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2012 Upland Bird Forecast Online

While some areas of central, northcentral, and northwest Kansas may offer some good hunting, drought and heat have reduced bird numbers

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has released its 2012 Kansas Upland Bird Forecast, and because of continued drought, the state will likely experience a below-average upland bird season this fall. Kansas upland bird hunters experienced a down season in 2011, and this summer’s heat and drought in parts of the state have not improved upland bird prospects for 2012. For those willing to hunt hard, there will still be pockets of fair bird numbers, especially in the northern Flint Hills and northcentral and northwestern parts of the state.

Although last winter was mild, winter precipitation is important for spring vegetation, which is critical to reproductive success, and most of Kansas did not get enough winter precipitation. Pheasant breeding populations showed significant reductions in 2012, especially in primary pheasant range in western Kansas. Spring came early and hot this year but also included fair spring moisture until early May, when the precipitation stopped. Then the state experienced record heat and drought through the rest of the reproductive season.

Early nesting conditions were generally good for prairie-chickens and pheasants. However, the primary nesting habitat for pheasants in western Kansas is winter wheat, and in 2012, Kansas had one of the earliest wheat harvests on record. Wheat harvest can destroy nests and very young broods. The early harvest likely lowered pheasant nest- and early-brood success. The intense heat and lack of rain in June and July resulted in decreased brood cover and insect populations, causing lower chick survival for all upland game birds.

Because of drought, all counties in Kansas were opened to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) emergency haying or grazing. Many CRP fields, including Walk In Hunting Areas (WIHA), may be affected. Kansas has more than one million acres of WIHA (atlases available online at ksoutdoors.com or at any license vendor). Often, older stands of CRP grass need disturbance, and haying and grazing can improve habitat for the next breeding season and ultimately be beneficial if weather is favorable.

The regular opening date for the pheasant and quail seasons is Nov. 10 for the entire state. The previous weekend — Nov. 3-4 — is the special youth pheasant and quail season. Youth participating in the special season must be 16 years old or younger and accompanied by a non-hunting adult who is 18 or older. All public wildlife areas and WIHA tracts will be open for public access during the special youth season.

Pheasant

Pheasant breeding populations dropped by nearly 50 percent or more across pheasant range from 2011 to 2012, resulting in fewer adult hens in the population to start the 2012 nesting season. Drought has resulted in less cover and insects needed for good pheasant reproduction. Additionally, winter wheat serves as major nesting habitat for pheasants in western Kansas, and a record early wheat harvest this summer likely destroyed some nests and young broods. Then the hot, dry weather set in from May to August, the primary brood-rearing period for pheasants. Insufficient precipitation and lack of habitat and insects throughout the state’s primary pheasant range resulted in limited production. This will reduce hunting prospects compared to recent years. However, some good opportunities to harvest roosters in the Sunflower State remain, especially for those willing to work for their birds. Though the drought has taken its toll, Kansasstill contains a pheasant population that will produce a harvest in the top three or four major pheasant states this year.

The best areas this year will likely be pockets of northwest and northcentral Kansas. Populations in southwest Kansas were hit hardest by the 2011-2012 drought (72 percent decline in breeding population), and a very limited amount of production occurred this season due to continued drought and limited breeding populations.

Quail

The bobwhite breeding population in 2012 was generally stable or improved compared to 2011. Areas in the northern Flint Hills and parts of northeast Kansas experienced improved production this year. Much of eastern Kansas has seen consistent declines in quail populations in recent decades. After many years of depressed populations, this year’s rebound in quail reproduction in eastern Kansas is welcome, but overall populations are still below historic averages. The best quail hunting will be found throughout the northern Flint Hills and parts of central Kansas. Prolonged drought likely impaired production in central and western Kansas.

Prairie-Chicken

Kansas is home to greater and lesser prairie-chickens. Both species require a landscape of predominately native grass. Lesser prairie-chickens are found in westcentral and southwesternKansas in native prairie and nearby stands of native grass in CRP. Greater prairie-chickens are found primarily in the tallgrass and mixed-grass prairies in the eastern one-third and northern one-half of the state.

The spring prairie-chicken lek survey indicated that most populations remained stable or declined from last year. Declines were likely due to extreme drought throughout 2011. Areas of northcentral and northwest Kansas fared the best, while areas in southcentral and southwestKansas experienced the sharpest declines where drought was most severe. Many areas in the Flint Hills were not burned this spring due to drought. This resulted in far more residual grass cover for much improved nesting conditions compared to recent years. There have been some reports of prairie-chicken broods in these areas, and hunting will likely be somewhat improved compared to recent years.

Because of recent increases in prairie-chicken (both species) populations in northwestKansas, regulations have been revised this year. The early prairie-chicken season (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) and two-bird bag limit has been extended into northwest Kansas. The northwest unit boundary has also been revised to include areas north of U.S. Highway 96 and west of U.S. Highway 281. Additionally, all prairie-chicken hunters are now required to purchase a $2.50 prairie-chicken permit. This permit will allow KDWPT to better track hunters and harvest, which will improve habitat management practices. Both species of prairie-chicken are of conservation concern, and the lesser prairie-chicken is a candidate species for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act.

A detailed 2012 Kansas Upland Bird Hunting Forecast is available online at the KDWPT website, ksoutdoors.com. Click “Hunting/Upland Birds/Upland Bird Regional Forecast” for the complete report.

The following table includes the upland bird seasons for 2012. Possession limits are twice the daily bag limits.

Season
Open Dates
Daily Bag (Possession)
Open Areas
Prairie-chicken (Early)
15 Sep. – 15 Oct.
2(8)
East Unit: East of Hwy 281

NW Unit: North of Hwy 96 and West of Hwy 281
Youth Pheasant
3-4 Nov.
2(4)
Statewide
Youth Quail
3-4 Nov.
4(8)
Statewide
Pheasant
10 Nov. – 31 Jan.
4(16)
Statewide
Quail
10 Nov. 31 Jan.
8(32)
Statewide
Prairie-chicken

* East and Northwest Units
17 Nov. – 31 Jan.
2(8)
Excludes area south of Hwy 96 & west of Hwy 281
Prairie-chicken

* Southwest Unit
17 Nov. – 31 Dec.
1(4)
South of Hwy 96 & west of Hwy. 281

Recreational trails to receive $2 million in federal funding

Kansas’ recreational trails program will receive $2 million under the federal transportation bill passed by Congress this summer.

“One of our highest priorities is to enhance ecotourism in Kansas, which includes developing a good trail system,” said Robin Jennison, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), which manages the trails program. “This level of funding will allow us to make great strides in the number and quality of trails across our state.”

Federal transportation dollars go to the Kansas Department of Transportation, which then transfers an allocation to KDWPT for the trails program. The federal transportation bill – Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, or MAP-21 – had specified $1.3 million for the trails program, but a decision was made to increase the allocation in accordance with new flexibility provisions in MAP-21.

“KDOT and KDWPT worked to come up with a way to prioritize the amount of money that should be applied to recreational trails and determined that $2 million is the appropriate level,” said Transportation Secretary Mike King.

“This will help move ecotourism forward in Kansas.”

Kansas has more than 650 trails totaling more than 2,100 miles in length. KDWPT directly manages trails located on state park, wildlife area or state fishing lake properties. The others are managed by local governments or non-governmental organizations. To locate trails, visit http://maps.kansasgis.org/recfinder/public/index.cfm. 

Earlier this month, Kansas exercised a provision in the federal transportation bill to “opt out” of the recreational trails program. Exercising that provision simply gave the state maximum flexibility to prioritize the funding. It didn’t eliminate state support for the recreational trails program, which has received about $1.3 million annually in recent years. To have that flexibility option, the state had to “opt out” by Sept. 1.

Kansas will receive $366 million in federal transportation funding for the 2012 federal fiscal year, which is down from the $399 million it received in 2011.

Cargill Cares Council Presents $10,000 Grant to Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, Inc.

Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors announced today that it was awarded a $10,000.00 grant from the Wichita Cargill Cares Council.  This generous donation will be used to supplement Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors’ efforts to give more children the opportunity to experience the great outdoors with a caring mentor.  Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors works with state fish and wildlife agencies, conservation groups and youth organizations to reach out to underserved youth, giving them the chance to experience the great outdoors.

“Too many children are spending too little time outdoors,” indicated Michael Christensen, President of Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, Inc.  “It is up to the outdoor community to step up and introduce these children to the great outdoors that we all know and love if we are to see our outdoor heritage passed along to the next generation.  This generous donation from the Cargill Cares will help young people in the Greater Wichita Metropolitan Area develop healthy lifestyles, understand the importance of their natural environment and avoid risky behavior through participation in traditional outdoor activities and practical environmental projects with carefully screened, caring adult mentors through programs provided in partnership with local conservation groups and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.”

“Cargill is a company with a long and rich heritage tied to agriculture, the land and nature, and we believe it is important for children to have an opportunity to experience outdoor activities and learn about, and appreciate, the importance and value of the natural environment,” said Matt Gardner, Wichita Cargill Cares Council chairman.  “We are pleased to be able to support such a worthy effort by an organization with the passion and commitment of Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, Inc.”Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors has partnered with state fish and wildlife agencies, conservation organizations and youth organizations to give at-risk children outdoor opportunities they would not have had otherwise.  “There are many organizations providing outdoor activities.  It is imperative that we involve children who are not connected to these organizations to insure that they have the chance to experience the wonders and joys of the great outdoors that we all know and love,” stated Christensen.

For other opportunities to introduce children to the natural world see the links at the Kansas Wildlife Federation’s “Education” webpage at http://www.kswildlife.org/education.php.

EQIP for Forestry Concerns

“Kansas landowners wishing to implement conservation practices by improving tree stands may be eligible for federal funding assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP),” said Eric B. Banks, State Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The program provides funds to help landowners manage woodlands, renovate windbreaks, protect against streambank erosion or implement other conservation practices on their land, said Bob Atchison, rural forestry program coordinator with the Kansas Forest Service.

            “Landowners who are interested should start the application process early by contacting their local Natural Resources Conservation Service Office, in your local U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center (http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app),” Atchison said. 

            A forester then visits the landowner’s property to identify natural resource concerns, such as gaps or dead trees in windbreaks and shelterbelts.  If the property has sufficient resource concerns making it eligible for EQIP funds, the forester creates a conservation plan and submits it to the NRCS, which ranks applications based on priority.

            Common resource concerns foresters are watching for include a shortage of trees next to streambanks, leading to bank erosion that contributes to the sedimentation of federal water reservoirs.  “We want trees planted along the banks to help hold the soil in place,” Atchison said.

            Foresters also examine the species present in woodland areas.  Most woodlands in Kansasare not managed, leading to an abundance of trees like honey locust and Osage orange, which are less beneficial than trees such as black walnut or bur oak.

            While the official deadline for applying for EQIP is November 16, Atchison encouraged landowners to apply early and begin talking with their foresters about conservation practices now.

            “EQIP helps address the unique circumstances and concerns of socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and beginning farmers and ranchers, who have natural resource concerns that need to be addressed on their land,” said Banks.  Qualifying Kansas producers compete separately and receive higher payment rates.

            Additional information about EQIP, may be found on the Web athttp://www.kansasforests.org/programs/rural/services.shtml.

Calling all Refuge System photographers!

The 2012 Refuge Photo Contest is now open and accepting entries through October 12, 2012, the end of National Wildlife Refuge Week. This year Southwest Airlines, the official airlines of NWRA, has generously donated the grand prize of $2,000 and 4 round trip tickets. For more information and contest details please visit www.refugeassociation.org.

Each year we receive outstanding images that showcase the natural beauty and wonder of our wildlife refuges. We look forward to your submissions!

Don’t forget to ‘like’ the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s facebook page atfacebook.com/RefugeAssociation for contest updates and previews of the outstanding 2012 photos!

TV Show Host Charged With Wildlife Violations

Court records indicate that Tennessee resident William “Spook” Spann, 49, was charged in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan. on Sept. 6 with transportation of wildlife from Kansas to Tennessee that he allegedly obtained in violation of Kansas hunting laws.

The violations are alleged to have occurred in November 2007, the same year Spann shot a non-typical whitetail buck that grossed about 230 inches and netted about 224 Pope & Young points in Stafford County, Kan., reports Wichita Eagle outdoors writer, Michael Pearce.

The deer was shot with archery equipment, during the state’s regular archery season.

At the time the deer was promoted as the largest whitetail buck ever taken on video. The story of Spann’s hunt was featured in national magazines, videos and TV shows.

Spann’s television show, “Spook Nation,” currently appears on the Pursuit Channel cable network.

According to court proceedings reported in the Wyandotte (Kan.) Daily News, count one of the indictment alleges Spann transported antlers from Stafford County, Kan., to Tennessee, knowing the deer had been taken in violation of state hunting laws. In count two, the indictment alleges Spann falsely reported the property where the deer was taken.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.

Youth Outdoor Skills Event at Council Grove Sept. 22

Special event designed to encourage youth participation in outdoor shooting sports

Morris County area youth are invited to attend a free shotgun, pellet rifle, and archery shooting and safety clinic on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Council Grove Reservoir. Sponsored by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), the Flint Hills Chapter of Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation (QUWF), and Morris County Hunter Education instructors, this special event will provide participants an opportunity to enhance firearm and archery shooting and safety skills. Controlled live-fire instruction by certified instructors will teach safe, responsible shooting techniques.

All gear and supplies — including shotguns, pellet rifles, shells, bows, arrows, targets, and eye and ear protection — will be provided by KDWPT’s “Pass It On” and Hunter Education Programs. Teaching methods almost guarantee that students will break shotgun targets by the end of the session.

Anyone age 11 through 16 may participate. Participants are required to pre-register for the event by Sept.14. Students are not required to have completed a hunter education course, but prior completion is preferred. The event will begin at 12 p.m. at the COE-managed 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 QUWF will be from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Instruction will begin at 12:30 p.m. and end at approximately 4 p.m.

To register or learn more about this special event, phone Brent Konen, Council Grove Wildlife Area manager, at 620-767-5900.

Hunters, Anglers Encouraged to Participate in Surveys

Last year nearly 23 percent of hunters lost access to land they had previously hunted, while just over 20 percent of anglers had to change or cancel plans to fish because certain waters or access points were no longer open to them. One reason for this lost access is due to development. Between 1982 and 1997, 41.3 million acres of rural land were turned into subdivisions, malls, office parks and the like. That’s roughly the size of Illinois and New Jersey combined, according to America‘s Farmland Trust. Could where you hunt or fish be next?

It’s more important than ever for today’s hunters and anglers to band together and be heard by the people and agencies that make decisions about our natural resources. Fortunately, the surveys available atHunterSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com provide the easiest and fastest way for sportsmen to provide feedback to make sure leaders have the information they need to support wise policies and programs.

Shrinking budgets, reduced services and more competition for available outdoor space from other recreational enthusiasts have all conspired to decrease the areas available for hunting and fishing. On the private side, high leases costs and changing land ownership are also taking their toll, making it harder for hunters and anglers to find suitable places to enjoy their activities. Strategic public solutions are more critical than ever if hunting and fishing are to survive, and every sportsman out there can make a big difference without spending a dime or much of their time.

How? Just participate in the online bi-monthly surveys at HunterSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.comand AnglerSurvey.com. The surveys are simple, fun and often take less than five minutes to complete. However, the results and data they yield are invaluable in helping fish and wildlife agencies, political leaders, conservation groups and even businesses in the outdoor industry understand what issues, concerns, services and products are important to hunters and anglers.

“We run the bi-monthly surveys to obtain sportsmen’s feedback on a wide range of issues and trends that affect them,” says Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys. “The online surveys are designed to yield not only highly accurate results, but to make it easy for hunters, shooters and anglers to participate when their schedule allows. Their privacy is always maintained, and they never have to deal with annoying phone calls right at dinnertime.” Every participant who completes a survey is entered into a drawing for one of five $100 gift certificates to the sporting goods retailer of their choice. Five winners are randomly selected from the pool of Hunter/Shooter Survey participants and five are chosen from Angler Survey participants. Other exciting prize incentives will be added this fall.

Simply visit HunterSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and/or AnglerSurvey.com and click on the easy-to-find “Take the Survey” button. Then just follow the prompts. Participants do not provide their full names, just emails. After completing their first survey, sportsmen will receive a friendly notice in their email when a new survey is ready for their participation. Taking the surveys are the easiest, quickest and cheapest way American sportsmen can be sure their opinions will count on the issues that matter most-it could also prove to be the most effective way they can ultimately save hunting, shooting and fishing, too.

About AnglerSurvey.com, HunterSurvey.com and ShooterSurvey.com: Launched in 2006,AnglerSurvey.com, HunterSurvey.com andShooterSurvey.com and help the outdoor equipment industry, government fisheries and wildlife officials and conservation organizations track consumer activities and expenditure trends. Survey results are scientifically analyzed to reflect the attitudes and habits of anglers and hunters across the United States. Follow them on Facebook at http://facebook.com/huntersurvey andhttp://facebook.com/anglersurvey or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/AnglerSurvey andhttps://twitter.com/#!/HunterSurvey.

Expedition Captures Rare Millerbirds, Relocates Them to Remote Hawaiian Island

The second phase of an ambitious and historic effort to save one of the United States‘ rarest bird species from extinction reached another milestone as a group of 26 Millerbirds captured on Nihoa Islandwas released by biologists on the northwestern Hawaiian island of Laysan, some 650 miles away.

This second such translocation took place between August 12 and August 18, and was carried out by a team of biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), American Bird Conservancy (ABC), and other organizations as part of a multi-year effort to restore Millerbirds to Laysan Island within the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge and PapahÄ’naumokuÄ’kea Marine National Monument and World Heritage site.

Millerbirds have been absent from Laysan for almost a century as a result of habitat destruction due to introduced rabbits and other livestock. The last of these animals was removed from Laysan in the early 20th Century. FWS has been working to restore Laysan’s native vegetation for more than two decades. A self-sustaining Millerbird population on Laysan will ensure that the species is no longer vulnerable to extinction from a catastrophic event on Nihoa such as a hurricane or the accidental introduction of an alien predator or disease.

Last year, in the highly successful first phase of the translocation effort, 24 Millerbirds were moved from Nihoa to Laysan. Since their September 10, 2011, release this pioneer group of birds has survived and thrived, producing 17 young. The birds that are part of the second translocation also were captured on Nihoa and transported on a three-day boat trip to Laysan.

“So far, everything has gone extremely well for the birds,” said Sheila Conant of the University ofHawai’i, who pioneered the study of Millerbirds on Nihoa in the 1980s and is a member of this year’s translocation team. “They were captured without incident; they made it through the boat ride in good health; we had no problems attaching transmitters to them; and they have now been released to their new habitat without a hitch. So we are thrilled with the way this phase has gone.”

With the 24 Millerbirds brought to Laysan last year, “the team has now translocated 50 “founder” Millerbirds-the initial target number set by the conservation team for giving the species the best possible chance of establishing a self-sustaining population on Laysan,” said Don Palawski, Acting FWS Superintendent of the PapahÄ’naumokuÄ’kea Marine National Monument, which encompasses the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

During the voyage from Nihoa to Laysan aboard the vessel M/V Searcher, the Millerbirds were cared for by avian husbandry experts and a wildlife veterinarian from the U.S. Geological Survey. The itinerary included several days on Nihoa to capture the birds and allow them to acclimate to captivity prior to the sea voyage to Laysan, and three days on Laysan to release the birds and initiate radio-tracking of their movements. A Native Hawaiian cultural liaison accompanied the biologists on the translocation voyage and remained on Nihoa with the biological monitoring team. Two biologists will remain on Laysan through the end of October, and one will remain through the winter to monitor the newly released Millerbirds, the young produced in 2012, and the adults translocated in 2011.

“Certainly, there is much more to be done before we can say ‘we did it’ but I think everyone is satisfied that our plans were well thought-out and well-executed in a seamless and highly professional fashion, said George Wallace, ABC Vice President for Oceans and Islands. “So far, the results are even better than we had hoped.”

“This would not have been possible without a talented, dedicated team of biologists and a bird that is tough enough to withstand a three-day sea voyage of over 600 miles while retaining enough moxie to grab flies out of the air while a radio-transmitter is being glued to its back!” said Sheldon Plentovich, FWS Coastal Program Coordinator for the Pacific Islands, and lead biologist on the Millerbird project.

The Millerbird, which weighs less than an ounce, is a lively gray and brown bird that forages for insects among low shrubs and bunch-grasses. On Laysan, it joins the Laysan Finch, Laysan Duck, Hawaiian monk seal, several endangered plant species, and millions of nesting seabirds.

Close observation of the first group of translocated Millerbirds over the past 11 months has yielded significant new scientific information about the species, such as details of breeding chronology, the fact that pairs can produce more than one brood in a season, and a still-emerging picture of how young birds mature and enter the breeding population. All this information is important in assessing the progress toward population establishment on Laysan and is valuable in the conservation and management of the species. The success to date indicates that Laysan has suitable habitat and adequate food resources to support Millerbirds.

As a co-manager of the PapahÄ’naumokuÄ’kea Marine National Monument and World Heritage Site, the FWS is proud to lead this project in collaboration with American Bird Conservancy. We are grateful for the support and assistance from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the University of New Brunswick, University of Hawai’i, the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Research Center, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

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