Kansas Fishing News

Partners commit to five-year plan

Prior to late 2007, a black-footed ferret had not been documented in Kansas since 1957. Last December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), in cooperation with local landowners and The Nature Conservancy, released 24 captive-reared ferrets on three private ranches in Logan County.

Classes filling fast for popular Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks' (KDWP) Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Program is designed to provide women a chance to learn about hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation in a friendly, supportive environment. During a three-day workshop at Rock Springs 4-H Center Sept. 26-28, volunteer instructors will teach participants a variety of skills, including fishing, wingshooting, camping, orienteering, rifle marksmanship, botany, dog handling, archery, and more.

Great Plains Nature Center publication features work of K-8th grades students

The votes are in, the judging complete, and the final design and layout completed for the Great Plains Nature Center's (GNPC) second "Kansas Critters" book. On Saturday, Aug. 23, GNPC will honor the 223 young artists and authors grades K-8 whose 238 art and text entries comprise the second book in the series, Kansas Critters: A Wildlife Book Written and Illustrated by Kansas Kids. Four book receptions will be staged throughout the day to individually acknowledge each artist and author.

Classic guide to native grasses and plants enhanced and updated

Fort Hays State University (FHSU) has announced the Second Edition of Pasture and Range Plants, a classic guide to plant life in the North American Plains ecosystem. This invaluable guide has been completely revised by the FHSU Alumni Association, custodians of the book, and Dr. Robert A. Nicholson, professor of biological sciences at the university.

PRATT -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed continuation of liberal hunting frameworks for the upcoming 2008-2009 late waterfowl seasons. Frameworks are much the same as last year, allowing 74 days of duck hunting in the Low Plains Zone and 97 days in the High Plains.

Second lake in a week to report presence of destructive mussels

Following on the heels of a report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) that zebra mussels have been found in Marion Reservoir, biologists with the agency have now discovered a second lake infested with the aquatic nuisance species. KDWP biologists conducting a routine check of Lake Afton on Thursday, July 31, discovered two adult zebra mussels in the 258-acre lake, south of Goddard.

Boater, angler precautions critical to contain further spread

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in Marion Reservoir. After an angler reported finding a single zebra mussel in the Cottonwood Point area of the reservoir, KDWP biologist Jason Goeckler investigated immediately, and found two more juvenile mussels, indicating that reproduction of mussels has occurred at Marion.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) reports that there were 19 hunting accidents in 2007, with one fatality. This is an increase of two accidents over the previous year but still a very small number considering that some 271,000 hunters spend about 3 million days afield in Kansas annually. It's also a reflection of how hunting is getting safer. As recently as 1995, the lowest ever-recorded number of hunting accidents in Kansas was 21. In 1988, there were 51. In 1994, KDWP recorded 41 accidents, and in 1999 there were 32. In the eight years from 2000 through 2007, Kansas hunters averaged 18.5 accidents per year.

The John Redmond Chapter of Ducks Unlimited will hold its Fourth Annual Catfish Tournament at John Redmond Reservoir on July 26 from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. “This is the first time we have tried a catfish tournament as a way to raise money for wetland conservation,” says Bob Hammond, chapter chairman.

Principles of Rangeland Management: Grass and Animal Ecology in Kansas is a three-day school directed at ranchers, land managers, and others interested in knowing more about this vital natural resource. Conducted by the Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition, Inc. (KGLC), the school is directed at two areas of the state -- the arid west and the much wetter eastern portion of the state.