Kansas public

**JABIII** · 06-26-2021, 10:44 AM

Commission Approves Waterfowl Regulations on Select Public Lands
PRATT – The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission met June 17, 2021 at the Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita for their first in-person meeting in more than a year. Several virtual options were available, allowing some commissioners and the public to participate or watch online.

During the meeting, the commission approved new regulations to help ease over-crowding issues at select public waterfowl hunting areas. After a presentation by Stuart Schrag, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) Public Lands director, commissioners unanimously passed the following regulations, which will be in place prior to upcoming waterfowl seasons:

Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area

Boats with motors will not be allowed in Pool 3A
All boats will be limited to speeds that do not leave a visible wake
Boats with motors will not be allowed on water in Pool 4A after 1 p.m.
Pool 4B will be “Youth Only” during the Youth/Military weekend
McPherson Valley Wetlands Wildlife Area

Motorized boats will be prohibited in all pools
The Big Basin Unit will be designated “Youth Only” during the Youth/Military weekend
Neosho Wildlife Area

Hunters will not be able to access the water before 5 a.m. and must be out of hunting areas an hour after sunset

Greater prairie chicken season

Commissioners approved a new regulation that will make the greater prairie chicken season continuous from Sept. 15-Jan. 31. Previously, the season ran Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and from the third Saturday of November to Jan. 31.

Kent Fricke, KDWPT small game coordinator, said the agency requested the change to create more opportunities for hunters afield in late October and early November, including the opening weekend of pheasant and quail seasons. Fricke confirmed that Kansas’ greater prairie chicken populations aren’t significantly impacted by hunting.

Youth pheasant and quail

The maximum age for participating in the special youth upland seasons will be raised from 16 to 17. Additionally, the daily bag limit for youth upland season will be raised from two to four rooster pheasants and from four to eight quail.

The next KDWPT commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021 in the James P. Davis Hall at Wyandotte County Lake in Kansas City. The public will be allowed to participate at the meeting in person or virtually. For participation instructions, visit ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/Commission/Instructions-to-Participate-in-Virtual-Meeting.

https://www.einnews.com/amp/pr_news/...t-public-lands