PRATT – One of Kansas’ more popular hunting traditions, the firearms deer season, is underway. Kicking off Nov. 28, 2018, the statewide season will run through Dec. 9, 2018. During these 12 days, hunters with Firearm or Any-season deer permits may pursue deer with any legal equipment, including any centerfire rifle and handgun; any gauge shotgun using slugs; muzzleloading rifle, musket, or pistol .40 caliber or larger; and archery equipment. All deer permits are valid during the firearm season; however, unit, species, antlerless and equipment restrictions listed on the permit are in effect. In addition to their deer permits, all hunters, unless exempt by law, must also have a Kansas hunting license. Hunters with archery permits must use archery equipment and hunters with muzzleloader permits must use muzzleloaders or archery equipment.

During the firearm season, all deer hunters must wear hunter orange clothing consisting of an orange hat and an orange vest that shows 100 square inches from the front and 100 square inches from the back. Camouflage orange clothing is legal if the required number of square inches of orange is visible.

If you are a resident hunter and have yet to purchase a permit, you may do so at any license vendor or online at ksoutdoors.com. During the firearm season, hunters must possess a permit that allows the harvest of an antlered deer before they are eligible to purchase antlerless permits. Permits are valid the same day of purchase. And if you purchase your permit online, remember to print your permit and carcass tag when your transaction is complete.

Hunters should remember that all deer must be tagged before moving the carcass from the field. Any deer taken with a whitetail antlerless-only permit (WAO) must be transported with the head attached to the carcass. However, if a hunter desires to bone out a deer taken with a WAO permit  in the field, the deer can be registered electronically through the internet using photos taken at the harvest sight. Electronic registration is only required if you want to bone out the carcass and transport it without evidence of antlerless status attached. To electronically register your deer, visit programs.ksoutdoors.com and click “Electronic Deer Check-in.”

For more information on current regulations, consult the 2018 Kansas Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summary, or visit ksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting,” then “Big Game,” then “Deer.”

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