Kansas Bowhunting Regulations/Initiative

I know this is political, but I feel many bowhunters will miss this unless it is posted here. We need to Act Now!!!

I found this on Bowsite. Not sure if it is too late to rid of the upcoming bowhunting legislation, but is worth a shot. Plus, with all the new legislators voted in this recent term we can influence their decision making process in regards to our longstanding bowhunting regulations. This is a beginning for a petition that you can mail to your local representatives. Even if you don't bowhunt, this is still a good cause to unite as hunters and get good things done.

If you are a resident bowhunter of the state of Kansas, it is still not too late to act to repeal the unit legislation brought forth by SB364. Rep. Ruff is on the tourism/wildlife board and is arguing against the bill.

Rep. Ruff e-mailed a friend today and asked that he notify all resident bowhunters he knew to please write, call, or personally visit with all of the members of the Tourism/W&P committee in support of her proposed legislation to lift the archery unit hunting restriction.

The bill will be introduced this coming week, and a hearing is possible by Jan 26th. She asked that he consider testifying at the hearing, unfortunately he will not be able to get off work that day.

It is very important we participate positively in this. Be brief, try to avoid negative comments, and stress the importance of game management that protects the resource instead of the bottomline.



We, the undersigned, would like the Kansas legislature to reconsider, and revoke, legislation that would tie Kansas bowhunters to management units in 2005. It would be better if resident archery permits were left statewide, as they've been for 40 years, because --

---The creation of the regulation was done very late in the 2004 session, and accomplished in a few short days. Legislators weren't given enough time to research how the move would impact their constituents. Kansas sportsmen were also denied enough time to get politically educated and involved.

--- Many bowhunters have been at the sport for much of their lives, and have collected hunting spots without regard to unit boundaries. Such a change would negate the years, or decades, they've spent developing relationships with landowners and getting to know the patterns of localized deer herds. The latter greatly helps with controlling the deer population.

--- The spread of commercialization within deer hunting (guiding, leasing, the buying of property for hunting) has made it increasingly difficult for the average Kansan to find new places to deer hunt. Many deer hunters are now confined to a few small, and widely scattered, tracts of land that may be within several management units. To limit a sportsman to one unit would greatly decrease his enjoyment of the sport AND his ability to help control the Kansas deer population.

--- While firearms hunters are already restricted to units, we'd like to remind the legislature that bowhunting is a sport that requires far more time and dedication. Many archers have invested 30 to 40 days of preparation and hunting before they succeed, while many firearms hunters are only out a few days. There's no way for a bowhunter to know which property, within which unit, will be productive when a particular portion of the season arrives. We need as many options as possible if we're to help manage the Kansas deer herd.

---The legislative action was made in an effort to provide a better distribution of non-resident archery permits for some Kansas outfitters. Good or bad, we think it's important that the Senators and Representatives also consider the needs of all Kansans. While the legislation might benefit a few dozen guides and outfitters, it could have a very negative impact on tens of thousands of Kansas sportsmen. There are ways to better serve both the minority outfitters and majority sportsmen.

-- With great respect to the job done by the Kansas House and Senate, we also feel such wildlife-related rules and regulations are best handled by the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission. The seven-member commission is non-partisan and unbiased, with only one bowhunter and four hunters overall. They have the time, and the resources, to properly research such regulations. We elect our legislators to run matters such as taxes, schools, state goverment spending....and would like them have as much time as possible to invest in such issues.