Kansas.com: Outdoors

Casting close to home

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:45 CST

Stephen Nance has guided fly fishermen to success on many of the famed streams of California, Colorado and Pennsylvania.

Lately, he's been taking clients to a water less known — a section of Slough Creek within Sedgwick County Park that is stocked with trout.

Business has been good for the guy who's probably the only trout guide in Kansas.

Kansas holds added meaning for one hunter

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:43 CST

All deer hunters experience excitement the first time they sit in a stand for the season.

Few have been as happy to be afield as Nicholas Muche on Oct. 30.

"It felt just incredible and I was so excited," said Muche, of Rose Hill. "I kept thinking that just three days before, I'd been sitting in Kuwait."

Outdoor schedules

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:41 CST

Archery

Dec. 6 — 3-D shoot, Salthawk Archery, Hutchinson, 8-10 a.m. trickle start. Call 620-665-5139.

Birding/Nature

Lake levels

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:41 CST

Lake Levels

LakeNormalCurrentRel

Arbuckle872.0874.61426

Online hunter education programs working well

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:55 CDT

For years, some outdoors experts have said the Internet is a distraction that keeps many from being outdoors.

Last week, Billy Hamm spent a few hours online and now can hunt for a lifetime.

Hamm, of Canton, was one of 51 students to complete the state's online hunter education program last weekend.

Bobcats frolic on Hutchinson patio

MICHAEL PEARCE — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:25 CDT

Every day millions of people turn on their televisions to watch seldom-seen wildlife. Sunday afternoon Perry and Shari McCabe of Hutchinson only had to look out their back door to enjoy the up-close antics of four bobcats.

Though plentiful in Kansas, bobcats are rarely seen.

"We had two (kittens) playing around on the patio like a couple of (domestic) kittens," said Perry McCabe. "They were snooping around, jumping around and batting at each other. One almost had its nose on the door looking in. "

Two big bucks – his lucky day

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:44 CST

Solunar tables

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:04 CDT

This table lists top fishing times and days for the coming week. For best results, begin fishing one hour before and continue one hour after the times given. Times apply to all time zones (bold indicates best days).

Today—— 11:45 a.m.

Monday 12:05 a.m.——

Outdoor schedules

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:54 CDT

Archery

Dec. 6 — 3-D shoot, Salthawk Archery, Hutchinson, 8-10 a.m. trickle start. Call 620-665-5139.

Birding/Nature

Lake, waterfowl and fishing reports

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:59 CDT

Lake Levels

LakeNormalCurrentRel

Arbuckle872.0873.45423

Tips for hunting seasons

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:58 CDT

On the cusp of what's predicted to be some of the best hunting seasons in memory, some of Kansas' most experienced hunters share a few tips.

Waterfowl

* Mid-morning can be prime time for hunting ducks and geese at public wetlands.

Different hunting grounds, same principles

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:02 CDT

KAUAI, Hawaii — Geographically and culturally, we were raised a half a world apart.

But Monday, Bernard Makuaole and I shared a lot of common ground.

Two old hunters are never at a loss for conversation.

Solunar tables

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:06 CDT

Today 7:05 p.m. 7:25 a.m.

Monday 7:50 p.m. 8:10 a.m.

Schedules

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:06 CDT

Archery

Dec. 6 — 3-D shoot, Salthawk Archery, Hutchinson, 8-10 a.m. trickle start. Call 620-665-5139.

Field Trials/Hunt Tests

Outdoors

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:09 CDT

Lake Levels

LakeNormalCurrentRel

Arbuckle872.0874.15422

Kansas wildlife biologists confirm mountain lion sighting

COURTNEY LOONEY — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:27 CDT

After more than a century of rumors of mountain lions in Kansas, state wildlife biologists confirmed this week that a live mountain lion has been found in Kansas.

"We have literally dozens and hundreds of mountain lion sightings turned in to us," said Mike Miller, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks spokesman. "Usually the pictures are so blurry, you can't see any detail."

On Oct. 12, a man hunting in northwest WaKeeney in Trego County made not only a discovery, but history, too. The man snapped photos of what this week became the first verified, live mountain lion in Kansas since 1904.

A taste of the tropics

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 01:13 CDT

ELK COUNTY — Greg Pickett spends a lot of his fall as a bowhunter, sitting in trees and looking toward the ground.

Last Sunday morning, he spent an hour on the ground looking into the treetops for pawpaws.

"Look at all of them up here, this tree's loaded," Pickett said. Seconds later, he gave the stout sapling a few hard shakes and green fruit the size of small potatoes rained down around him.

Commission OKs El Dorado Lake restrictions

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:06 CDT

There will be more restrictive lengths and limits on several species of popular gamefish at El Dorado Lake next year.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks commission approved requests at its Thursday meeting in Sedan, hoping to control a growing white perch population in the lake.

Walleye will need to be 21 inches and fishermen will be able to keep no more than two per day. Current regulations are set at 18 inches and five per day.

Outdoor schedules

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 01:04 CDT

Archery

Dec. 6 — 3-D shoot, Salthawk Archery, Hutchinson, 8-10 a.m. trickle start. Call 620-665-5139.

Field Trials/Hunt Tests

Lake, fish and waterfowl reports

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:00 CDT

Lake Levels

LakeNormalCurrentRel

Arbuckle872.0874.87426