Waterfowl regulations to be decided earlier in 2016
A change in federal requirements will have state officials discussing the specifics of next fall’s waterfowl seasons Thursday in Manhattan. In the past, such talk has started in April and ended at an August meeting.
Mike Miller, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism information chief, said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service now requires states to have seasons and limits set by May 1.
Commissioners will vote on those regulations at the April 21 meeting in Wichita. In the past, waterfowl topics weren’t settled after the annual summer federal predictions of fall migrations.
“It’s possible we won’t be using this year’s (population) data, like we traditionally have,” said Tom Bidrowski, Wildlife and Parks waterfowl biologist. “That means we lose a little bit of flexibility but we have 50 years of data to draw on.” He said the feds feel setting seasons and limits earlier will give them more flexibility in reviewing new regulations.
More of same for deer hunters
Regulations, with public comment, for the 2016 deer seasons will also be discussed in Manhattan. Lloyd Fox, Wildlife and Parks deer biologist, said the agency isn’t seeking any significant changes as per season dates, length and limits. Fox said that includes reduced opportunities for the hunting of antlerless whitetails across many parts of western Kansas, including unit 16, southwest of Wichita.
“We will again probably only authorize one antlerless permit in units 16 and 8 for next season,” said Fox. “It wasn’t that long ago we were trying to deal with high deer numbers in those units, but not any more.”
Several years of drought, plus related diseases, lowered deer populations across much of Kansas, particularly out west. Opportunities for residents to shoot mule deer will also probably remain lower than several years ago, too.
Also in Manhattan, Fox will present a commission-requested report on legalizing the use of air guns to hunt deer in Kansas. Over the past decade, air guns have been developed that have enough power to kill animals the size of deer and feral pigs. Fox said he will not recommend the weapons be legalized in Kansas, largely because of public perception that it would then be legal to hunt deer with smaller air rifles.
The biologist did not yet have information as per the number of non-resident permits Robin Jennison, Wildlife and Parks secretary, will authorize for the upcoming deer seasons. Last year, more than 3,000 hopeful non-resident hunters did not get permits in the last spring drawing process. Those figures will be presented at a March 24 meeting in Topeka.
Thursday’s meeting will be held at the Kansas State University Alumni Center, with sessions at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Public comment on agenda and non-agenda items is encouraged at both sessions. For more information, and to see the meeting live, go to ksoutdoors.com. or call 620-672-5911.
This story was originally published January 2, 2016 at 4:43 PM with the headline "Waterfowl regulations to be decided earlier in 2016."