Daily Archives: August 5, 2015

Youth invited to opening-day dove hunt

The Jayhawk Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation (QUWF) in Lawrence and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) invite youth age 16 and younger to register for their 8th Annual Youth Dove Hunt. The Sept. 1 opening-day hunt will begin at 3 p.m. Mentors will accompany all participants, but non-hunting family members are encouraged to attend, as well.

Non-toxic shells and eye and ear protection will be provided to participants, who are encouraged to dress in camouflage or dark-colored clothing. Shotguns may be provided upon request.

For location details, and to register, contact QUWF member Dr. John Hill at (785) 841-9555, or by e-mail at [email protected].

Participants who are 16 must have a Kansas hunting license, unless exempt by law, and a Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit. For more information, visit www.ksoutdoors.com and click “Services / Education / Hunter.”

The dove season is Sept. 1-Oct. 31 and Nov. 7-15. For information regarding migratory bird hunting regulations, license and stamp requirements, legal methods of take, non-toxic shot and more, visit www.ksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting / Migratory Birds / Federal Migratory Bird Regulations.”

Now is the time for hunter education

Fall hunting seasons are just around the corner. That also means school is about to start, holidays are on the way, and finding free time isn’t going to be easy. If signing up for a Kansas Hunter Education course is on your to-do list, now is the time to make it happen.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism is currently offering Hunter Education classes throughout the state, providing a variety of class times, formats, and locations to meet nearly any schedule. To view a current list of upcoming classes, visit www.ksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting” and then “Hunter Education.”

Kansas law states that anyone born on or after July 1, 1957 must be certified by an approved course in hunter education before they can hunt in Kansas, except that anyone 15 or younger may hunt without hunter education certification provided they are under the direct supervision of an adult 18 or older. Students must be 11 or older to be certified.

Subjects covered include hunter responsibility, ethics, fair chase, history of firearms, firearms basics, ammunition, basic gun safety, field safety, bowhunting, conservation and wildlife management, wildlife of Kansas, outdoor emergencies, Kansas hunting regulations and boating safety for hunters.

Courses are offered in one of two formats: traditional and Internet-assisted. Traditional hunter education courses are 10 hours long, typically in a classroom setting, and are usually held over the course of two to three days. Internet-assisted courses are designed to meet the needs of individuals with busy schedules by providing online classwork that can be done at home. After the Internet work is completed, students must attend a field day, which often includes live-fire, trail-walk and safe gun handing exercises before final testing and certification. Students must register for an Internet-assisted course before completing the online portion.

Classes fill up quickly and hunting season will be here before you know it. Invest time in a class now, so you can be ready to enjoy opening day.

Angler instructor course at Dodge City August 19

If you’re passionate about fishing and you believe that every child should have the opportunity to experience it, consider becoming one of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s (KDWPT) volunteer angler education instructors.

A one-day Angler Education Instructor Certification Course, hosted by KDWPT and Fishing’s Future, will outfit anglers with the tools necessary to work with children and host classes and clinics. The course will be held Wednesday, August 19 at Dodge City High School, 2201 Ross Blvd, at 6:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend.

Attendees will learn about current fishing regulations, species identification, fishing ethics, equipment, knot-tying, casting, fish habitat, aquatic nuisance species, and conservation practices. Apart from being certified, anglers will also receive sample curriculums for running classes.

One way in which certified angler education instructors can utilize their skills is by leading a local high school fishing club. Many Kansas high schools have already implemented similar programs, but there is a need for interested and qualified instructors to help with schools that don’t have fishing clubs. Certified instructors may even be eligible to receive fishing supplies, including poles and bait, from KDWPT at no cost. Fishing license fees for students 16 and older may also be waived for agency-approved events with prior agency approval.

For more information, contact Phil Taunton at (620) 794-5373 or Fishing’s Future coordinator Kevin Reich at [email protected] or (785) 577-6921.