Crossbows Legalized For Kansas Deer Hunters
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Crossbows, all centerfires legalized for deer hunting in Kansas
Kansas hunters now have a lot more choices for what equipment they can use during deer and turkey seasons. For hunters trying to find a median in between a gun & a bow hunt, the Kansas crossbow hunts are an excellent way to go for a hunter who can now longer bow hunt or wishes to Kansas with something other than a gun or a traditional bow.
The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission approved the use of crossbows during all archery deer seasons for all hunters. They also removed caliber restrictions for deer rifles. With the approval of the law, Dirt Road Outfitters is now offering Kansas crossbow hunts to all of its prosecpctus hunters.
The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission unanimously approved all of the department’s requests for liberalizing weapon and other equipment restrictions.
– Crossbows will now be legal for all hunters during archery deer seasons in Kansas. Previously they were only legal for those with approved physical limitations, those 15 and under and 55 and older, in four deer management units involved in a two year study by the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks.
— Any centerfire rifle or handgun cartridge can now be used for big game hunting during the appropriate firearm season. Previously, rifle cartridges had to be at least .22 caliber and handgun cartridges had to be at least 1.28-inches long.
— Slugs can now be used in any gauge shotgun for deer hunting in Kansas, rather than 20 gauge or larger.
— The restriction saying all crossbows had to have at least 120 pounds of pull was also removed. So what better time than now to purchase several Kansas crossbow hunts with Dirt Road Outfitters?
— Most electronic devices attached to bows are now legal, including such things as attached cameras, and rangefinders. Also, radio frequency devices attached to arrows, that stick to an arrowed deer to ease in retrieval, are also legal.
— Any shotgun, regardless of gauge, can now be used for turkey hunting. Before, it was only shotguns 20 gauge or larger.
Chris Tymeson, Wildlife and Parks attorney, said the new regulations will be in effect when deer seasons open in September. He estimated it will take about four weeks before the turkey regulations become law, because of the legal process. Tymeson said the Kansas Wildlife and Parks will post a news release when those regulations become official, to inform hunters afield for the upcoming spring turkey seasons that basically run April 1-May 31. Looking for to purchase a Rio Grande spring turkey hunt? Why not make a Kansas crossbow hunts your weapon of choice?
Robin Jennison, Wildlife and Parks secretary, said he favored the changes to allow hunters more freedom of choice, and to possibly make it easier for more children and small-framed adults to enjoy time deer hunting. He’s not concerned the changes will lead to an over-harvest of deer, or decline in the state’s trophy quality.
”It’s always been a societal issue, and never been a biological issue,” Jennison said of the crossbow and caliber changes that drew lengthy debate for several years at commission meetings. “The crossbow(becoming legal) doesn’t take away from the experience of anybody who wants to use a (vertical) bow.”
Brent Gardner, a National Rifle Association representative from Fairfax, Virginia, said his group supported all of the weapon changes, and said the NRA has studied the topics at length and never found where any of them have a negative impact on wildlife.
Several commissioners said they had gotten several e-mails and phone calls opposing the equipment changes, but found widespread support when they started talking to local sportsmen. “If I was up here representing bowhunters I would be against it,” Commissioner Roger Marshall, Great Bend, said of crossbows. “But I have to represent the people (of Kansas.) I don’t think passing this is going to hurt the deer herd.”
By Michael Pearce
Published by The Wichita Eagle Posted March 21, 2013, at 10:00 p.m. Updated March 21, 2013, at 10:06 pm Copyright 2013 The Wichita Eagle Filed under Breaking news, Hunting, Wildlife
Kansas crossbow hunts
Read more here: http://blogs.kansas.com/outdoors/2013/03/21/crossbows-all-centerfires-legalized-for-deer-hunting-in-kansas/#storylink=cpy