Daily Archives: January 8, 2015

National Wild Turkey Federation (Flint Hills Gobblers Chapter) Wins Two National Awards

The National Wild Turkey Federation, located in Edge Field, South Carolina, notified the Flint Hills Gobblers Chapter from Emporia, that it will be receiving two national awards for two of the chapter’s 2014 programs. Receiving awards includes the March 15th, 2014 Women in the Outdoors Archery Day which featured 2013 Miss Kansas Theresa Vail. The Flint Hills Gobblers Women in the Outdoors members won the “Special Event” category.

The other national award won by the Flint Hills Gobblers Chapter was for “Best JAKES Event” for last year’s March 29th, 13th Annual Spring Turkey Hunting Clinic and Hunter’s Education Class. This is the largest JAKES (youth) event held in Kansas. Last year, 147 youth attended. This was the second year in a row that the Flint Hills Gobblers Chapter has won a national award for this event.

Both national awards will be presented at the 39th Annual NWTF Convention & Sport Show held in Nashville, TN, on Friday, February 13th.

Bald Eagle

The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus): Photo by ForestWonder

The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus): Photo by ForestWonder Nature Photography http://www.forestwander.com/2011/05/bald-eagle-face/

The white head and tail feathers of an adult Bald eagle are conspicuous identifying features. Females can weigh 14 pounds with wingspans of 8 feet. Male eagles weigh less, 10 pounds with a wingspan of 6 feet.

At one time its historic range (Alaska and Canada to northern Mexico) supported 500,000 birds. Its numbers declined dramatically when DDT was introduced after World War II to kill mosquitoes and other insects. DDT rendered eggshells of Bald eagles, peregrine falcons and brown pelicans too fragile to survive incubation. Some eagles also died from lead poisoning probably ingested from prey. Since Bald eagles are at the top of the food chain, toxic chemicals are concentrated in the contaminated fish or other ingested prey. Habitat destruction and illegal shooting also played a crucial role in their decline. From a low of 417 breeding pairs in 1963, populations in the lower 48 states grew to a high of 9,789 pairs today. Habitat protection provided by the Endangered Species Act, the Environmental Protection Agency’s banning of DDT, and other conservation actions sparked a dramatic recovery of bald eagles. During winter, migrants are found near large reservoirs and rivers in Kansas. Bald eagle nests have increased in Kansas since 1989. A bald eagle’s can lift a 4-pound fish out of the water. An eagle’s vision is at least four times that of a person with perfect vision. In 2007, the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced the recovery of the Bald eagle and removed it from the threatened and endangered species lists. Bald eagles will continue to be protected by the federal Bald Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act that prohibit killing, selling, or otherwise harming eagles, their nests, or eggs.

January ideal for Bald Eagle viewing in Kansas

The nation’s symbol can be spotted in Kansas throughout winter

Winter temperatures may have you hunkered down, but Kansas skies will soon give you a reason to look up. Throughout the months of December and January, the nation’s symbol, the bald eagle, can be viewed in Kansas, and with the right know-how, you might spot more than one. Because their diet consists primarily of waterfowl, fish, and carrion, bald eagles can commonly be seen along major river courses and reservoirs this time of year as severe weather pushes the large birds south. Look for them roosting in tall trees along the shoreline, especially near open water or large concentrations of waterfowl, or attend one of the organized eagle viewing events listed below.

2015 Eagle Day events:

MILFORD LAKE, Jan. 17

Eagle Day at MilfordLake will begin at 9 a.m. at the MilfordNatureCenter, 3415 Hatchery Drive, Junction City. Programs featuring live raptors begin at 9:30 a.m. and will be repeated throughout the day. Bus tours will depart from the nature center parking lot beginning at 10 a.m., with the last tour departing at 3:30 p.m. Popcorn and hot chocolate will be available, as well as a kids’ tent with activities and crafts. There is no cost to attend. For more information call (785) 238-5323.

LAWRENCE FREE STATEHIGH SCHOOL, Jan. 24

The Annual Kaw Valley Eagles Day will be hosted at Lawrence Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive, Lawrence, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Up to 20 exhibitors will provide hands-on activities for kids including dissecting owl pellets, making eagle head bands, exploring “what’s in it” boxes, checking out skins and skulls of prairie animals, and turning pennies into copper eagles. Presentations will also be given throughout the day. For more information and to view a list of presentations and times, visit www.kawvalleyeaglesday.com. There is no cost to attend.

WYANDOTTE COUNTYLAKE, Jan. 24-25

Raptors Day will take place Saturday, Jan. 24 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Sunday Jan. 25 from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. at Schlagle Library, 4051 West Dr, Kansas City. Operation Wildlife volunteers will have live birds of prey on exhibit, including owls, hawks and falcons and will talk about the birds and their natural history. A craft area will also be available for children. Birdwatchers can enjoy viewing eagles and other water birds outside. For more information, please visit www.kckpl.org, or call (913) 299-2384.

Spring turkey permits go on sale Jan. 12

Hunters have through Feb. 13 to apply online for Unit 4 Spring Turkey Permits

Have you been dreaming of longbeards? Do you find yourself spending extended periods of time listening for gobbles in the distance? Are you driving your family nuts practicing clucks and purrs on your turkey call? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, you may be experiencing spring turkey hunting withdrawals. But don’t worry, help is on the way!

All 2015 Spring turkey permits will be available over-the-counter and online beginning Jan. 12, except for Unit 4 permits, available only to Kansas residents and are disbursed through a lottery drawing. Applications for the 500 permits allocated in Unit 4 will be accepted from Jan. 10-Feb. 14. Applications can be made by visiting www.ksoutdoors.com. Hunters may apply for a Unit 4 Spring Turkey Permit or a Unit 4 Spring Turkey Permit/Game Tag Combo; however the game tag will only be valid in Units 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6.

Kansas youth (15 and under) may purchase a spring turkey permit valid statewide over the counter or online and will not need to enter the Unit 4 draw. Unit 4 spring turkey permits are also valid in adjacent Units 1, 2, and 5.

UNIT 4 SPRING TURKEY APPLICATION FEES:

General Application: $27.50

Landowner/Tenant Application: $17.50

General Combo Permit/Game Tag Application: $32.50

Landowner/Tenant Combo Permit/Game Tag Application: $22.50

Preference Point only: $6.50

There is a $6.50 nonrefundable application fee. Unsuccessful applicants will receive a refund check and be issued a preference point. If you do not want to apply for a permit and want to purchase a preference point only, you may do so online by selecting Spring Turkey Preference Point Application. Only one point may be obtained per year.

Any individual who has purchased a Spring Turkey Permit is eligible for one Second Turkey Game Tag. Game tags are valid in Units 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 ONLY. Individuals who possess a Spring Turkey Permit and Turkey Game Tag may harvest both turkeys the same day to obtain their bag limit.

The spring turkey season will open April 1-14 for youth and hunters with disabilities, and April 6-14 for archery hunters. The regular spring season is April 15-May 31, 2015.

For more information, including pricing on all other turkey permits and game tags, visit www.ksoutdoors.com, or call (620) 672-5911.

Maxwell elk herd tour Jan. 17

Tours begin at 10 a.m., courtesy of Friends of Maxwell

Join the Friends of Maxwell on Jan. 17 in a unique tour of public land elk at the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, 2565 Pueblo Road, Canton. Tours of the 2,200-acre enclosure will begin at 10 a.m. and are by reservation-only. An elk chili lunch will be offered after the tour, both of which are offered at no cost, however donations are appreciated.

Maxwell Wildlife Refuge is located six miles north of Canton, in the very southeastern tip of the scenic Smoky Hills, an area of large rolling hills. It is the only location in Kansas where public herds of both bison and elk can be viewed in a native prairie environment, and it’s also home to the state’s largest public herd of bison.

For more information on this event, or to reserve a spot on this unique tour, call (620) 628-4455, or visit www.maxwellwildliferefuge.com today.

New wildlife area acquired in Jefferson County

Special hunts offered on newly-acquired public land

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s (KDWPT) PublicLand staff are excited to announce the addition of a wildlife area in JeffersonCounty. The recently-acquired, 840-acre area is approximately 6 miles northwest of Lawrence. Called Buck Creek Wildlife Area, it derives its name from BuckCreek, which bisects the property and is one of the few perennial streams in the area that remains unaltered.

Initially, all public hunting opportunities on the area will be managed through the KDWPT special hunts program. Controlling hunting pressure will allow managers to regulate and monitor how many, who, and when hunters have access to the area. Wildlife viewing and outdoor educational opportunities will be allowed when hunting seasons are closed.

The land consists of oak-hickory forest, native grasses, cool season grasses, and cropland. The warm season grasses and mature timber will be managed mostly through prescribed fire and timber stand improvements. The cool season grasses will be converted over time to native grasses and forbs to enhance wildlife habitat. The cropland on the area will remain in production, and all revenue generated will be designated for funding wildlife management activities on the property.

For more information on Buck Creek Wildlife Area, contact area manager Justin Hamilton at (913) 845-2665.