Daily Archives: October 13, 2016

Council Grove youth shotgun and archery clinic October 29

Youth age 11-16 are invited to a free shotgun and archery shooting and safety clinic on Saturday, October 29 at Council Grove Reservoir. This special event will provide participants with opportunities to enhance their firearm and archery shooting skills in a fun and safe environment under controlled instruction. The clinic will be led by certified firearm, archery, and hunter education instructors and all gear and supplies – including shotguns, shells, bows, arrows, targets, and eye and ear protection ­– will be provided. Participants must preregister for this event before Oct. 21 by calling Brent Konen, Council Grove Wildlife Area manager, at (620) 767-5900. Participants are not required to be hunter education certified, but certification is preferred.

The clinic will begin at noon at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) area between Marina Cove and Neosho Park, approximately 0.25 miles west of the COE office at the west end of the dam. Check-in and a free lunch provided by the Flint Hills Chapter of Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation (QUWF), will begin at 12 p.m. Instruction will then begin at 12:30 p.m. and end at approximately 4 p.m.

Door prizes will be awarded, including a youth model 20-gauge pump-action shotgun and a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle.

This event is part of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s (KDWPT) “Pass It On” Program. Event sponsors include KDWPT, the Kansas Hunter Education program, Archery in The Schools, COE, the Flint Hills QUWF, the Chisholm Trail Chapter of Safari Club International, the Bill Young Foundation, and the Morris County Hunter Education instructors.

Trout stocking discontinued at Cedar Bluff stilling basin

For more than 40 years, trout have provided winter fishing fun in select Kansas waters, and the Cedar Bluff stilling basin has been a part of that program from the beginning. However, the stilling basin below Cedar Bluff Dam won’t be stocked with trout in 2016. Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Fisheries Division staff considered several factors before making the decision to discontinue stocking trout at the Cedar Bluff location.

Poor water quality has been a hindrance to trout welfare in the stilling basin for many years.  Recently, the problem has become more acute due to lack of flow. Late seasonal turnover, brought about by prolonged warm weather in the fall, delays water quality improvement and limits the basin’s ability to provide a suitable environment for trout.

Economics also played a role in this decision. In the last two years, the cost of trout increased from $1.50/lb. to $4.00/lb. Revenues from trout permit sales did not keep pace with this increase, necessitating a statewide reduction in the number of trout stocked. 

To maintain acceptable angler catch rates in the face of this reduction, it will be necessary to reallocate trout regionally. Some trout, originally destined for Cedar Bluff, will go to Webster stilling basin, which receives nearly twice as much trout angling pressure as Cedar Bluff.

For more information, contact district fisheries biologist, Dave Spalsbury, at (785) 726-3212, or visit www.ksoutdoors.com to learn where trout will be stocked this fall. The trout season opens Nov. 1, and more than 30 locations across the state will receive regular stockings until the season ends April 15, 2017.

Anglers 16 and older are required to have a $14.50 Trout Permit, in addition to a Kansas fishing license. The daily creel limit, unless posted otherwise, is five per day. Anglers 15 and younger do not need a trout permit, but they may only keep two trout per day.

Trapping and predator calling workshop at Tuttle Creek State Park

Anyone who wants to learn about trapping furbearers and calling predators should plan on attending a free workshop at Tuttle Creek State Park on Oct. 29. The class will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the state park office, 5800 A River Pond Rd, in Manhattan. Preregistration is not required to attend.

The class is designed for anyone who wants to learn about trapping and furbearer hunting, regardless of experience or skill level. Instructors will introduce the sport to those new to trapping and calling, as well as provide some brush-up pointers for those with experience.

Kansas is home to 14 furbearer species that may be hunted and trapped during the furbearer season (Nov. 16, 2016-Feb. 15, 2017), including badger, bobcat, gray fox, weasel, mink, muskrat, opossum, raccoon, red fox, striped skunk, and swift fox. Beaver and otter may be trapped (Nov. 16-March 31, 2017). Although coyotes are not classified as furbearers, they may be hunted and trapped year-round.

This class will not qualify participants for a furharvester education certificate, but information provided will be beneficial for those interested in completing a furharvester education class. The Kansas Furharvester Education course can be completed online at www.ksoutdoors.com/Services/Education/Furharvester.

For more information on this class, contact park manager Todd Lovin at (785) 539-7941.

Youth invited to hunt deer at Jeffrey Energy Center

Youth 12 and older with little or no deer hunting experience are invited to apply for a special deer hunting opportunity at Jeffrey Energy Center, courtesy of the Westar Energy Green Team. The center is located 7 miles north of St. Marys, and hunts will be held during the firearm deer season, Nov. 30 through Dec. 11, 2016. Applications will be accepted until Friday, Nov. 4 and successful hunters will be notified by November 11. To apply, contact Barb Cornelius at (785) 575-8125.

Successful applicants must be accompanied by an adult mentor. Hunts will be in the early morning or late afternoon. A limited number of slots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis with priority going to those with little or no deer hunting experience. Hunting will be done from blinds, and participants will be led by volunteers, who are experienced hunters. Hunters are encouraged to bring their own rifle, but one can be provided if needed.

Every hunter must have a deer permit valid in Deer Management Unit 9, and hunters 16 and older must also have a hunting license and hunter education certificate.

An orientation session will be conducted on Saturday, Nov. 19, when organizers will instruct youth hunters on general firearm safety, deer biology and assist youth with sighting in rifles.

The Green Team’s annual youth deer hunts are designed to encourage youth interested in learning about hunting to give it a try. The hunts provide safe and fun hunting experiences in an area where the odds of success are high due to the abundance of deer.