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PRATT -- The early teal season in Kansas will begin Saturday, Sept. 9. The daily bag limit is four teal. Shooting hours will be from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. A federal duck stamp is required of all hunters 16 and older, and state duck stamps and a Harvest Information Program (HIP) stamp are required of all hunters who must purchase a hunting license.
Season dates are as follows:
Low Plains, East of U.S. 283: Sept. 9-24
High Plains, West of U.S. 283: Sept. 9-16
Daily Bag Limit: 4
Possession Limit: 8
Drought conditions through late summer of this year may make hunting difficult in some areas. Hunters are encouraged to contact wildlife area offices beforehand if they plan to hunt public lands that are managed for waterfowl. Hunting at Neosho Wildlife Area, in southeastern Kansas near St. Paul, for example, will be limited.
"There is approximately 40 acres of water in Pool 2," says area manager John Silovsky. "The east half of the Refuge Pool [Pool 3] will be open to hunting for the early teal season only. The portions of the Refuge Pool that will remain closed to hunting will be designated by posted signs indicating that the refuge area is closed to all activities. Hunting opportunity on the wildlife area will remain limited until significant rainfall is received."
All waterfowl hunters at Neosho are required to obtain a daily waterfowl hunt permit at the check station before going to the field. The check station will open at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday. Waterfowl hunters are also encouraged to contact the Neosho Wildlife Area at (316) 449-2539 for additional information.
At Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, in central Kansas near Great Bend, the situation is somewhat better, but the ducks are currently in short supply.
"We currently only have about 5,000 ducks on the whole area," said Helen Hands, area wildlife biologist, on Sept. 6. "Pools 3B and 5 are dry, and Pool 2 only has about a foot of water. Pools 4A and 4B are okay with about 16 inches of water, and these will be the best pools for boats. Pool 3A is being flooded, so it should be ready for the teal opener. No boats will be allowed on 3A and 1C, and 3A will only be open on odd numbered days."
Hunt report cards must be picked up and the Cheyenne Bottoms office before hunting and turned back in after the hunt. For more information on Cheyenne Bottoms, phone (316) 793 7730.
While many public lakes and marshes in the state harbor waterfowl, about 25 -- including four national wildlife areas -- are managed specifically for these migrants. For more information on these areas and waterfowl regulations, hunters should pick up a copy of the 2000 Kansas Waterfowl Regulations Summary, available wherever licenses are sold or by phoning the Department of Wildlife and Parks, emailing feedback@wp.state.ks.us, or downloading the booklet from the department^s website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us.
Waterfowl reports can be viewed on the website, as well.
Uploaded: 9/8/2000
Uploaded: 9/8/2000