“The proposed change was a commission rather than a department-driven review,” George said.
What’s new for coyote hunters?
Nighttime coyote hunting would have a brief window in December when its not allowed, coinciding with deer season with regular firearms. The expanded season could also expire in three years unless a provision sunsetting the season is removed.
Surrounding states have different night hunting policies on the books.
In Nebraska, people can use night vision to hunt coyotes all year.
Missouri permits night hunting coyotes between Feb. 1 and March 31.
In Oklahoma, it is only permitted to hunt coyotes at night if they’re attacking livestock.
And Colorado totally bans night vision hunting of coyotes.
“The federal government does not regulate coyote populations. The Wildlife and Parks Commission considered the approach of all 50 states, input from various department staff and significant public input, and it decided a trial three-year extended season was the best option for Kansas hunters,” an economic impact statement by the Kansas Department of Fish and Wildlife said.
The same memo said there’s no quantifiable economic impact, but it could indirectly support sporting goods retailers.
Public input
The department had public listening sessions in March in El Dorado, Junction City and Hays. The Wildlife Commission discussed the changes at five of its meetings since October.
Additionally, 1,000 deer hunters, 1,000 landowners, 1,000 night vision hunters, 5,000 small game hunters and 236 coyote hunters participated in a survey about their opinions on an expanded night coyote hunting season. The reception was relatively positive.
“While there was not concern from a biological perspective from the increased harvest of coyotes, there were some concerns expressed by law enforcement staff given the potential for increased opportunities for poaching with the expansion of the night vision season, especially if it included any firearms deer season,” George said.
One thing respondents varied on was how much the season should be expanded. The compromise of September through March got the nod from the commission, George said.
On the Rules and Regulations Committee, Kansas Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, said he’d do away with night hunting. He’s previously introduced legislation to ban the practice, but they haven’t gotten out of any committees for a vote.
“I’m a lone voice here who thinks that night hunting is dangerous, and I wish we weren’t expanding the season,” Carmichael said.
Tension with the commission
The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission vets and approves regulations proposed by the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, an office currently filled by Chris Kennedy.
Once the commission tentatively approves a regulation, it gets reviewed by in-house lawyers, the Department of Administration, the Attorney General’s Office and the Office of Budget. The Kansas Joint Committee on Rules and Regulations provide input on proposed regulations, and if a regulation costs over $1 million over five years, it needs legislative approval.
The commission has become increasingly politicized in recent years. Kansas Sen. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, said she doesn’t believe the commission feels like their policy suggestions go unheard.
“This is not how the commission feels,” Tyson said. “In fact, a couple of members approached us on legislation last year to allow them to introduce rules and regs.”
Kennedy said he implemented policies to allow commissioners to introduce rules and regulations after the bill failed. If passed, it would have given commissioners more leeway to propose regulations, and reorganize how appointments are made.
The appointment process has been tweaked over the past several years.
Last year, Kansas changed how it appoints commissioners from governor appointees to a mix of the governor, House Speaker, Senate President and Attorney General appointing members — though the governor will still appoint four of seven members.
This year a bill passed in the Kansas Senate to require Senate confirmation of all governor-appointed commissioners, but it didn’t get a vote in the Kansas House.
Kennedy spent over a year as the interim Secretary of Parks and Wildlife, but struggled to get confirmed by the Senate. A main point of contention throughout the process was his background in the office of Diversity and Inclusion in the Missouri Department of Conservation.
He was eventually confirmed on March 20, a day after Gov. Laura Kelly’s chief of staff, Will Lawrence, sent an email to every senator saying she would sign Senate Bill 211, the bill Tyson referenced, allowing commissioners to propose regulations.
As reported in the Topeka Capital Journal
