Wildlife and Parks considers duck zone boundary changes

TOPEKA – State biologists will be seeking public opinion on changing the boundaries of Kansas’ duck hunting zones, according to Tom Bidrowski, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism waterfowl biologist. The input will be gathered by online surveys and public meetings. The biologist said hunters will also be encouraged to contact staff directly with desires.

At Thursday’s Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism commission meeting, Bidrowski said any changes could be implemented beginning with the 2016-17 duck seasons, if approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The department’s request to the feds must be in by Dec. 1. Federal regulations say a state can ask for boundary changes no more often than once every five years.

In 2011, the department was granted permission to create its southeast duck zone to appease hunters in that part of the state wanting a later season, so they could hunt large numbers of wintering mallards. Since then, however, many hunters in the northern part of that region have complained that most of their shallow marshes are frozen not long after the zone’s season begins. Bidrowski said comments will be taken concerning the state’s other three duck hunting zones, too. It’s possible no changes will be made if the majority of the public is happy.

Within the next few weeks Bidrowski plans to announce times and locations of about six public meetings on the topic to be held across Kansas. The topic will be discussed at commission meetings in April, June, August and voted upon at an October meeting.

Also at Thursday’s meeting:

▪  Bidrowski predicted the special September teal season recommendations will mirror past seasons, meaning a 16-day hunt in the middle of the month.

▪  Commissioners approved an increase of about 10 percent for firearm and muzzleloader antelope permits for this fall’s seasons, indicating the population may be improving after suffering from drought several years ago.

▪ Lloyd Fox, Wildlife and Parks big-game program coordinator said preliminary reports indicate the state’s whitetail deer population may be recovering from drought-induced lows in 2012 and 2013. The 2014-15 deer harvest is projected to be up about 5 percent from the 2013-14 seasons. Deer/vehicle collision also increased from about 8,060 in 2013 to about 9,400 in 2014.

▪ Fox also said Kansas hunters killed about 11 percent fewer mule deer in 2014 than the previous year, indicating the state’s mule deer population hasn’t recovered from the drought and other factors limiting habitat and populations. He stated for this year’s seasons there will be about a 16-percent decrease in the number of firearms permits that allow the killing of a mule deer. That includes eliminating regular firearms permits that allow mule deer does to be killed in units 3, 4, 7, and 16. The same units saw the largest reduction in firearms permits that allow buck mule deer.

Commissioner Gary Hayzlett, of Lakin, questioned if more reductions were also needed in units 1, 2, 17, and 18 in far western Kansas, based on many complaints across the region of some of the lowest deer populations in decades. Commissioner Tom Dill, of Salina, also expressed interest in reducing the harvest of mule deer does in coming years.

▪ Fox also formally announced dates for Kansas’ special January season for antlerless whitetails, and how many special whitetail antlerless-only permits will be allowed in each of the state’s management units.

There will be no January season or antlerless whitetail-only permits in Unit 18.

Units 6, 8, 9, 10, 16 and 17 will have a Jan. 1-3 special season, with one antlerless whitetail permit allowed.

Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, and 14 will have a Jan 1-10 special season, with up to five antlerless whitetail permits.

Units 10a, 15 and 19 will have a Jan. 1-17 special season, also with up to five antlerless whitetail permits.

▪  Fox said there will be a 5-percent reduction in non-resident permits that allow whitetail bucks to be taken in units 8 and 16. Resident any-season whitetail, archery and muzzleloader permit numbers will remain one per hunter, but in unlimited numbers, and season frameworks should mirror past years.

The next commission meeting is April 23 at the Great Plains Nature Center.

This story was originally published March 27, 2015 at 10:06 PM with the headline "Wildlife and Parks considers duck zone boundary changes."