Jan. 1, 2015

Don’t store your waders; late season hunts can still prove fruitful

PRATT — Most hunting seasons, including those for ducks, deer and upland birds, will come to a close soon, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to stow away your gear yet. Kansas has several seasons to keep you hunting through January, and goose hunting opportunities that run through early spring.

Depending on weather and snow cover conditions, numbers of geese can steadily build in late January and early February around Kansas reservoirs and wetlands. Consider hunting the Canada and light goose seasons, Nov. 12, 2014-Feb. 15, 2015, and the white-fronted goose season, Jan. 17-Feb. 15, 2015, during this time. 

When Feb. 16 hits, consider hunting snow and Ross’ geese. During the Light Goose Conservation Order, Feb. 16-April 30, 2015, hunters can take an unlimited amount of these birds in an effort to reduce populations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established this special season to boost the harvest of light geese, a population that has increased more than 300 percent since the mid-1970s. These historic numbers of geese have denuded portions of their fragile tundra breeding habitat in the arctic, which may take decades to recover. This impacts other bird species that nest there, including semi-palmated sandpipers and red-necked phalaropes.

To increase hunter success, the conservation order authorizes hunting methods not allowed during the regular seasons, including the use of electronic calls, unplugged shotguns, and shooting hours one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

Ongoing 2014 seasons that run through Jan. 31, 2015 include: pheasant, quail, greater prairie chicken, turkey (Fall), and whitetail antlerless-only (see regulations for specifics on unit close dates).

Other late-season hunting opportunities include crow, exotic dove, furbearers, rabbit, and squirrel.

For information on hunting seasons, consult the 2014 Kansas Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summary, or visit ksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting.”

-30-

Back to 1-1-15 News