TOPEKA – Hunting, fishing and trapping have long been important to the way of life for many Kansans, as well as a massive economic boom for the Sunflower State.

Now, in addition to voting for candidates and on other issues in the Tuesday, Nov. 8, general election, voters will decide whether to amend the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights to make these a constitutional rig ht. The measure is widely popular with area wildlife and conservation officials.

“It’s just another way to protect what we do here in Kansas,” said Charlie Swank, Great Bend-based Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism district wildlife biologist. “I think it’s a good deal.” 

The proposed amendment would specify that people have a right to hunt, fish and trap by traditional methods, subject to reasonable laws and regulations that promote wildlife conservation and management. The amendment would also specify that hunting and fishing are the preferred means for managing and controlling wildlife, and that the amendment shall not be construed to modify any provision of law relating to trespass, eminent domain or other private property rights. 

“This is something we’ve always been able to do,” Swank said. But, in light of states like California banning some forms of hunting, it is something that can no longer be taken for granted. 

“This makes it more concrete,” Swank said.

What does it do?

 The amendment would be created if approved by a majority of Kansas voters. A “yes” vote will be a vote in favor of adding the amendment to the constitution, and a “no” vote will be a vote against adding the amendment. 

If the amendment passes, current laws and regulations governing hunting, fishing and trapping of wildlife would still apply. If it fails, there would be no changes to current laws and regulations.     

The proposed amendment was introduced into the 2015 Legislative Session as House Concurrent Resolution 5008 by Rep. Travis Couture-Lovelady R-Palco, and Rep. Adam Lusker, D-Frontenac, but no action was taken. 

It was carried over to the 2016 session where it passed both chambers by large margins. The KDWPT testified in support of the resolution. 

“Hunting, fishing and trapping are an integral part of Kansas history and traditions,” said KDWPT Secretary Robin Jennison. “They are the most important tools we have to manage our wildlife. We encourage voters to carefully consider the amendment question and to get out and vote.”  

According to the website Ballotpedia.org, 19 states currently have similar constitutional provisions for the right to hunt and fish. Two others have constitutional provisions guaranteeing the right to fish, and two have statutes providing for the right to hunt and fish. 

Vermont established its right to hunt and fish in 1777, but most of the other states have created their rights since 2000.

The importance of hunting

“Hunting is pretty important in the State of Kansas,” Swank said. “It is something we like to do, but it also brings lots of money in states coffers.”

Hunters and anglers provide all of the support for the state’s wildlife and fisheries management programs, Jennison said. These programs are entirely funded by license/permit fees and a federal match from the excise tax paid by hunters and anglers on equipment they buy. They cannot be used for state park maintenance. 

“The state’s share of the federal excise tax can only be returned to Kansas if someone buys a license or permit,” Jennison said. KDWPT does not receive any state general funds for any of its programs. 

With Barton County nestled between Cheyenne Bottoms and the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, hunting is a key activity in the region, said Curtis Wolf, director of the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. 

“For our local purposes, I would say that hunting is an important recreational use of our local wetland resource at Cheyenne Bottoms,” he said. “Benefits of hunting have a pretty wide reach. Such benefits may include the multi-million dollar investment hunters contribute annually to conservation programs in Kansas through license sales and federal aide programs, economic booms to rural communities through ecotourism, and the overarching benefits wildlife management has for both game and non-game species.  Preserving hunting in Kansas is one important step to ensuring healthy natural resources for our state in the future.”

Rob Penner of the Nature Conservancy agrees. “It’s a great conservation tool,” he said, adding he supports the amendment.

For more information about the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, visit KSOutdoors.com or TravelKS.com.