Daily Archives: June 9, 2016

Arkansas River named National Water Trail

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has announced that a portion of the Arkansas River in Kansas has been designated a National Water Trail by the National Park Service. It is an honor shared by the Kansas River – the first such trail named in the state.

The Arkansas River National Water Trail is 192 miles long, begins in Great Bend, Kansas and ends at the Kansas-Oklahoma border southeast of Arkansas City. It runs through widely varied prairie and woodland habitats and passes a number of cities along its course. Although the Arkansas River enters Kansas at the Colorado border west of Syracuse, it is frequently dry in the western part of the state.

Most streams and rivers in Kansas are privately owned, but the Arkansas River, Kansas River and the Missouri River are “navigable waters,” and are open to the public between the ordinary high water marks on each bank. When these rivers flow through private land, permission is needed from adjacent landowners to access the rivers. Currently, 22 access points have been developed along the Arkansas River in partnership with cities, counties and private landowners, providing access for recreational paddling, fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities.  .

“This designation is a tremendous honor for the people and communities who have worked for decades to build a foundation of respect for our Arkansas River. Our next steps will be focused on providing users with the information they need to enjoy all that our river has to offer. By engaging even more citizens through supporting responsible use of our water resources, the health and biodiversity of the Arkansas River ecosystem will only continue to improve,” said Jessica Mounts, who is leading the project at KDWPT.

For more information about river access in Kansas, visit ksoutdoors.com and click on Activities, Rivers. Information about the National Water Trails System is located at www.nps.gov/watertrails.

Fort Scott to host Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission public meeting

The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission will conduct a public meeting on Thursday, June 23, 2016 at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Arts Center, Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton. Both sessions are open to the public. The afternoon session will begin at 1 p.m. and recess at 5 p.m. The evening session will convene at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend both sessions and time will be allowed at the beginning of each for public discussion of non-agenda items.

The afternoon session will feature Secretary Robin Jennison’s report on the agency and state fiscal status and a review of the 2016 Kansas legislative session. The General Discussion portion of the meeting will include a presentation by the Fort Scott Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, a summary of the local Community Fisheries Assistance Program projects, 2017 turkey regulations review, squirrel season discussion and a law enforcement program. The Workshop Session will include discussions of state park, fishing and threatened and endangered species regulations. The meeting will recess at 5 p.m.

The evening portion of the meeting will reconvene at 6:30 p.m. for the Public Hearing. The commission will hear final discussion before voting on revoking KAR 115-8-24, Guiding on Public Lands. In its final action of the night, the commission will hear recommendations for the Fort Riley deer season.

Time will be available during the afternoon and evening sessions for public comment on non-agenda items. If necessary, the commission will reconvene at the same location at 9 a.m., June 24, to complete any unfinished business. Information about the Commission, as well as the April 21 meeting agenda and Briefing Book, can be downloaded at www.ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/Commission/Upcoming-Commission-Meetings.

Live video and audio streaming of the meeting will be available at ksoutdoors.com. If notified in advance, the department will have an interpreter available for the hearing impaired. To request an interpreter, call the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Any individual with a disability may request other accommodations by contacting the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission secretary at (620) 672-5911.

The next Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism commission meeting is scheduled for August 11, 2016, in Great Bend.

Kansas Bowhunters Association to hold carp contest

The Kansas Bowhunters Association (KBA) will hold a carp bowfishing contest at Melvern Lake on June 11-12, 2016. The group will headquarter at the Sundance Primitive Campground north of Lebo. Signs will direct archers to the area.

KBA members invite anyone who has an interest to attend. Whether you’re a seasoned bowfisher or a beginner who wants to learn more, the event is perfect. Members will have bowfishing rigs available for those who don’t have their own.

Bring your own food and drink and plan to camp. The KBA will serve pork steak on Friday evening. Participants will compete to see who can bring in the most pounds of carp. Only carp shot during the daytime count toward an angler’s total. Contact Bob Griffin, 785-806-1493, [email protected] for more information.

A Kansas fishing license is required, unless exempt by law, for anyone bowfishing. Arrows must have barbed heads and be attached by a line to the bow.

Lifetime fishing license sweepstakes

The Active Network is teaming up with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks (KDWPT) and Tourism to offer Kansas anglers a chance to win a lifetime fishing license. Anyone purchasing their fishing license online at www.ksoutdoors.com is automatically entered into the sweepstakes. If you already have your license, you can still enter the sweepstakes by filling out the online entry form and clicking on “Enter Sweepstakes.” But hurry, the Lifetime Fishing License Sweepstakes closes June 30, 2016.

You must be a Kansas resident and 18 years old or older to enter. Go to www.ksoutdoors.com and click on the “LIFETIME FISHING SWEEPSTAKES” button to learn more and enter.

Active Network is a leading global marketplace for activities and events, and contracts with KDWPT to manage and market license and permit sales.

Error causes some hunters to receive duplicate deer permits

 

Several thousand nonresident hunters who successfully drew Kansas deer permits from the April drawing received a surprise mailing in early June. Due to a printing error at a fulfillment service contracted to print and mail permits to the 21,225 successful applicants, nearly 3,260 hunters received duplicate mailings. 

 

A successful applicant should have received only one mailing with one set of permits, which included an either-sex permit and carcass tag and a whitetail antlerless-only permit and carcass tag. Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) officials want to remind hunters that the law only allows them to have one permit that allows the harvest of an antlered deer, so only one set of the permits they received is valid. Duplicate permits may not be used or transferred to another hunter.

 

Hunters who received duplicate permits and carcass tags are asked to return duplicate sets to the KDWPT Licensing Section, 512 SE 25th Ave., Pratt, KS 67124. Department staff are working with the contractor to identify issues that led to the error and to ensure that all successful applicants received the correct permit, and that those who received duplicate permits are notified.

 

All applicants who were unsuccessful in the drawing should have received their refunds, and all successful applicants should have received their set of permits by now. Hunters can see their status in the draw at www.ksoutdoors.com and clicking on the “Nonresident Deer Permit Draw Results” button on the left-hand edge of the homepage. If you have questions, please contact Mike Miller at 620-672-0765 or Ron Kaufman at 785-296-2870.