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KDWP proposes adjustments to January antlerless seasons, urban zones and permit counts after survey review
Summary
KDWP staff presented updated deer-density trends from spotlight surveys and proposed moving western low-density units to no January antlerless seasons while increasing permits and length for central and southeast units; KDWP also advanced military-subunit season language for promulgation.
Levi Jaster, KDWP regional staff, briefed commissioners on proposed adjustments to January antlerless-only seasons, unit permit counts and military subunit schedules based on five-year trends from KDWP spotlight density surveys and stakeholder input.
Jaster said western Kansas units (Units 1, 2, 17 and parts of 3 and 4) have relatively low deer densities after drought and recommended removing January antlerless-only seasons and associated antlerless-only permits in much of the western quarter of the state to allow local populations to recover. He proposed maintaining a small number of permits in parts of Unit 3 where localized higher numbers persist and addressing crop-damage complaints through the department's deer control permitting process rather than broad unit-wide allocations.
For central units 6, 8, 9 and 10, KDWP recommended moving from a "short" January season with a single antlerless permit to a "medium" season with five antlerless permits, reflecting a multi-year upward trend in deer numbers and increased landowner complaints for additional opportunities. KDWP proposed moving additional northeastern and south-central units into a "long" January season and increasing available antlerless permits (some proposals suggested up to ten permits in certain units) to respond to higher local densities.
On military subunits, Jaster said KDWP will promulgate season language tailored to Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth and Smoky Hill Air National Guard subunits so deer seasons there match training and access schedules; the department will place that language in regulation so it can be implemented in the upcoming season.
Jaster said decisions will prioritize multi-year trends rather than single-year survey fluctuations and that KDWP will present formal regulatory language for commission consideration; he warned that frequent annual changes reduce regulatory stability for hunters and land managers.
Ending: KDWP staff will prepare formal regulatory proposals for the commission to consider at a future meeting and proceed with promulgation for military subunits to meet seasonal scheduling needs.
