news
PRATT -- Sept. 15 marks the traditional opening of the Kansas upland bird season as the early season on prairie chickens begins. The season runs Sept. 15-Oct. 15. The area open includes that portion of Kansas east of U.S. Highway 281, slightly more than half of the state.
In previous years, the early season has provided hunters with a chance to take prairie chicken in a traditional upland setting, working grasslands with dogs. During the early season, both young birds and older birds are dispersed and will often hold long enough for a dog to effectively point.
During the later season, birds are bunched up and difficult to approach. At this time, flocks of birds can be found in early morning or late afternoon flying to feed in routinely established patterns. East of U.S. Highway 281 and north of K-96, the later season runs Nov. 6 Jan. 31, 2000. The daily bag limit in the early season and the later season in this area is two, with a possession limit of four.
In another area of Kansas -- south of K-96 and west of U.S. 281, the prairie chicken season opens Dec. 1 and runs through Jan. 31, 2000. The daily bag limit in this area of Kansas is one, with a possession limit of two.
Kansas not only has the largest population of prairie chickens in the world, it has two species. By far the most numerous, the greater prairie chicken inhabits most of the eastern half of the state but has expanded its range in recent years to portions of the northcentral and northwest. Its greatest concentrations are in the Flint Hills. This is the primary species that will be taken in the early season.
The lesser prairie chicken is largely confined to the sand hill prairie country of southwestern Kansas, where the season is more limited.
Uploaded: 9/15/2000
Uploaded: 9/15/2000