About Us

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is a cabinet-level agency with a Secretary appointed by the Governor. KDWP dates back to 1905 when fish and game laws were first organized under the Kansas Fish and Game Department and a new state law required a license to hunt. The agency has had many names over the years and has grown into a multi-faceted agency that touches the lives of every Kansan.

At KDWP, we are dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of Kansas’s natural resources for the benefit of both current and future generations. From hunters and anglers to birdwatchers and adventurers, KDWP offers sustainable outdoor recreation that fosters a deep connection between people and the natural world.

KDWP employs approximately 460 full-time employees across multiple divisions including Licensing, Fisheries, Wildlife, Public Lands, Law Enforcement, and State Parks.

Our Mission

Our mission is to conserve and enhance Kansas' wildlife and its habitats, ensuring current and future generations appreciate and enjoy these living resources and associated recreation, while informing the public of the status of Kansas' natural resources, gaining understanding and support in achieving this mission.

A person wearing camouflage and blaze orange shands in a field holding a pheasant and a shotgun under a clear blue sky.

Secretary Christopher Kennedy at the Kansas Governor's Ringneck Classic.

About the Secretary

Christopher Kennedy was appointed Secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks by Governor Laura Kelly in March 2024 and confirmed by the Kansas Senate in March 2025. 

Born in North St. Louis, Missouri, Kennedy was introduced to natural resources at a young age, having grown up shooting, hunting, boating, and fishing. He brings nearly three decades of experience in wildlife and natural resources, beginning with his first internship out of high school at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conducting water quality and quantity research projects across Arkansas, Kansas, and Louisiana. In 1996, Kennedy joined the Missouri Department of Conservation, where he remained until this appointment to to lead the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. His work including assisting private landowners, managing public waters, and facilitating public education programs. He is perhaps most well-known for his work researching and restoring aquatic species such as alligator gar while advancing opportunities for Missouri’s youth to work with resource professionals to better manage public resources. Kennedy has also been a guest on the National Geographic Channel's Monster Fish and Animal Planet’s River Monsters on episodes featuring the alligator gar.

"The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has a sacred charge to ensure both current and future generations can enjoy our living resources," said Secretary Kennedy. "We can sometimes get bogged down in detailed regulations—and, yes, those are critically important—but our higher purpose is to help Kansans make those outdoor memories today and leave a legacy for those that come after us."

Department History
  • 1905 - Fish and game laws were organized under the Kansas Fish and Game Department and implementation of a state law requiring a license to hunt. 
  • 1911 - The State Fish and Game Department was placed under the supervision of the University of Kansas Board of Regents
  • 1925 - The Fish and Game Department was reorganized as the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission with three board members appointed by the Governor.
  • 1927 - Commission was reorganized and was given approval to organize a warden service. Fishing licenses required of men 18-70.
  • 1939 - Commission's three-member board was abolished by the legislature and replaced by a six-member bipartisan commission appointed by the Governor
  • 1943 - Legislature gives the commission full authority to set seasons and dates
  • 1955 - The legislature and Gov. Fred Hall create the State Park and Resources Authority.
  • 1960 - First Kansas boating laws enacted
  • 1987 - Gov. Mike Hayden signs executive order merging the State Park and Resources Authority and Fish and Game Commission to create the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
  • 2011 - Gov. Sam Brownback signs executive order moving the Division of Tourism from the Department of Commerce to the newly renamed Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
  • 2021 - Gov. Laura Kelly signs executive order returning the Division of Tourism to the Department of Commerce; reinstating the name Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.