Exploring Kansas Outdoors
Fall Hunting Seasons and Night-Time Coyote Hunts
By Steve Gilliland
It seems September 1st is the magic date when Kansas hunting seasons begin to flourish. Dove season is perhaps the best known and most popular, but Sept 1 also ushers in various archery, muzzle loader and special disabled hunting seasons for antelope, elk and deer; too many to list here, but view the whole lineup at the Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) website, www.ksoutdoors.com.
There are myriads of acres of sunflowers, both domestically grown and wild in which to hunt doves here in Kansas. A very popular and effective strategy employed by many hunters is to set up early-morning or late-evening near water sources that are in or around sunflower fields and patches, as birds will stop there to drink prior to and after feeding. When the countryside is dry like it has been around here recently, that works well, as those remaining water sources become choke points where doves congregate from miles around.
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You may recall a recent column where I talked about a proposal to allow artificial lights, night vision and thermal imaging gear to be used when hunting coyotes. On June 25th, the commission voted in favor of that proposal. At that time, KDWPT Furbearer Biologist Matt Peak said that “Most other Midwest states already allow this activity in some form, with apparently no more legal or safety issues than other types of hunting, and pressure from hunters and livestock producers for us to allow this has really grown in recent years.” The regulation will be implemented to begin in 2021, and will require a special $2.50 Night Vision Equipment Permit allowing hunters to use artificial light, scopes and equipment that amplify visible light, and thermal -imaging equipment when hunting coyotes at night. The following restrictions will apply:
Use of this gear will be permitted from January 1 to March 1 only.
Use of this equipment will be allowed for hunting coyotes only.
Vehicles will not be allowed when using this gear.
Use of this equipment will NOT be allowed on KDWPT owned or managed lands or waters, including WIHA (walk-in hunting areas.)
Now before you do cartwheels down your driveway and begin planning late night coyote hunts, you better do some research on this equipment, some of which can cost the price of a good used car.
So, despite COVID, a so called “Pandemic,” big cities throughout the country seemingly self-destructing and on-fire, and people becoming increasingly afraid of their own shadows, Kansas hunting seasons will begin as usual, and what better place to be safe from a “Pandemic” than the Kansas Outdoors…continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!
Steve can be contacted by email at [email protected].
