Private hunt new focus for KDWP

In a continuing effort to expand Kansas’ hunting options, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is expending its Special Hunts On Private Lands Program this fall.

The project is designed to reduce the number of hunters in over crowed hunting areas and open new hunting areas near urban areas in the eastern half of the state, said Jake George, KDWP private lands coordinator.

A result of surveys and landowners in 2008, the program will open hunting areas not usually available with the cooperation of landowners. The survey revealed that hunters wanted less crowded hunting areas and landowners would allow hunting if the hunting was much more controlled, George said.

For more information on the program or applications, write Jake George, private lands coordinator, KDWP, 512 SE 25th Ave., Pratt, KS 67124; phone 620-672-5911, ext. 160; or e-mail jakeg@wp.state.ks.us.

This is the second hunt in the private lands program. The first hunt was spring 2009 and it was limited to a spring turkey season, George said.

The department has done special hunts on public lands for 15 years but leased hunting on private lands is new. Finding new hunting lands is difficult because 98 percent of Kansas’ lands are privately owned.

Interest was high for the first season with 200 applicants and a total of 56 applications accepted.
Most of those applications had two hunters per hunt for about 100 hunters, George said.

“We certainly had good interest from the hunters standpoint,” George said. “So far we have been very pleased with the program. We hope it will grow when we get the word out to land owners.”

The KDWP program leased 7,000 acres during the first year of the program, said Mike Mitchener, wildlife section chief.

The program was so well received that KDWP is working on an expanded second season with hunting on more land and more varieties of game.

“The season went over very well,” Mitchener explained.

The program wants to increase the number of acres and is looking for anyone willing to lease the land.

Landowners can choose specific days and times for interested parties to hunt on their property as long as they hunt fits within the current hunting guidelines, Mitchener said.

All types of hunting are considered in the expanded second season including dove, deer, turkey, pheasant, upland birds and waterfowl. Landowners can allow guns, bow and arrow or whatever is already allowed by KDWP. Landowners are not allowed to go outside the set hunting days, seasons and weapons as set forth in KDWP guidelines.

Landowners receive varying pay rates depending on the number of days hunting is allowed and the type of species, Mitchener said.

All applications for the private lands program have to be made on-line. Hunting areas are still being determined. Once all the contracts are complete, fall signup deadline is July 13 with on-line applications starting Aug. 1.

Once the applications are complete an electronic drawing will determine how many hunters will participate in the program as well as determining days and hunting locations.

Areas in the eastern half of the state are targeted for the program because of the lower number of walk-in hunting areas. The east central and southeast part of the state is the main areas for the program.

The areas were researched for possible acceptance and the response was positive from both landowners and hunters. Hunters fill one application for each area, the dates and type of hunting they want to do.

No special fees are required to participate. All regular hunting regulations and licenses apply.