Daily Archives: May 7, 2014

NRA Women on Target Event May 24

The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is hosting a Women On Target instructional shooting clinic Saturday, May 24 at the Capital City Gun Club in Topeka. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., participants will have the opportunity to shoot shotguns, rifles, handguns and bows. No experience is necessary and equipment will be provided.

The cost is $50.00 to attend and space is limited, so pre-registration is required. There is no age requirement, however participants under the age 18 should attend with an adult. Lunch will be provided and each participant will go home with a goodie bag and t-shirt.

To download a registration form, visit CapitalCityGunClub.com and click on the Women On Target logo. Registration forms must be turned in no later than May 15.

For more information, contact Jennifer Haugh at (785) 806-0765 or by email at [email protected].

Angler Education Certification Course May 17

Become certified to teach fishing in Kansas by attending an instructor course

Fishing’s Future and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism are looking to enlist up to 40 anglers who want to become volunteer instructors to teach fishing techniques. Interested anglers should enroll in the instructor course that will be taught on May 17 at LakeHenry in ClintonState Park, 798 N. 1415 Rd., Lawrence. The course will run 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 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 topics 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 can sign up at fishingsfuture.org. Click “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.

Parking will be available on the hill above LakeHenry. The lot by the lake is reserved for disabled anglers. If there is inclement weather, the course will be moved to the park building.

Three Kansas State Parks Make “Top 36 Stunning State Parks” List

Out of more than 7,500 U.S. state parks, Kansas makes the list three times

While compiling a list of some of our country’s best state parks, The Active Times couldn’t ignore the state ofKansas; in fact, they couldn’t ignore the sunflower state three times. Out of more than 7,500 U.S. state parks to choose from, three Kansas state parks made the media group’s “36 Stunning U.S. State Parks” list. KanopolisState Park was listed No. 14, Lake Scott State Park No. 23, and Wilson State Park No. 34.

The following write-ups accompanied a photo of each park in the publication:

Kanapolis State Park

This state park is situated amidst the striking Smoky Hills region of Kansas and is treasured for its many miles of hiking trails that meander through canyons, prairies, and wooded creek bottoms. The sublime Dakota sandstone bluffs and craggy HorsethiefCanyon decorate the park and its surrounding area presenting pristine views of what’s considered some ofKansas’ most stunning scenery.

Lake ScottState Park

Named to National Geographic’s list of the country’s 50 must-see state parks, this aptly named “stunning oasis” has everything you could want in a park. Spanning 1,020 acres, the natural features include wooded canyons, rugged bluffs and fresh springs. LakeScott is large enough to accommodate boating and fishing and the extensive trail system allows horseback riding. With more than 26 archeological sites in the area, the remarkable features are more than just aesthetically pleasing.

Wilson State Park

This 945-acre park is tucked away in the center of the Smoky Hills and is well attended for the scenery its location affords. Hiking trails offer unrivaled views of native Kansas prairie and the Wilson Reservoir. Camping accommodations and cabins are available throughout the park and land is dedicated to mountain biking, fishing and hunting (in season only).

The next time you plan a family outing or a weekend on the lake, consider checking out one of Kansas’ many list-worthy state parks before crossing state lines. You just might find something stunning right here at home.

To view the complete list of The Active Times’ “36 Stunning U.S. State Parks,” visit

www.theactivetimes.com/36-stunning-us-state-parks.

Ring-necked Pheasant (male)

 Credit by Alan D. Wilson

The Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus) is a chicken-like bird that arrived in North America from China in the 1800s and became established by the end of the 19th century. A critical requirement of ring-necked pheasants is a mixture of different habitats in close proximity to provide for all the foraging, nesting, brood-rearing, roosting, and escape cover. Hedgerows and fencerows along agricultural land provide protective cover as does the leeward side of willows. The combination of thickets and native grasses near agricultural land is very beneficial since pheasants consume seeds and grains. In Kansas, wheat stubble is particularly effective. Pheasant populations have declined in the face of intense fire control, chemical eradication of nesting and protective cover, over grazing, and mowing of vegetative buffers along highways. Consequently, it is not surprising that pheasant populations have responded to improved habitat provided by the USDA Conservation Reserve Program. For more information visit the websites for Pheasants Forever; and, Quail and Upland Wildlife.