Volume 40 - Issue 27 - July 8, 2021

State of Kansas

Department of Wildlife and Parks

Permanent Administrative Regulations

Article 3.—SMALL GAME

115-3-1. Game birds; legal equipment, taking methods, and possession. (a) Legal hunting equipment for game birds shall consist of the following:

(1) Shotguns and muzzleloading shotguns not larger than 10 gauge and using only shot;

(2) archery equipment; and

(3) falconry equipment.

(b) The use of dogs, horses, and mules shall be permitted while hunting, but no person shall shoot while mounted on a horse or mule.

(c) Hunting hours shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

(d) Game birds shall be shot only while the birds are in flight.

(e) Any type of apparel may be worn while taking game birds.

(f) Legally taken game birds may be possessed without limit in time and may be given to another if accompanied by a dated written notice that includes the donor’s printed name, signature, address, and permit or license number. The person receiving the meat shall retain the notice until the meat is consumed, given to another, or otherwise disposed of. It shall not be deemed unlawful for a person to relinquish possession of a game bird for the purpose of dressing the bird.

(g) Each pheasant in an individual’s possession for the purpose of transportation shall retain intact a foot or plumage by which the sex can be readily established. (Authorized by and implementing K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 32-807; effective, T-115-7-27-89, July 27, 1989; effective Sept. 18, 1989; amended June 1, 2001; amended July 23, 2021.)

Article 4.—BIG GAME

115-4-4. Big game; legal equipment and taking methods. (a)  Hunting equipment for the taking of big game during a big game archery season shall consist of the following:

(1) Archery equipment.

(A) No bow or arrow shall have any electronic device attached to the bow or arrow that controls the flight of the arrow. Devices that may be attached to a bow or arrow shall include lighted pin, dot, or holographic sights; illuminated nocks; rangefinders; film or video cameras; locking draws; and radio-frequency location devices.

(B) Each arrow used for hunting shall be equipped with a broadhead point incapable of passing through a ring with a diameter of three-quarters of an inch when fully expanded. A big game hunter using archery equipment may possess non-broadhead-tipped arrows while hunting if the arrows are not used to take or attempt to take big game animals.

(2) Crossbows using arrows that are equipped with broadhead points incapable of passing through a ring with a diameter of three-quarters of an inch when fully expanded.

(A) A big game hunter using crossbow equipment may possess non-broadhead-tipped arrows while hunting if the arrows are not used to take or attempt to take big game animals.

(B) No crossbow or arrow shall have any electronic device attached to the crossbow or arrow that controls the flight of the arrow. Devices that may be attached to a crossbow or arrow shall include lighted pin, dot, or holographic sights; illuminated nocks; rangefinders; film or video cameras; and radio-frequency location devices.

(b) Hunting equipment for the taking of big game during a big game muzzleloader-only season shall consist of the following:

(1) Archery and crossbow equipment as authorized in subsection (a); and

(2) muzzleloading rifles, pistols, and muskets that can be loaded with bullets only through the front of the firing chamber and are .40 inches in diameter bore or larger. Only tumble-on-impact, hard-cast solid lead, conical lead, or saboted bullets shall be used with muzzleloading rifles, pistols, and muskets.

(c) Hunting equipment for the taking of big game during a big game firearm season shall consist of the following:

(1) Archery and crossbow equipment as authorized in subsection (a);

(2) muzzleloader-only season equipment as authorized in subsection (b);

(3) centerfire rifles and handguns that are not fully automatic, while using only tumble-on-impact, hard-cast solid lead, soft point, hollow point, or other expanding bullets; and

(4) shotguns using only slugs.

(d)(1) Each individual hunting deer or elk during a firearms deer or elk season and each individual assisting an individual hunting deer or elk as authorized by K.A.R. 115-4-2 or K.A.R. 115-18-15 during a firearms deer or elk season shall wear outer clothing of a bright orange color commonly referred to as daylight fluorescent orange, hunter orange, blaze orange, or safety orange. This bright orange color shall be worn as follows:

(A) A hat or other garment upon the head with the exterior of not less than 50 percent of the bright orange color, an equal portion of which is visible from all directions; and

(B) at least 100 square inches of the bright orange color that is on the front of the torso and is visible from the front and at least 100 square inches that is on the rear of the torso and is visible from the rear.

(2) Lures, decoys except live decoys, and nonelectric calls shall be legal while hunting big game.

(3) Any individual may use blinds and stands while hunting big game.

(4) Optical scopes or sights that project no visible light toward the target and do not electronically amplify visible light or detect infrared light or thermal energy may be used.

(5) Any range-finding device, if the device does not project visible light toward the target, may be used.

(6) Devices capable of dispensing lethal, debilitating, or immobilizing chemicals to take big game animals shall not be used.

(e) Shooting hours for deer, antelope, and elk during each day of any deer, antelope, or elk hunting season shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

(f) Horses and mules may be used while hunting big game, except that horses and mules shall not be used for herding or driving big game.

(g) Firearm report-suppressing devices may be used.

(h) Handguns may be possessed during all big game seasons. However, no handgun shall be used to take deer except as legal equipment specified in subsection (c) during a big game firearms season.

(i) Dogs may be used to retrieve dead or wounded big game animals if the following requirements are met:

(1) Each dog shall be maintained on a handheld leash at all times while tracking the big game animal.

(2) An individual tracking big game animals outside of legal shooting hours shall not carry any equipment capable of harvesting the big game animal.

(3) Each individual harvesting a big game animal shall be limited to the equipment type for the permit and the season that is authorized.

(4) Each individual participating in the tracking of the big game animal shall have a hunting license, unless the individual is exempt by law or regulation. (Authorized by and implementing K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 32-807 and K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 32-937; effective June 1, 2001; amended April 19, 2002; amended April 22, 2005; amended June 2, 2006; amended April 13, 2007; amended April 11, 2008; amended May 21, 2010; amended April 20, 2012; amended April 19, 2013; amended Sept. 4, 2014; amended April 26, 2019; amended May 22, 2020; amended July 23, 2021.)

Article 8.—DEPARTMENT LANDS AND WATERS

115-8-1. Department lands and waters: hunting, furharvesting, and discharge of firearms. (a) Subject to provisions and restrictions as established by posted notice or as specified in the document adopted by reference in subsection (e), the following activities shall be allowed on department lands and waters:

(1) Hunting during open seasons for hunting on lands and waters designated for public hunting;

(2) furharvesting during open seasons for furharvesting on lands and waters designated for public hunting and other lands and waters as designated by the department;

(3) target practice in areas designated as open for target practice; and

(4) noncommercial training of hunting dogs.

(b) Other than as part of an activity under subsection (a), the discharge of firearms and other sport hunting equipment capable of launching projectiles shall be allowed on department lands and waters only as specifically authorized in writing by the department.

(c) The discharge of fully automatic rifles or fully automatic handguns on department lands and waters shall be prohibited.

(d) Department lands and waters shall be open neither for commercial rabbit and hare furharvesting nor for commercial harvest of amphibians and reptiles.

(e) The department’s “KDWPT public lands division special use restrictions,” dated April 29, 2021, is hereby adopted by reference. (Authorized by and implementing K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 32-807; effective Dec. 4, 1989; amended July 13, 2001; amended May 16, 2008; amended May 15, 2009; amended July 23, 2010; amended Nov. 14, 2011; amended Jan. 1, 2013; amended July 26, 2013; amended July 18, 2014; amended April 22, 2016; amended May 19, 2017; amended July 20, 2018; amended May 31, 2019; amended July 23, 2021.)

Brad Loveless
Secretary

Doc. No. 049274