KDWPT COMMISSION APPROVES BIG GAME AND TURKEY REGULATIONS

(Photo credit: SLV Native)

WICHITA — The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission met at the Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita on Thursday, April 26. During the Public Hearing portion of the meeting, the commission approved recommended changes to the management units for fall turkey hunting season. The recommendation adds two units for a total of six, and will allow biologists to adapt hunting regulations and bag limits to better manage the state’s turkey populations.
In other action, the commission approved recommendations for the season dates and permit allocations for the 2012 antelope seasons. Archery season for antelope is Sept. 22-30, and Oct. 15-31. Archery permits are sold over-the-counter to residents and nonresidents, and all antelope management units are open to archery hunting.
The muzzleloader-only antelope season is set for Oct. 1-8, and is open to residents only. Twenty-six muzzleloader-only permits are authorized for Unit 2; 12 permits are authorized for Unit 17; and eight permits are authorized for Unit 18.
The 2012 firearm antelope season is set for Oct. 5-8 and is open to residents only. One hundred firearm antelope permits are authorized for Unit 2; 40 are authorized for Unit 17; and 10 are authorized for Unit 18.
The application period for resident antelope muzzleloader and firearm permits is May 8-June 8. All applications must be submitted online through the KDWPT website, www.ksoutdoors.com.
In final public hearing action, commissioners approved recommendations for the 2012-2013 elk hunting season. Archery season: Unit 3 (statewide except Fort Riley and Morton County) — Sept. 17-Dec. 31; Unit 2a (Fort Riley) — Sept. 1-30. Firearm Season: Unit 3 — Nov. 28-Dec. 9, and Jan. 1, 2013-March 15, 2013; Unit 2a, either-sex holders — Oct. 1-Dec. 31; antlerless-only permit holders – Oct. 1-31, Nov. 1-30 and Dec. 1-31 (one-third of the permits valid in each season segment). Muzzleloader season: Unit 2 and Unit 3 – Sept. 1-30.
Ten either-sex elk permits and 15 antlerless-only elk permits are authorized for Unit 2. Only residents are eligible for elk permits, and applications for limited-quota permits must be submitted online by July 13, 2012. An unlimited number of antlerless-only and either-sex hunt-own-land permits are authorized for Units 2 and 3. An unlimited number of the antlerless-only and either-sex elk permits are authorized for Unit 3.
The KDWPT Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for June 21 in Kansas City.

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