Kansas Hunting Laws

Kansas laws depict specific hunting seasons, licensure and certification requirements.

The state of Kansas teems with wildlife available for hunting by residents and sportsmen alike. Whether hunting for sport or food, Kansas, like any other state, has regulations and license requirements. Regulated by the Kansas State Department of Wildlife and Parks, several key laws are in effect when hunting game. Kansas sportsmen are urged to comply with all safety requirements to ensure the safety of not only hunters, fisherman and gamesmen, but protected wildlife as well.

Trespassing

The state of Kansas requires all hunters and fisherman to obtain permission from private landowners when hunting on private land. Hunting from the road on property adjacent to the road is illegal without a property owner's permission. Private land that has signs indicating that hunting or trapping is permitted with "written permission only" may not be hunted without the written permission of the landowner. Following injured game onto private property requires the permission of the landowner to pursue the animal. Railroad right-of-ways also require permission from the railroad for hunting. A landowner permission card can be downloaded from the state site.

Hunting Seasons

Distinct hunting seasons exist for wildlife in the state of Kansas depending upon the species and the breed. Hunting seasons are broken into many categories that include a regular season, which includes firearms and archery, an archery-only season, and a youth and disabled-person season. The legal equipment to be used when hunting is delineated by hunting category. Hunting can only occur between sunrise and sunset and includes limits per hunting category. Hunting categories include turkey, furbearers, big game, migratory birds (which require federal licensing as well), upland game birds and small game like bullfrogs, squirrels, rabbits and crow.

Applications and Fees

Under Kansas law, a hunting license is required for hunting during all seasons except those persons exempt under law. Exempt status only applies to landowners or tenants of agricultural land or personal residences, legally defined Indians who must apply for a free license, Kansas residents under the age of 15 or older than 65, and nonresidents hunting under field trial permits issued by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Fees are payable online at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks or through any licensed retailer.

Hunter Certification

Kansas hunting law was amended January 2005 to include a requirement that all hunters must obtain hunter certification before hunting. To obtain certification, hunters must be certified by a state-approved hunter education course if they were born on or after January 1, 1957. Hunters under the age of 15 may hunt without certification provided an adult 18 years or older is supervising them. On July 1, 2007, Kansas law made an apprentice hunting license available to those aged 16 and under 18 years of age. Apprentice hunters must hunt under the supervision of a legal certified adult. Kansas recognizes hunter certification from most every state or Canadian province.

References

• Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks: About Hunting
• Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks: Trespass
• Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks: Hunting Seasons
• Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks: Applications and Fees

Resources

• Dept of Wildlife and Game: Landlord Permission Card