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kansas outdoors
BIG EVENTS Special hunts are provided by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism on department lands, including state parks, wildlife areas and refuges. The hunts also occur on walk-in hunting areas, National Wildlife Refuges, city and county properties, and other locations. The number of participants is limited. You can find out more by sending an email to specialhunts@ksoutdoors.com. Glen Elder State Park in Mitchell County hosts a December pheasant hunt for youth (ages 11–16) and women of all ages.
GIVE THIS A TRY!
CASUAL If you are new to shooting sports, the best way to start is through a rifle and hunter education course (see Resources on this page). Safety should absolutely come first. You might also consider beginning with clay shooting. Kansas has several lodges and clubs that offer instruction in this increasingly popular sport that captivates novices and experienced shooters alike. For a full list of lodges and public gun clubs, go online at huntkansas.org.
I N T E R M E D I AT E
RESOURCES Be smart about hunting. All hunters must be certified by an approved hunter education course before they can hunt in Kansas, except those 15 years old or under who are accompanied by an adult as well as those born before July 1, 1957. Kansas Hunter Education teaches new hunters to be ethical, safe and knowledgeable. The 10-hour course covers a variety of essential safety and ethics topics. Courses are offered throughout the year with most held August through October. For more experienced hunters, Advanced Hunter Education classes focus on specific types of hunting such as beginning waterfowl, goose, upland bird, deer and varmint hunting. These classes do not substitute for the required Hunter Education Course. For more information, go online at ksoutdoors.com and type “hunter education” in the search bar. For a full listing of Kansas hunting resources, go online at ksoutdoors.com/Hunting.
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One favorite spot to begin your Kansas hunting is Webster Reservoir. Set in the picturesque Chalk Hills 8 miles west of Stockton, the lake is a stopping place for many species of waterfowl and shorebirds. Another great place is Cedar Bluff State Park along Smoky Valley Scenic Byway near Ellis. Here, more than 14,000 acres of water and wildlife area provide an excellent destination for hunters and anglers.
CHALLENGING Kansas is an excellent land for bowhunting, with a depth of retailers and resources to support this sport and way of life. The state does not require a bowhunter license for big game hunting, but does facilitate courses across Kansas. For more information go online at ksoutdoors.com and look for the “Bowhunting” section under the “Hunting” tab.
D I D YO U K N OW ? Each year, Kansas grants a limited amount of licenses to falconers for capturing passage peregrine falcons (peregrine falcons taken during their migration flight). Hunting with falcons and other raptors such as golden eagles is permitted in the state. Go online at ksoutdoors.com and look for the “falconry” section of the “Hunting” tab for advice and the complete list of regulations.
PHOTOGRAPHS (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) KDWPT, Bill Stephens (2), Larry Harwood (2)
“Pass it On” is a series of designated hunts (some before the official season) where seasoned hunters mentor youth hunters in order to pass on the traditions of safety, respect for the land and love of hunting. Go online at ksoutdoors.com and search for “hunter retention and recruitment” on the “Hunting” tab.