Agency News Releases

2023 Kansas Birding Big Year Results, 2024 Contest

kdwpt.websupport@ks.gov (Jessica Ward) — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 17:56:58 +0000

For Immediate Release:
February 16, 2024

Contacts:
Nadia Marji CMP^®, Chief of Public Affairs
nadia.marji@ks.gov

Jessica Ward, Communications Manager
Jessica.ward@ks.gov

2023 Kansas Birding Big Year Results, 2024 Contest

PRATT – The 2024 Kansas Birding Big Year Contest, hosted by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), is officially underway! Participation is simple; record the number of unique bird species you see in Kansas from January 1 thru December 31, 2024, and submit your findings; You just might end up a 2024 Kansas Birding Big Year winner!

Participants of all skill levels are invited to compete in one of three age groups: Youth (ages 17 and younger), adult (ages 18 to 64), or senior (ages 65 and older). The winners from each category will receive prizes to be awarded in January 2025.

Participation Guidelines

Participants must register online at ksoutdoors.com/Services/Wildlife-Diversity/2024-Kansas-Birding-Big-Year on or before April 1, 2024, to participate in this year’s contest.
Participants must read and abide by the set of rules governing the competition. These rules are adapted from the American Birding Association Recording Rules and Interpretations and include the Code of Birding Ethics. Breaking, or disregard for, these rules will result in disqualification.
Participants must log their data into the online service, eBird, available on the Cornell University website, www.ebird.org. Each participant must create an individual profile, sign-in and password to begin submitting sightings.
Participants must submit a running total list of observed species quarterly to the program coordinator to track progress and provide quality control. The program coordinator and competition committee have final say on list totals. Quarterly submission dates for the 2024 contest are: June 30, September 30 and December 31.

Winners will be recognized, and prizes awarded, in mid-January of the following calendar year. Award categories are as follows: Youth, Adult Novice, Adult Intermediate, Adult Advanced, and Senior.

The 2023 Kansas Birding Big Year Contest wrapped up in December, with youth participant Franklin Miller and senior participant Tom Cannon claiming the title of “Kansas’ Top Birders” after they each identified 328 unique bird species in the state last year.

The top winners from 2023 in each category were:

Adult, Advanced

1. Malcolm Gold – 318*

2. Mark Nolen – 308*

3. Jeff Calhoun – 284*

4. Dan Broers – 270*

5. Sam Schermerhorn - 220

Adult, Intermediate

1. Jacob Riggs – 271*

2. Corey Entriken – 269*

3. Logan Smith – 260*

4. Melissa Bruce – 244

5. Kevin Keltner – 241

Adult, Novice

1. John Mahon– 132

2. Emma Skinner – 106

3. Beth Perkins – 64

Youth

1. Franklin Miller – 328*

2. Hezekiah Swihart – 208

3. Nicholas Niewald – 146

4. Michaela Gold – 77

5. Danielle Gold – 15

Senior

1. Tom Cannon – 328*

2. Carol Morgan – 250*

3. Dan Larson – 220

4. Barbara Peterson – 211

5. Ann Tanner – 196

An asterisk (*) denotes a “Top 10 Overall” score.

Sponsors of the 2023 Kansas Big Birding Year contest include: City of Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau, Kansas Wetlands Education Center, Acorn Naturalists, Kansas Ornithological Society, Malcolm Gold, Vortex Optics, Dr. Robert Penner and KDWP.

For more on the Kansas Birding Big Year, visit ksoutdoors.com/services/Wildlife-Diversity/2024-Kansas-Birding-Big-Year.

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Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission to Meet on January 25

kdwpt.websupport@ks.gov (Nadia Marji) — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 14:43:03 +0000

For Immediate Release:
January 11, 2024

Contacts:
Nadia Marji, CMP®, Chief of Public Affairs
nadia.marji@ks.gov

Jessica Ward, Communications Manager
Jessica.ward@ks.gov

Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission to Meet on January 25

SHAWNEE – The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission will hold their first public meeting of 2024 on Thursday, January 25 at The Meeting Room on Main Street, 16 Main Street, in Sabetha. The hybrid meeting will be held on Zoom and in-person beginning at noon and conclude once all agenda items are covered. While all are welcome to attend, interested parties need not be present to participate; Instructions for participating via Zoom, phone and live video/audio streaming can be accessed HERE by clicking “Instructions to Participate in Virtual Meeting.”

During the January 25, 2024, public meeting, Commissioners will:

Allot time for general public comment on non-agenda items
Receive an agency and state fiscal status update
Receive a 2024 Legislative Update

Commissioners will then hear general discussion updates on:

2024 Commissioner Big Game Permit Program, to include the live drawing
Webless Migratory Bird Regulations
Waterfowl Regulations
Public Land Regulations

Commissioners will conclude the public meeting with discussions on Workshop items (items that may be voted on at a future date) including:

K.A.R. 115-25-7 Antelope 25-Series Regulations
K.A.R. 115-25-8 Elk 25-Series Regulations
K.A.R. 115-25-9a Military Deer Seasons
K.A.R 115-4-11 Deer Permanent Regulations
New Carcass Movement Regulation
New Public Lands Regulation

An interpreter for the hearing impaired can be requested by calling 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 Commission secretary at (620) 672-0702.

The next KWP Commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday March 28, 2024, at the Topeka and Shawnee County Library in Topeka.

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Angler Catches Last State Record Fish for Calendar Year 2023

kdwpt.websupport@ks.gov (Jessica Ward) — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 21:37:53 +0000

For Immediate Release:
January 3, 2024

Contacts:
Nadia Marji CMP®, Chief of Public Affairs
nadia.marji@ks.gov

Jessica Ward, Communications Manager
Jessica.ward@ks.gov

Angler Catches Last State Record Fish for Calendar Year 2023

SHAWNEE – Great Bend resident, Jason Cavender, is officially in the books as the Sunflower State’s newest (and last) state record holder in 2023 for largest redear sunfish caught. Cavender took the 1.725-pound sunfish with a rod, reel, and worm-baited while fishing Cheyenne Bottoms Sportsman’s Club in Great Bend last fall. The record-breaking catch measured a whopping 12 inches in girth and 12.125 inches long.

Cavender’s catch beats out the previous redear sunfish record set in 1995 by Larry Fox of Scott City when Fox caught a 1.69-lb redear from Finney Wildlife Area that measured 11.75 inches long; though Fox used a jig.

How State Records are Set

Trophy catches such as these end up as a Kansas State Record if:

The fish is a species recognized on the current list of Kansas state record fish
The fish is caught by a licensed angler using legal means
The fish is identified by a Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks district fisheries biologist or regional fisheries supervisor
The fish is weighed on a certified scale prior to being frozen
The fish is photographed, in color, and a state record application is filled out
The mandatory 30-day waiting period has passed.

Click HERE to see a complete list of current Kansas state record fish.

Caught a big fish but not quite a state record? Apply for a “Master Angler Award” and be recognized for your catch if it exceeds the measurements listed HERE.

For more on fishing in Kansas, visit ksoutdoors.com/Fishing.

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KDWP, Scientific Community to Review Select Species Petitions

kdwpt.websupport@ks.gov (Jessica Ward) — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 17:25:46 +0000

For Immediate Release:
January 2, 2024

Contacts:
Nadia Marji CMP®, Chief of Public Affairs
nadia.marji@ks.gov

Jessica Ward, Communications Manager
Jessica.ward@ks.gov

KDWP, Scientific Community to Review Select Species Petitions

PRATT – Every five years, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks reviews the state Endangered, Threatened and Species-In-Need-of-Conservation lists, as authorized by the Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1975. The review process begins with a request for petitions to change listings, which concluded October of this year. A seven-member Threatened and Endangered Species Task Committee – made up of members representing various disciplines from state and federal agencies and state universities – then determines if petitions merit full reviews.

For the current five-year review, three petitions with substantial evidence were submitted that the Task Committee determined warrant a full review. Those petitions requested the following changes to the existing lists of Threatened and Endangered Species and SINC:

Shoal Chub (Macrhybopsis hyostoma) move from Threatened to SINC
Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps) move from Threatened to SINC
Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) move from Threatened to SINC

The full review process also includes public informational meetings and consultation with a panel of experts who evaluate petitions and provide input regarding any information overlooked in the petition. A final recommendation will be provided to the KDWP Secretary and Commission based on scientific merit. After a 90-day public comment period, the Commission will vote on listing changes at a future Public Hearing. Additionally, KDWP plans to update dates associated with listed species possession regulations.

Informational meetings will last two hours and are scheduled for:

Date: February 6, 2024
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156 Highway, Great Bend

Date: February 6, 2024
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Zoom at: https://ksoutdoors.zoom.us/j/89352502542 (The virtual meeting will begin with the same informational presentation provided at in-person meetings. Following the presentation, the meeting host will remain online until 7:00 p.m. to answer questions and record comments.)

Date: February 7, 2024
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: KDWP Region 2 Office, Basement Conference Room, 300 SW Wanamaker Road, Topeka

Date: February 12, 2024
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Healthy Bourbon County Action Team building, 104 North National Avenue, Fort Scott

Date: February 15, 2024
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Zoom at: https://ksoutdoors.zoom.us/j/84715916256 (The virtual meeting will begin with the same informational presentation provided at in-person meetings. Following the presentation, the meeting host will remain online until 7:00 p.m. to answer questions and record comments.)

Information and documents related to the five-year review process can be found at: https://ksoutdoors.com/Services/Threatened-and-Endangered-Wildlife/2023-Five-Year-Review.

Click HERE for more on Kansas’ threatened and endangered species and SINC.

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Nonprofits Still Have Time to Apply for Special Big Game Permits

kdwpt.websupport@ks.gov (Jessica Ward) — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 17:25:40 +0000

For Immediate Release:
December 28, 2023

Contacts:
Nadia Marji CMP®, Chief of Public Affairs
nadia.marji@ks.gov

Jessica Ward, Communications Manager
Jessica.ward@ks.gov

Nonprofits Still Have Time to Apply for Special Big Game Permits

PRATT – Local chapters of nonprofit organizations based or operating in Kansas – that actively promote wildlife conservation and the hunting and fishing heritage – may still apply for Commission Big Game Permits by January 15, 2024. Kansas’ Commission Big Game Permit program allows eligible organizations a chance to draw one of seven special big game permits from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, which can then be sold to raise funding for conservation-based projects.

To download an application:

Visit ksoutdoors.com
Click “KDWP Commission” from the left-hand side menu
Click “Commissioner Permits”
Download the file titled, “2024 Commissioner Permit Application fillable.”

Seven winners will be drawn at the Commission’s January 25, 2024 public meeting; and applicants need not be present to win.

One elk, one antelope or up to seven deer permits are issued each year, depending on applicant preference. Deer permits are either-species/either-sex and are valid statewide during any season with legal equipment for that season; and, they do not count against other big game permits the license holder is eligible for.

Once the permit is sold, the cost of the permit, plus 15 percent of the total sale price, is subtracted and kept by the organization, while the remainder is remitted to KDWP with a proposal for a conservation project. When the project is approved, the money is returned to the organization to complete the project. An exception to this procedure would occur if Kansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry (KHFH) is drawn. In that case, KHFH keeps 85 percent of the funds to help pay for processing donated deer. Organizations are not eligible to receive a Commission Big Game Permit more than once in a three-year period.

For more information, contact Sheila Kemmis at Sheila.kemmis@ks.gov or (620) 672-0702.

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Kansas State Parks to Offer New Year’s Day Hikes

kdwpt.websupport@ks.gov (Nadia Marji) — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 19:01:43 +0000

For Immediate Release:
December 27, 2023

Contacts:
Nadia Marji CMP®, Chief of Public Affairs
nadia.marji@ks.gov

Jessica Ward, Communications Manager
Jessica.ward@ks.gov

Kansas State Parks to Offer New Year’s Day Hikes

SHAWNEE – Celebrate the New Year with fun, fresh air, and scenic views by participating in a First Day Hike at a Kansas State Park. These self-led and guided hikes are organized annually by parks staff to encourage individuals and families to start the year on the right foot – by getting outside and connecting with nature.

This year, more than 1,000 hikes will be available in state parks around the country, including 33 First Day Hike events hosted by Kansas State Parks. While the distance and rigor of the hikes will vary at each state park, all aim to create a fun experience for all. Savor the beauty of the natural, cultural, and historical resources our state parks offer, and be inspired to continue taking advantage of these local treasures throughout calendar year 2024.

“This will be our 13^th year to offer First Day Hikes in Kansas’ state parks and we couldn’t be more excited,” said Linda Lanterman, Kansas State Parks director. “Each year, these events grow more and more popular because they’re a fun and healthy way to start the New Year, they’re a great cure for cabin fever, and they’re held in some of the prettiest parts of our state.”

Where to Participate
For a complete list of First Day Hike events in Kansas on January 1, 2024, visit https://ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Special-Events/First-Day-Hikes.

What To Expect
Hikers can choose guided hikes that fit their comfort levels including walks along lakes, exploring trails, and options best for wildlife viewing. Pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash. And, if hiking isn’t in your interest or ability, Kansas State Parks invite you to explore other fun offerings, from boating to fishing and horseback riding, or simply enjoying a peaceful moment from a park picnic table or bench.

What To Bring
Kansas State Park staff recommend coming prepared for a First Day Hike with the following, if possible:

Water
Snacks
Weather appropriate clothing (hat, gloves, heavy coat)
Hiking shoes
Binoculars
Hiking stick
Camera

NOTE: LIMITED First Day Hike T-Shirts will be available for participants on a first-come, first-served basis. And, a vehicle permit may be required ($5.00 at the state park entrance).

First Day Hikes began more than three decades ago at the Blue Hills Reservation state park in Massachusetts in 1992. Since 2012, all 50 states have participated. America’s State Parks hopes to make 2024 a record-breaking year as the annual event approaches major milestones, including inching closer to 1 million miles hiked and 500,000 participants in the program’s history.

For information on First Day Hikes across the nation, visit stateparks.org/special-programs/first-day-hikes/. And don’t forget to share your January 1 hiking story on social media with #FirstDayHikes and #MyKSStatePark.

Click HERE to find a Kansas State Park nearest you.

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Kansas State Parks Receive Accessibility Grant From Ford Bronco Wild Fund

kdwpt.websupport@ks.gov (Jessica Ward) — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 18:46:50 +0000

For Immediate Release:
December 27, 2023

Contacts:
Nadia Marji CMP®, Chief of Public Affairs
nadia.marji@ks.gov

Jessica Ward, Communications Manager
Jessica.ward@ks.gov

Kansas State Parks Receive Accessibility Grant From Ford Bronco Wild Fund

PRATT –Kansas State Parks, in partnership with the Ford Bronco Wild Fund, are excited to announce that Tuttle Creek State Park has been awarded a grant for a TrackMaster Series 2 track chair to increase accessibility for the public. With a percentage of funds from the sale of each Ford Bronco going into the Bronco Wild Fund, Ford Motor Company is able to provide grant opportunities to assist in removing barriers of participation for individuals to experience the great outdoors. With that, the Bronco Wild Fund partnered with America’s State Parks to administer a grant this year for track chairs. Kansas State Parks was one of just eighteen states awarded a track chair through this grant.

“Kansas State Parks are committed to ensuring our natural spaces remain accessible to all,” said Linda Lanterman, Kansas State Parks director. “This grant will allow our staff at Tuttle Creek State Park to provide quality experiences for those with physical disabilities, and we look forward to this TrackMaster being the first of many track chairs made available to the public at Kansas State Parks.”

The company TrackMaster was established to assist users in the medical equipment industry through mobility equipment such as track chairs. In their early years as a company, they quickly realized that the only designs on the market at that time were based off that of skid steers and heavy equipment. TrackMaster then made it their mission to provide a high-quality machine that met the everyday user’s needs without sacrificing quality. The TrackMaster Series 2 track chair allows users to maneuver rough terrain with a more modernized and efficient design than its previous versions.

At Tuttle Creek State Park, individuals will be able to use the track chair to participate in outdoor recreation opportunities they would not have otherwise been able to. Those opportunities include hiking, wildlife viewing, and participating in special events at the park along with many other activities.

Kansas State Parks is grateful to both the Bronco Wild Fund and America’s State Parks for this grant award.

For more on Kansas State Parks – including available amenities and how to make a campsite reservation – click HERE.

Click HERE for more on the partnership between Ford Bronco Wild Fund and America’s State Parks.

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Application Period for Non-resident Turkey Permits to Begin January 9

kdwpt.websupport@ks.gov (Nadia Marji) — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 15:31:36 +0000

Immediate Release:
December 22, 2023

Contacts:
Nadia Marji CMP®, Chief of Public Affairs
nadia.marji@ks.gov

Jessica Ward, Communications Manager
Jessica.ward@ks.gov

Application Period for Non-resident Turkey Permits to Begin January 9

SHAWNEE – Non-resident hunters who wish to obtain a 2024 Kansas spring turkey permit may submit an application for the all-new lottery draw from January 9 through February 9, 2024. Non-resident hunters may apply for a permit – valid only in a single unit – in Units 1, 2, 3, 5, or 6; a $10 application fee will apply. Similar to Kansas’ non-resident deer permit draw, any leftover non-resident spring turkey permits will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis shortly after the draw.

To apply for a 2024 non-resident turkey permit:

Visit www.gooutdoorskansas.com between the dates of 01/09/24 – 02/09/24.
Select “Purchase Licenses, Permits, & Tags”
Login to your account
Select “Limited Draw Applications”

NOTE: Hunters who qualify as a "resident" or "non-resident tenant" may still purchase a spring turkey permit in Units 1, 2, 3, 5, or 6 either over the counter or online beginning March 5.

The all-new lottery draw is part of a larger strategy by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to reduce overall hunting pressure and turkey harvest in Kansas in response to declining turkey populations nationwide.

Staff first recommended to Commissioners a lottery draw for non-resident turkey permits in August 2022, after which it remained a regular public meeting agenda item until voted on by the Commission on June 22, 2023 – the group’s sixth meeting to examine and discuss the recommendation.

For more on turkey hunting in Kansas – including season dates, other special draws, and how to obtain an electronic permit – click HERE.

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Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission to Hold Last Meeting of 2023

kdwpt.websupport@ks.gov (Nadia Marji) — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:55:26 +0000

For Immediate Release:
November 16, 2023

Contacts:
Nadia Marji, CMP®, Chief of Public Affairs
nadia.marji@ks.gov

Jessica Ward, Communications Manager
Jessica.ward@ks.gov

Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission to Hold Last Meeting of 2023

SHAWNEE – The seven-member, bipartisan panel that makes up the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission will hold their last meeting of 2023 on Thursday, November 30, beginning at noon. The hybrid meeting will be held on Zoom and in-person at the Lyon County Fairgrounds, Bowyer Building, 2700 W U.S. Highway 50 in Emporia. While all are welcome to attend, interested parties need not be present to participate; All Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission meetings may be accessed via Zoom, phone and live video/audio streaming, made possible through YouTube.

On November 30, 2023, Commissioners will:

Vote on K.A.R. 115-2-1 (Amount of Fees) – Staff recommendations include implementing price increases for non-resident hunters and anglers, ranging from $2.50 to $65, depending on license or permit type; and the creation of an application fee for non-resident turkey permits.
Hear Secretary’s Orders (no vote required) for Free Park Entrance and Free Fishing days

The Department Secretary will then offer an agency and state fiscal status, before Commissioners hear general discussion updates on:

Wildlife Division research and survey efforts
Fisheries Division research effort
Antelope, Elk seasons
Deer seasons on Kansas’ military installations

Commissioners will conclude the public meeting with discussions on Workshop items (items that may be voted on at a future date) including:

Select big game regulations
Carcass movement and disposal best practices
K.A.R. 115-2-3 – Camping and utility fees
K.A.R. 115-8-26 – Non-resident access for waterfowl hunting in Kansas

Time is always set aside for public comment, including public comment on non-agenda items. Participants may access login instructions HERE or watch live video/audio stream of the meeting HERE.

The next KWP Commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 25, 2024, at The Meeting Room on Main, 16 Main St, in Sabetha.

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Annual Permits, 2024 Campsite Reservations for Kansas State Parks Coming Soon

kdwpt.websupport@ks.gov (Nadia Marji) — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 21:21:47 +0000

For Immediate Release:
November 9, 2023

Contacts:
Nadia Marji CMP®, Chief of Public Affairs
nadia.marji@ks.gov

Jessica Ward, Communications Manager
Jessica.ward@ks.gov

Annual Permits, 2024 Campsite Reservations for Kansas State Parks Coming Soon

SHAWNEE – Whether you’ve had your eye on a waterfront cabin, are slowly working through a state park “bucket list,” or simply want to break in that new tent you got as a birthday present – there are three important dates coming up that Kansas State Park visitors won’t want to miss!

Beginning December 1, 2023, the following annual permits for Kansas State Parks will go on sale online, at state park offices and at license vendor locations:

Annual Vehicle Permit – $25
Annual Vehicle Permit (Senior/Disabled Kansas Resident) – $13.75
Unconventional Vehicle Permit – $52.50 (Purchase at state park offices.)
Annual Camping Permit – $202.50 (If purchased prior to April 1 or after September 30. $252.50 if purchased between April 1 and September 30. Discount permit, a $10/night discount on camping for the calendar year.)
14-day Camping Permit – $112.50 (Discount permit, a $10/night discount on camping for up to 14 nights; nights do not have to be consecutive.)

Beginning December 8, 2023, at 12 p.m. (NOON) CST, campsite reservations for the prime season (April 1 thru October 31) will open for the following Kansas State Parks:

Cedar Bluff, Cheney, Kanopolis, Meade, Milford, Perry, Pomona, Prairie Dog, Sandhills, Tuttle Creek), and Webster. (Note: Tuttle Creek River Pond and Riley campground may be reserved online from April 1 thru November 30.)

Beginning December 15, 2023, at 12 p.m. (NOON) CST, campsite reservations for the prime season (April 1 thru October 31) will open for the remaining Kansas State Parks:

Clinton, Crawford, Cross Timbers, Eisenhower, El Dorado, Elk City, Fall River, Glen Elder, Hillsdale, Historic Lake Scott, Lovewell, and Wilson.

Parkgoers who want to have the best chances possible of being able to reserve a campsite for a desired date(s) during prime season should:

Familiarize themselves with CampItKS.com or ReserveAmerica.com
Ensure they have a seamless login with an existing complete profile or create a new account for customers brand new to either website.
Download the CampItKS mobile app for access on-the-go
And, mark down the aforementioned launch dates for permit sales and 2024 reservations.

To view a complete list of state parks in Kansas – including maps and lists of amenities – visit ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks.

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