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KDWP proposes reallocating deer permits: fewer nonresident permits in western Kansas, more in east; some units to get longer antlerless seasons
Summary
Department staff proposed adjustments to deer management units, antlerless season lengths and 2025 nonresident/resident draw quotas, shifting some opportunity east and reducing allotments in western mule‑deer country. The commission moved the proposals into promulgation.
Department of Wildlife & Parks research staff presented proposed 2025 changes to deer management and permit quotas at the March 27 commission meeting, recommending reduced antlerless opportunity in much of western Kansas and increased antlerless opportunity in many eastern units, while modestly reducing the statewide total nonresident quota by 91 permits.
Levi Jaster, Research and Survey Office, told commissioners the proposals respond to diverging regional population trends. “We are two different states in one,” Jaster said, summarizing long‑term declines in mule deer and lower densities in far‑west units and continued increases in whitetail densities across much of eastern Kansas. Staff recommended converting several far‑west units to no January antlerless season and no antlerless permits; in contrast, multiple eastern units would move to longer seasons and larger antlerless permit allocations (from five to ten available per hunter in some units).
Jaster said the changes aim to balance biological data (population estimates, buck:doe and fawn ratios, chronic wasting disease prevalence), reported crop‑damage complaints, deer‑vehicle crash rates, and hunter and landowner input. He outlined that nonresident draw quotas for 2025 total 21,724 permits (a net decline of 91), and noted the mule‑deer stamp quota will be 100 (down 18). Resident either‑species quotas were proposed at 1,016 (down 24).
Commissioners discussed the unit‑level patterns and asked staff to continue monitoring crash and crop‑damage trends. Commissioner Keith Mark and others emphasized the importance of pairing quotas with habitat management and accurate harvest accounting. Commissioners did not adopt final regulation text at the meeting; staff indicated the proposals will proceed through the normal promulgation process and be available for public comment before any final adoption.
Levi Jaster also reviewed evidence-limited areas and stated Western mule deer observations have fallen to levels that make robust abundance estimation difficult; for those areas, staff proposed restricting additional antlerless removals to protect fragile populations.
The department said the proposed quota changes will be published with the regulation package, and the commission will consider final adoption at a later meeting after public notice and comment.
