Wildlife and Parks commissioners agree with proposed duck seasons

Thursday was the first time in four years voices weren’t raised, insults weren’t tossed and all of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism commissioners seemed to agree on the topic of duck seasons at a June commission meeting.

“I think this southeast duck zone recommendation is probably the best I’ve seen, without question,” said Commissioner Don Budd of Kansas City. “It’s a good of a trade off as you can get.”

Budd was speaking of the Wildlife and Parks’ recommendation of Nov. 14- Jan. 3 and Jan. 9-31 for the southeast zone duck season. At past June planning meetings Budd was one of several commissioners always pushing the department to have that area’s seasons as late as possible, and objected to many days in early November. He conceded losing a few days in January was fine since the rest of the season went through the rest of the month.

Commissioners also had no negative comments on proposed season dates of Oct.10-Dec. 6 and Dec.19-Jan. 3 for the low plains early zone, or the proposed dates of Oct. 31-Jan. 3 and Jan.23-31 at the low plains late zone. Commissioners will vote to set waterfowl seasons at an August meeting near Great Bend.

Also at the meeting:

▪  Commissioners and Tom Bidrowski, Wildlife and Parks waterfowl biologist, discussed possibly changing the boundaries of some of Kansas’ four waterfowl zones. Bidrowski had no specific recommendations, stating he’s awaiting the results of a sizable online survey.

Jim Stanford, of Central Kansas Outfitters, requested the southeast zone duck zone be extended westward to where he guides in Stafford, Reno and Kingman counties. “I believe with all of my heart the late season is better for every hunter there is,” he said. That area is currently in the low plains late zone.

▪ Commission chairman Gerald Lauber is asking the department to consider changing the basic framework of spring turkey seasons, saying that recent changes have pushed the regular firearms season opener a week later so youth and archers can have at least a weekend to themselves before gun hunters take to the fields. Lauber said he favors the first weekend of April being youth-only, but didn’t think hunting when firearms hunters are afield was detrimental to bowhunters.

▪  Robin Jennison, Wildlife and Parks secretary, said the department is looking into raising the fees for hunting and fishing licenses, beginning in 2016. He said those rates haven’t increased since 2002. Jennison said increases could help insure such programs as the state’s 1 million-plus acre Walk In Hunting Area program.

The next commission meeting will be Aug. 20 at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center near Great Bend.

This story was originally published June 20, 2015 at 4:22 PM with the headline "Wildlife and Parks commissioners agree with proposed duck seasons."