county or from their designated agents. Usually, most sporting goods stores, hardware stores, etc, can supply either resident or non-resident licenses and stamps.

Accomodations are generally available in most localities during the hunting seasons. The one exception is during the fir s t two weeks of pheasant season when nearly a ll accommodations in the main pheasant range are reserved well in advance of the season. Persons who wish accommodations in western Kansas at that time are urged to make their reservations early. Should a ll commercial fa c ilitie s be spoken fo r, a contact with the chamber of commerce in the c ity where you plan to stay w ill probably be fruitful; many hunters are provided for with accommodations in private homes, both in town and rural areas.

HUNTING SEASONS: Prairie Chicken----Opens the fir s t Saturday in November. Pheasant— ------Opens the second Saturday in November. Quail------Opens the third Saturday in November.

(These are standard opening days for these upland game bird species.) Regulations regarding the length of the season and bag lim its are established the fir s t part of September, Printed regulations are usually available by the latter part of September.

HUNTING ON PRIVATE LANDS: All hunting on farms and private ranchlands is dependent on cordial relations with the landowner. Contact should be made in advance of the season i f at a ll possible. Trespassing on private lands for hunting activity is punishable by fine and imprisonment. Always be sure to ask permission before entering private property, PUBLIC HUNTING AREAS: Many thousands of acres of public hunting lands are now available to those who might otherwise find it difficult to find a place to hunt. Some of them are managed intensively for maximum w ildlife production. Local inquiry should be made in regard to boundaries and open areas.

1. Cimarron National Grassland, 106,000 acres—All game species including scaled quail, 2. Kearny County State Lake (Lake McKinney), 3,000 acres—Waterfowl,doves. 3. Sheridan Wildlife rlanagement Area, h3& acres—Open to all game species, li. Cedar B luff Reservoir, 7,3&$ acres—All game species. 5. Kirwin Reservoir , 1,890 acres'—Waterfowl, pheasants* 6. Webster Reservoir, 2,089 acres—All game species. 7. Woodston Unit, Webster Management Area, 210 acres—All game species. 8. Cheyenne Bottoms, 19,790 acres-—Waterfowl, doves and pheasants* 9* Lovewell Reservoir, 1,960 acres—All game species. 10. Repiablic Waterfowl Management Unit, 2,2l*0 acres—A ll game species. 11. Kingman Game Management Area, 700 acres—A ll game species. 12. Kanopolis Reservoir, j?,000 acres—All game species. 13. Tuttle Creek Reservoir—(Contact Reservoir Manager) 111. Pomona Reservoir—(Contact Reservoir Manager) 15. Fall River Reservoir, 10,892 acres—All game 16. Toronto Reservoir , b,3$9 acres—All game species. 17. Marai s des Cygnes Waterfowl Refuge, 6,3U3 acres—'Waterfowl, squirrel and quail hunting,, 18. Miami Game Management Unit, 277 acres-—All game species. 19. Neosho Waterfowl Management Area—Waterfowl, qu ail, squirrel and doves. 20. Strip Pit Areas, 6,000 acres (in scattered tracts)-A ll game species. ■ —■ .■ T 1 n a d v is e d * ___.__ v PAGE 3 VARMIT HUNTING:

The hunting of crows, coyotes and prairie dogs is popular during the off­ seasons of the year. A hunting license is not necessary for shooting the above mentioned species. Major concentrations of crows are found during the late f a ll and through the winter in Stafford, Reno and Kingman Counties. Coyotes are found state wide and prairie dogs are located in scattered areas in the western two-thirds of the state.

A complete li s t of the various seasons is available from the Kansas Forestry) Fish and Game Commission* Pratt, Kansas, after the middle of September. A copy of the game laws is available from the same address.