Out-of-state hunters issued illegal deer permits; Arkansas River honored

A few thousand deer hunters from outside Kansas got what seemed like a gift when they found two permits to shoot bucks when their licenses arrived this week. But the second was sent by mistake.

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism officials said those hunters need to know one of the permits can be used on an antlered deer this fall. Using the second would be illegal.

“We have a vendor that prints and mails (the deer permits) for us, and we’ve determined they had a glitch in their system and accidentally sent out several thousand duplicates,” said Mike Miller, KDWPT information chief. “We found out about it when people started calling (early last week) and asking about the second permit.”

Miller said most hunters know Kansas deer hunters are allowed one permit per year for the killing of an antlered deer. The exceptions are seven special permits, called commissioners’ tags, that are sold every year to raise money for conservation.

Miller said the department was talking with the vendor and trying to figure out how many extra permits were issued. They’ll also work to educate hunters that any duplicate permits are not valid, and cannot be used, sold or given to another hunter.

He said that may mean sending a letter to every hunter who drew a non-resident permit, probably with a stamped envelope so they can return the invalid permit.

“We’ve got to get busy,” Miller said. “Deer seasons aren’t far away.”

Arkansas River honored – The Arkansas River, from Great Bend to the Oklahoma border, has been named a National Water Trail by the U.S. National Park Service. It was one of three rivers designated last week and joins the Kansas River as one of the few National Water Trail streams in the nation, according to Jessica Mounts of KDWPT.

“That’s a pretty big deal. It’s an honor,” said Mounts, who has helped organize communities, state agencies and conservation groups to improve access on the river. “It’s a competitive process and you have to demonstrate a long-term commitment to making the water trail something special, something that will last.”

Mounts said the Arkansas is one of three Kansas rivers deemed “navigable,” meaning the public has access to the water and shoreline that goes to a “normal high water mark.” The Kansas and Missouri rivers are the other two navigable rivers in the state. All other streams and rivers are considered private property, and the public may not cross private property to access a navigable river without permission.

Mounts said one of the biggest goals of groups promoting the Arkansas River as a recreational destination has been creating access points along the river. She said there are currently about 20 access areas, often within small towns along the river. Mounts said Wildlife and Parks is currently working with such communities, the Kansas Department of Transportation and Westar Energy’s Green Team to improve access and signage to access locations. Improved maps and information are expected to be posted at www.travelks.com/arkrivertrail soon.

This story was originally published June 10, 2016 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Out-of-state hunters issued illegal deer permits; Arkansas River honored."