PRATT – During the public hearing portion of its March 28 meeting, the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) Commission voted on several items, to include greater flexibility in hunting equipment and approving 2019-2020 big game season dates. However, the first order of business during the public hearing session may have outdoor enthusiasts excited for an entirely different reason. Commissioners approved staff recommendations to eliminate a $10 fee previously associated with obtaining a duplicate license or permit.
Beginning in early May, KDWPT customers who require a replacement license or permit will be able to reprint any license or permit purchased online for free or simply pay a $2.50 fee through a license vendor.
Other items voted on and approved by the Commission include:
• Allowing hunters to use lures, decoys (except live decoys) and calls (to include electronic calls) when hunting rabbits, hares and squirrels
• Designating tumble-upon-impact bullets as legal equipment for hunting big game
• Moving the resident either-species deer and elk permit application deadlines to the second Friday in June, coinciding with the firearm antelope application deadline
Hunting season dates
Hunting season dates approved at the March 28 meeting are as follows:
Elk
Fort Riley
Muzzleloader – Sept. 1-30
Archery – Sept. 1-30
Firearm – Oct. 1-31, Nov. 1-30 and Dec. 1-31
Outside of Fort Riley
Muzzleloader – Sept. 1-30
Archery – Sept. 16 through Dec. 31
Firearm – August 1-31, Dec. 4-15, and Jan. 1 through March 15, 2020
Deer
Youth and Hunters with Disabilities – Sept. 7-15
Muzzleloader – Sept. 16-29
Archery – Sept. 16 through Dec. 31
Pre-rut Whitetail Antlerless-only – Oct. 12-14
Firearm – Dec. 4-15
Extended Firearm
Units 6, 8, 9, 10, and 17 – Jan. 1-3, 2020
Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 14, and 16 – Jan. 1-5, 2020
Units 10A, 12, 13, 15, and 19 – Jan. 1-12, 2020
Extended Archery
Units 10A and 19 – Jan. 13-31, 2020
For more information on the Commission, including future meeting details, visit www.ksoutdoors.com.
