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Commission approves small duck-zone boundary shift near Sterling; change to take effect in 2026 after federal review
Summary
KDWP commissioners voted to approve a minor adjustment to the state's duck-zone boundary near Highway 1496 and the Arkansas River around Sterling; the department said the change better matches habitat and will be sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for approval and Federal Register publication for implementation in 2026.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks commission agreed July 16 to a proposed duck-zone boundary adjustment that staff said reflects new highway construction and more accurately groups habitat along a roughly 6‑mile stretch of the Arkansas River near Sterling into the late duck zone.
Tom Podrowski, KDWP migratory bird program manager, briefed commissioners on how zone boundaries are set and why small boundary changes are sometimes necessary. He told the commission that zoning and season splits allow Kansas to match season dates to local habitat, migration chronology and hunter preferences. Podrowski said the decision to move the segment near Highway 1496 into the late zone will improve delineation and better reflect associated habitat.
"This change will better reflect the associated habitat of a portion of that zone being moved into the late zone, most notably the 6 mile stretch of the Arkansas River," Podrowski said during his presentation.
Commissioners agreed the change should be forwarded to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; counsel confirmed a consensus or motion to forward the change is appropriate and the federal review and Federal Register notice will determine the effective date. Department staff clarified that any change would not be implemented this year but would be scheduled for the 2026–2027 waterfowl seasons.
Ending KDWP staff will prepare the zone boundary materials required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and publish the federal notice; the commission did not alter season dates today and staff emphasized federal frameworks still govern state season-setting options.
