Daily Archives: August 10, 2013

Approval of Hunting Highest Since 1995

79% of Americans Approve of Hunting

A recently released nationwide scientific survey by Responsive Management shows that 79% of Americans 18 years old and older approve of hunting, up five percentage points from 74% in 2011. This marks the highest level of support for hunting since 1995, according to data compiled by Responsive Management.

Responsive Management has been tracking trends in public approval of hunting since 1995, which has remained generally consistent during this time: 73% in 1995, 75% in 2003, 78% in 2006, 74% in 2011, and now at 79% (see graph below). At 79%, approval is the highest since Responsive Management has tracked it. The reasons for this increase are still unclear, but it may be related to the recent increase in hunting and shooting participation that has occurred.



Since 2006, hunting participation has increased by 9%, according to the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2011). Meanwhile, shooting participation has increased by 18% since 2009 (Responsive Management, 2013). Other studies on public opinion on hunting conducted by Responsive Management show that the strongest correlation with approval of hunting is knowing a hunter–over and above demographic variables or any other factor. With the increased number of hunters in the field and sport shooters at the range, it is possible that this increase is being reflected in support for hunting as well.

Overall, the most recent study found that more than half of Americans (52%) strongly approve of hunting (79% strongly or moderately approve). At the other end of the spectrum, 12% disapprove (strongly or moderately) of hunting. Another 9% gave a neutral answer. 


Methodology

Conducted in February 2013, the study surveyed 1,306 Americans 18 years old and older using random digit dialing and supplemental cell phone sampling. The sampling error is +/- 3.00 percentage points. The survey was the fifth in a series of surveys by Responsive Management to track trends in public approval of hunting

Open Youth Team Bass Tournament

Brought to you by the Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation

The Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation will sponsor a 2-youth team bass tournament at Wilson Reservoir September 8, 2013. Also hosting the event is the Russell County Economic Development and Convention & Visitors Bureau.

This is a youth-only bass tournament. Any two youth aged 18 and under can create a team with an adult as their boater/coach. The two youth anglers’ fish, the boater/coach drives the boat but does not fish. You don’t need to be a member of any group or organization to enter.

There is a $50 per team entry fee,* which includes all side pots. The team will fish for a five-fish limit. They will have a live weigh-in. Based on 30 teams entered, prizes will be given for first through sixth places, plus a Biggest Bass award and a Second Biggest Bass award. A $350 prize package for Biggest Bass is being donated by the Backlashers Bass Club and the $150 prize package for second Biggest Bass has been donated by the KC Bass Club.

            The tournament will run from 7 am to 2 pm. Blast-off will be from the Hell Creek Ramp at Wilson Reservoir. There is a mandatory pre-tournament meeting September 7, 2013 in Russell, Kansas. Refreshments at the pre-tournament meeting provided by the Russell County Economic Development and Convention & Visitors Bureau.

For an Entry Form and Rules, e-mail either KBN Youth Director Brad VanRiette at[email protected] or KBN Tournament Director Joel Porter at [email protected]. Entries must be postmarked by August 27, 2013.

            Contestants should visit the Russell County website at www.russellcoks.org for lodging options and local attractions.

            Go to the Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation’s website at www.ksbassnation.com to learn more about the organization and Open Youth Team Bass tournament.

*After expenses, 20% will be deducted and placed in the KBN Youth account, and 80% will be paid back in gift cards, prizes, etc.

2013 NWTF Kansas State JAKES Camp September 14 & 15

The National Wild Turkey Federation will hold their 2013 NWTF Kansas State JAKES Camp September 14th & 15th at White Memorial Camp, located 6 miles north of Council Grove, just off highway 177. Youth 17 years of age and younger get to select 6 activities to participate in on Saturday which includes fishing, arts & crafts, deer hunting 101, trap & still target shooting, archery, canoeing, quail in Kansas presented by the Quail & Upland Game Federation Chapter from Council Grove, the World of Sporting Dogs presented by KVOE radio host Phil Taunton, and Turkey Talk with turkey hunting legend, author, outdoor TV personality, and Grand National turkey calling champion Ray Eye.

Saturday evening JAKES members can participate in the annual NWTF Kansas State JAKES (youth aged 12 and under) and Xtreme JAKES (youth aged 13 to 17) Turkey Calling contest. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 finishers in both divisions. Later, around the campfire, Ray Eye will entertain everyone with his award winning turkey hunting stories and adventures.

            On Sunday, Pastor Gary Cargill will start the day with a sunrise service. Activities on Sunday morning include Predator Calling with Knight & Hale Pro Staff member Mick Bowman, Turkey Biology & Management by NWTF biologist Brandon Houck, and a presentation by the MilfordNature Center.

            The cost of the event is $20 for JAKES members, $30 for non-JAKES members (which includes a JAKES membership), and $20 for adults. Attendees may chose to tent camp (bring your own tent) Saturday night or may elect to commute both days. New this year, you have the option (for an additional fee) to stay in a resident cabin (bunk beds & shared bath). Boys and girls will have separate cabins. There are also a few RV hookups. The cost includes lunch and supper on Saturday and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Meals will be prepared by the White Memorial Camp kitchen staff. All youth 17 and younger will receive a commemorative tee shirt and win a prize in a drawing at the end of the event on Sunday.

            The NWTF Kansas State JAKES Camp was awarded the “Best State JAKES Event” in 2012 and the “Best Special JAKES Event” in 2013 at the NWTF National Convention in Nashville, TN.

            For more information or a registration form, contact Gib Rhodes at 620-437-2012.

New Angler Instructor Course to be Held at Schermerhorn Park

A new course designed to certify anglers to teach fishing techniques in Kansas will be held Aug. 31

Fishing’s Future and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism will host an angler education class Aug. 31 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Schermerhorn Park, 7693 SE 77th Terrace, Galena. The course, which will be held just outside of the Southeast Kansas Nature Center, is part of a new educational program designed to enlist qualified volunteer instructors to teach fishing techniques throughout the state.

Although the class is not a requirement to teach, those in attendance will be given valuable information about working with children, sample curriculums and tips for preparing a class or clinic. Other subjects covered in the four-hour class will include current fishing rules and regulations, species identification, fishing ethics, equipment, knot-tying, casting, fish habitat, aquatic nuisance species, and conservation.

Anglers interested in registering for the Aug. 31 course can sign up by visiting www.fishingsfuture.organd clicking “upcoming events,” then “Kansas Angler Education Training Program.”

For more information, contact Fishing’s Future local coordinator Kevin Reich at[email protected], or by phone at (785) 577-6921.

New Angler Instructor Course to be Held at Schermerhorn Park

A new course designed to certify anglers to teach fishing techniques in Kansas will be held Aug. 31

Fishing’s Future and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism will host an angler education class Aug. 31 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Schermerhorn Park, 7693 SE 77th Terrace, Galena. The course, which will be held just outside of the Southeast Kansas Nature Center, is part of a new educational program designed to enlist qualified volunteer instructors to teach fishing techniques throughout the state.

Although the class is not a requirement to teach, those in attendance will be given valuable information about working with children, sample curriculums and tips for preparing a class or clinic. Other subjects covered in the four-hour class will include current fishing rules and regulations, species identification, fishing ethics, equipment, knot-tying, casting, fish habitat, aquatic nuisance species, and conservation.

Anglers interested in registering for the Aug. 31 course can sign up by visiting www.fishingsfuture.organd clicking “upcoming events,” then “Kansas Angler Education Training Program.”

For more information, contact Fishing’s Future local coordinator Kevin Reich at[email protected], or by phone at (785) 577-6921.

Bridge Repairs May Slow Kansas Park Visitors

Bridge projects near three state parks may mean travel delays

Summer is a good time to visit your favorite state park – and for road crews to work on roads and bridges. Roadwork is a temporary inconvenience with long-term benefits, but that doesn’t keep travelers from grumbling about the orange cones and barrels that appear when the weather warms. Park visitors can minimize delays by following the signs and detours and planning ahead.

Bridge projects near these three state parks won’t prevent visitors from getting to the parks, but the projects may extend the travel time.

Pomona State Park – The K-268 bridge over the abandoned Missouri Pacific Railroad tracks in OsageCounty will be replaced with a structure for pedestrian use on the Rails to Trails route. The bridge is just east of the K-368 and K-268 intersection, approximately 4.77 miles east of the U.S. 75 intersection. Work will take place during daylight hours Monday thru Friday with some occasional Saturdays. Eastbound and westbound K-268 will be closed to all through traffic just east of K-368 and K-268. There will be a marked detour route and drivers must use alternate routes until the work is complete. The scheduled completion date is early November 2013, weather permitting.

Cedar Bluff State Park – Thursday, August 8, the Smoky Hill River bridge on K-147 at Cedar Bluff Reservoir will be closed for girder repairs. The bridge is located at the south end of Cedar Bluff Dam. Work will occur during daylight hours, and the closure is expected to last two days, weather permitting. Travelers are encouraged to seek alternate routes during the closure.

Hillsdale State Park – The Ten Mile Creek bridge on 

255th St.

 between US-169 and 

Old KC Road

 is closed for a bridge replacement project. The work is scheduled to be completed by the end of December, weather permitting. Detour signs are posted along US-169 as traffic comes from the north or the south. Hillsdale Laketraffic should exit at 

223rd St.

 and follow the detour signs.

The Kansas Department of Transportation urges motorists to be alert, obey the warning signs, and ‘Give ‘Em a Brake!” when approaching and driving through project work zones. For road conditions, construction detours and travel weather information on the Kansas Turnpike, and any state, U.S. and Interstate highway (not city or county roads) in Kansas or Nebraska, visit www.KanDrive.org online or 511mm.ksdot.org on a mobile device. Or, call “511” on any phone from anywhere in Kansas. If dialing 511 doesn’t work from your phone, call 1-866-511-KDOT (5368).

Third Annual Youth Dove Hunt September 1 at Glen Elder Wildlife Area

Young hunters invited to experience action-packed dove hunting

The Osborne County Pheasants Forever Chapter and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) invite hunters age 10-16 who have limited or no previous dove hunting experience to participate in an opening-morning dove hunt Sunday, September 1. Organizers expect plenty of shooting opportunities as the birds flock to a specially-managed crop field on the Glen Elder Wildlife Area that will be reserved exclusively for this youth event. Deadline to register is Tuesday, Aug. 27. Kids who have never hunted doves will be given preference. A limited number of shotguns will be available for kids who do not have one, and 12- and 20-gauge shotgun shells will be provided for all hunters.

Each youth will have at least one adult mentor at their side to assist them. Hunters are asked to meet before sunrise on the morning of the hunt at the Glen Elder Wildlife Area shop in Cawker City to get paired up with adult mentors before heading to the field. Participants are welcome to enjoy a free lunch following the hunt.

Youth interested in participating in this hunt can pre-register by calling the Glen Elder Area Office at (785) 545-3345. Spots are limited, so hunters are encouraged to register early.

When registering for the event, hunters will be asked if they want to participate in a practice trap shoot that may be held Saturday afternoon, Aug. 31. If there are enough participants, hunters will be notified with details of the time and location for the trap shoot.

For more information, or to assist with this event, contact Glen Elder Wildlife Area Manager Chris Lecuyer at (785) 545-3345 or John Cockerham of Pheasants Forever at (785) 346-6527.

Applications being Accepted for Memorial Deer Hunt Recognizing Kansas Teen

The sudden and tragic passing of 16-year old TJ Hellerud from a car accident in 2003 sparked a tradition that is still going strong today. For the past seven years, a youth/disabled deer hunt has been held by the Hunting Heritage Group and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) in honor of Hellerud, an avid hunter and outdoorsmen.

“Hunting was more than just a past time or hobby for TJ,” said Cynthia Maier, Hellerud’s mother. “It taught him the struggle for survival, the reality of death and the appreciation of life.”

The memorial tradition continues this year as the Hunting Heritage Group and KDWPT invite resident youth and disabled deer hunters to apply for the 2013 youth/disabled deer hunt Sept. 7-8. Youth participants must be a Kansas resident age 10-16. Candidates must submit an application form by August 24 in order to be considered. There is no charge for the hunt and lodging will be provided.

The first morning will consist of classroom instruction followed by a trip to the local gun range to sight in rifles. Guides and hunters will then head to their respective hunting areas. Hunters will hunt from blinds with experienced guides/mentors on private land that neighbors the Cedar Bluff Wildlife Area in Trego County. Some youth participants may hunt on specially designated areas within the Cedar Bluff Wildlife Area. At day’s end, hunters will return to the meeting area for pictures and a recap of the day’s events. Hunters who are unsuccessful Sept. 7 will be invited to hunt the following day.

For more information, or to apply, contact Chris Smith at (785)726-3212 or Jason Hawman at (785) 250-9167.  

Waterfowl Hunting Season Looks Promising after Recent Rains

Wildlife area managers are optimistic waterfowl hunters will enjoy a high-quality season

Get your decoys in order, your waders patched and your retriever in shape. The upcoming waterfowl season could be fantastic. After enduring more than two years of severe drought, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) wildlife area managers are preparing to welcome both waterfowl and hunters this fall. Couple that good news with reports of high numbers of waterfowl on the nesting grounds, liberal season length frameworks and increased bag limits on several species (six teal during early teal season and six Canada geese), and you have a recipe for a great hunting season.

Several of Kansas’ top waterfowl hunting wetlands, including Cheyenne Bottoms, Jamestown, Marais des Cygnes, McPherson and Neosho wildlife areas, have benefitted from recent rains. Below are reports from KDWPT wildlife area managers.

Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area

“We have gone from completely dry to having the prospects of an excellent waterfowl season this fall,” said Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area manager Karl Grover. “Recent rains have provided run off in the Dry Creek and Wet Walnut Creek drainages, which we have been able to divert to the wildlife area.”

Local run-off has Pool 5 flooded to the south with overflow going into the closed outlet canal and Pool 4B via low water crossings. The pump station at the east hub is currently placing water from 5 into Pool 1A.

Blood and Deception creeks are flowing near full into Pool 2, which has about 12 inches of water. Pools 3A and 3B both have about 6 inches. As Pool 2 fills to 18 inches, excess water will be placed into Pool 3A/3B. Pool 4A has about 7 inches of water and will begin receiving water from Pool 4B. Diverted water from the Wet Walnut and Dry Creek is being placed into Pools 1A, 1B, 1C and 2.

“With the good waterfowl production this year, good water at the Bottoms, and some very good food production in the marsh, we are hoping for one of the best duck and goose seasons in some time” said Grover.

Jamestown Wildlife Area

“All wetlands are flooding,” said Jamestown Wildlife Area manager Rob Unruh. “We were preparing to pump some of our smaller wetlands, but now we don’t have to.”

Unruh added that last Friday alone, Jamestown Wildlife Area received as much as 6-8 inches of rain.

“Moist soil habitat was excellent prior to the flooding and corn was coming along nicely,” said Unruh. “Now, we will need to lose some of this water in the next two days to recover some of the habitat.”

Unruh added that staff plans to save some of the excess water at lower elevations and supplement those marshes with water from the Gamekeeper Marsh later in the season.

“Regardless, we are optimistic about the prospects for a great waterfowl season,” said Unruh.

Marais des Cygne Wildlife Area

“After going over 50 days with no rain, we have had a little over 3 inches in the last week alone,” saidMarais des Cygnes Wildlife Area manager Karl Karrow. “A few acres of corn were planted by production farmers or duck clubs this year, and those that were planted on duck clubs were planted late enough that they may now be encountering saturated soils.”

“The clubs that rely on moist-soil management will be a mixed bag,” said Karrow, “but this rain should help.”

Although recent rains aren’t enough to create excellent waterfowl hunting conditions for the upcoming season, Karrow says Marais des Cygnes’ habitat conditions have improved.

“We have ponded a little water in some pools, so there’s definitely a possibility of conditions improving even further,” Karrow added.

McPherson Valley Wetlands

“The McPherson Valley Wetlands are all but full,” said area manager Brent Theede. “In fact, all hunting pools in all three units (Big Basin, Chain of Lakes, and Farland Lake) are full or even over flowing at this point.”

Overall, it appears the McPherson Valley Wetlands are living up to their name and duck hunters should enjoy some quality hunting here.

Neosho Wildlife Area

Area manager Monte Manbeck said Neosho Wildlife Area has had a rough start this year. He explained that corn was planted the first time in late May, but 5 inches of rainfall in a two-day span following planting washed out the pools. After water was drained, staff replanted in late June. Little to no precipitation caused moist soil plants to struggle and the corn wasn’t growing, so staff grew concerned. Now, Manbeck says the area has had over 10 inches of rain in the last 10 days.

“It is either feast or famine around here it seems,” says Manbeck. “Although it is still too early to tell how the corn will do, moist soil food production will be good to excellent this year.”

Manbeck said water conditions for the area and surrounding landscape in southeast Kansas look very favorable for fall.

“Private ponds, Wetland Reserve Program lands and the refuge are all near full or are running over emergency spillways,” said Manbeck. “These conditions coupled with the predicted fall flight forecast should make for a very good early teal season, as well as a good regular waterfowl season for those who hunt in southeast Kansas.”

For a complete list of areas open for waterfowl hunting, visit www.ksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting/Where to Hunt in Kansas.”