Hunting changes impact multiple lakes in Kansas

TOPEKA (KSNT) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) says it is restricting hunting activities at multiple lakes in Kansas.

The USACE issued a press release Tuesday, Sept. 17 from its Kansas City District that it is restricting some hunting practices at multiple lakes in Kansas. This is to bring the USACE's policies in line with the some new hunting regulations passed by commissioners with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) regarding public lands last year.

New USACE hunting regulations will apply to Hillsdale, Clinton, Perry, Pomona, Melvern, Tuttle Creek, Milford, Kanopolis and Wilson Lakes. These regulations include the topics of baiting, trail/game cameras, night hunting equipment, commercial guiding of hunters and antlerless white-tailed deer limits.

Baiting

• (1) No person shall place, deposit, expose, or scatter bait while hunting or preparing to hunt on lands and waters in the State of Kansas or place, deposit, expose, or scatter bait in a manner that causes another person to be in violation of this regulation.
• (2) Hunting shall be prohibited within 100 yards of any bait placed, deposited, exposed, or scattered on lands or waters. Bait shall be considered placed, deposited, exposed, or scattered on department lands for 10 days following complete removal of the bait.
• (3) Nothing in this regulation shall prohibit the hunting or taking of wildlife over standing crops, grain found scattered solely as the result of normal agricultural operations, or grain found scattered solely as the result of normal weather conditions.
• (4) For the purpose of this regulation, “bait” shall mean any grain, fruit, vegetable, nut, hay, salt sorghum, feed, other food, or mineral that is capable of attracting wildlife. Liquid scents and sprays shall not be considered bait.

Night hunting equipment

• The use of artificial light, scopes and equipment that amplify visible light, and thermal-imaging scopes and thermal-imaging equipment for hunting at night shall not be authorized on lands and waters.

Trail/game cameras and other devices

• (1) No person shall place, maintain, or use a trail or game camera on lands and waters, or any images or video from a trail or game camera including location, time, or date for any purpose.
• (2) For the purpose of this regulation, “trail or game camera” shall include any remote motion-activated or infrared camera in which the shutter is activated by sound triggers, proximity sensation, radio transmitters, or a self-timer built into the trail or game camera.
• (3) No person shall use any images of wildlife produced by or transmitted from a satellite to take or aid in the taking of wildlife or to locate wildlife to take or aid in the taking of wildlife on lands and waters.
• (4) This shall not prohibit the use of mapping systems or programs.
• (5) This regulation shall not apply to any trail or game camera that is owned by USACE and/or a USACE-approved designated party for operations or research on lands and waters.

Commercial guiding of hunters

• The conduct, actions, or activities of persons on lands and waters shall be subject to provisions and restrictions as established by posted notice. 
• (1) No person shall advertise, engage in, or solicit any business, or make any charge for any event or service except as authorized by USACE.

Antlerless white-tailed deer limit

• (1) The first whitetail antlerless only permit is valid for the hunting of antlerless whitetail deer statewide during the established season. Any subsequent whitetail antlerless only permit issued to the same applicant shall not be valid lands and waters.
• (2) All lands and waters are excluded from Unit 19, urban deer management unit, remaining open only under their original unit.

KDWP commissioners discussed these changes over the course of several meetings in 2023. The limiting of baiting and feeding practices helps reduce the amount of disease spread by wildlife in Kansas such as chronic wasting disease (CWD) and hoof disease among deer.

Trail cameras were also banned in the state last year following public outcry. Arguments made on the topic of "fair chase" and theft and privacy concerns led the charge with this decision to ban the cameras.

If you have any questions regarding these new regulations, you can get in touch with the USACE's Kansas City District at 816-389-3486 or by emailing CENWK-PA@usace.army.mil. You can consult the current list of hunting regulations in Kansas by clicking here. To check out the new hunting atlas for 2024-2025, click here.

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