Kansas wildlife officials to meet in Topeka, vote on hunting season changes

Raccoon and opossum seasons might change soon in Kansas.

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Top officials with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) are meeting in Topeka this month to talk hunting applications and bag limit changes.

The KDWP announced in a press release on March 20 that commissioners, along with the new KDWP Secretary Chris Kennedy, will be in Topeka to discuss several topics related to hunting, fishing and boating in Kansas. This meeting is open to both physical and virtual attendees.

Action items commissioners will be voting on include the following possible amendments:

• Addition of clarifying language to K.A.R. 115-4-11 for big game and wild turkey permit applications.
• Introduction of an extended season for raccoon and opossum by hunting and trapping in K.A.R. 115-25-11. If this is approved, the extended season would take place annually from the first day of March through the first Tuesday after the second Saturday in November of the same year.
• Possible changes to the definition of personal watercraft operating requirements and restrictions for K.A.R. 115-30-10.

KDWP spokeswoman Nadia Marji said following this voting period, commissioners will move on to other items such as a state and agency fiscal update, 2024 Legislative update and time for public comment on non-agenda items. Commissioners will also discuss trout program regulations regarding season length and permit prices and the Aquatic Species Recovery Program.

The meeting will close with hearings on the following items which may be voted on at a later date:

• K.A.R. 115-25-7 Antelope 25-Series Regulations  
• K.A.R. 115-25-8 Elk 25-Series Regulations  
• K.A.R. 115-25-9a Military Deer Seasons  
• New Carcass Movement Regulation 
• Webless Migratory Bird Regulations 
• Waterfowl Regulations 

Marji said the commissioners will meet at noon on Thursday, March 28 at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library in the Marvin Auditorium. More information on the meeting can be found here. To learn how to attend this meeting over Zoom, click here. The next KDWP meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 25 at Kansas State University's campus in Salina.

For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf