14 April Kansas Deer"...About 17,600 non-resident permits will be issued this year compared to 15,700 in 2007...several thousand of the 2007 permits weren't issued because of lack of demand in eastern Kansas...Much of the increase will be in Unit 16, where overall non-resident permit numbers will increase from about 604 permits in 2007 to about 2,360 this year...
Commissioners will vote on the following deer seasons.
• Sept. 13-21, youth/disabled season. Previously held the last weekend of September, the season was moved earlier so Kansas' black powder season could be moved later in the month. The longer season is to encourage more youth to try hunting. It also creates added opportunity if the weather's bad.
• Sept. 22-Oct. 5, muzzleloader season. The season's been pushed back about a week in hopes of finding cooler hunting conditions.
• Sept, 22-Dec. 31, archery deer season begins earlier than the traditional Oct. 1 opening since bowhunters will be sharing the woods with black powder hunters. Both types of hunters will be required to wear orange when both seasons are open.
• Dec. 3-14, firearms deer season. Beginning the Wednesday following Thanksgiving, the season follows traditional framework.
• Jan. 1-4, Extended whitetail antlerless-only season. An additional week will be added for the northern portions of Units 1,3,7 and 8 to give hunters more time to control high deer numbers in those areas."
Commission to vote on changes in deer seasons, by Michael Pearce, The Wichita Eagle, Apr. 13, 2008.
13 April KassadeeWell, it was a cold, windy morning spitting snow, but that didn't stop my 12 year old daughter from hopping out of bed at 4am to try and get her first turkey. We only heard two birds gobble, but that was more than enough as she was able to connect on this fine bird at 20 yards with her 20 gauge. He put on quite a show at 30 yards, spitting and drumming and strutting for the hen that he could not find. Kass held her composure well, being that she had him in her sights, but I felt the shot was just a little too long and I asked to wait for him to come closer. He did, and she made a fine shot. She has stood by for many years and watched her sister enjoy the outdoors and I am very lucky to have both of them interested in what I enjoy. Another great day in the woods....the bird was nice too. Shawn
Still Walking
Do's and Don'ts of Turkey Hunting
This list is mainly directed at novice turkey hunters who might appreciate a few hints that can help them become more successful turkey hunters as well as the seasoned hunter who might appreciate a few reminders. I won't get into safety...there is much already in print regarding safety and this topic should be in the front of every hunter's mind the minute he steps out of the truck. The following are a few of the do's and don'ts of turkey hunting. These hints are designed to help a hunter become more successful in his/her overall turkey hunting experience as well as filling more tags. Additionally, because several different club members will likely hunt the same farm during a season, these hints are designed to help ensure that all members will have improved success during the season.
AT ALL TIMES - only hunt the area of the property that you have reserved. It is quite simple to learn through the office what other areas have been reserved by other members. If you think the spot you wish to hunt is on a boundary between numbered areas, make arrangements to speak with the other member and coordinate efforts to ensure you each have a quality hunt and one of you doesn't hamper or adversely impact the efforts of the other.
Scout your area...learn where you want to setup....identify second and third setup locations...learn the best routes to walk between areas to minimize bumping birds.
Know the property boundaries and keep within them. Trespassing on neighbors causes problems for the landowner, the club, and fellow members that hunt the property later in the season.
Arrive early enough so you minimize the potential for spooking birds as you move into your first setup area. Give yourself plenty of time to move slow and quiet.
Move quietly, use terrain and cover to avoid spooking birds. Don't walk out on bare ridge tops or across open pastures or fields.
Be patient! When you think you need to move, wait 20 minutes...then wait another 20 minutes. When you are set up in an area you know the birds are using...give them time.
If you kill a bird, don't run out whooping and hollering to pick up your bird, most especially if there other birds in the immediate area. Wait for things to settle down and other birds to move off before quietly getting up, collecting your trophy, and immediately exiting the area after tagging the bird.
Start off calling softly...you can always up the volume later...and call sparingly until a bird responds, then you can modify your calling to match how the gobbler is responding. If the birds aren't gobbling much, tone things way down and focus on setting up in an area with good sign and using finesse calls rather than loud raucous cutting and yelping.
Avoid "running and gunning"...I know it's way more fun than just sitting and waiting but this technique can cause more damage to a property than any other. Oftentimes you are bumping birds and don't even know it.
Avoid bumping birds! There is nothing more detrimental to turkey hunting on a property than lots of hunter activity in the form of movement...repeatedly bumping birds causes them to respond less to calling and even move off the property to an area with less pressure (i.e., less traffic in the form of hunter movement). This makes hunting very difficult for those members who come on to a property after you.
I hope those of you who read through this list will use these hints to make your hunt more successful and will leave the farm in good shape for subsequent hunts. Be safe, be considerate, and be responsible.
The Other SideJust as CRP has become a hunter against the average family dinner table issue rather than the soil and water conservation program issue that it is, so has the dove hunt argument been changed. If dove hunting goes so will other forms?
"...Then there’s the food argument...As table fare, doves aren’t worth much, we’re told. Small birds. No meat...So why hunt them? Bluegills and perch are small fish, but anglers fish and eat them with gusto. What about teal? Or quail or woodcock? Small birds, yes, but they’re wonderful to eat. So, too, are doves..."
The logic being if dove, an abundant bird species becomes illegal to hunt due to no sustenance value to humans then quail hunting should be banned as well as quail are a declining species and being small also have no sustenance value.
What does the anti-hunting movement do for conservation?, Babe Winkelman, The Jamestown Sun, April 11, 2008 April 2008 page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
