Daily hunting permits required at melvern wildlife area

http://www.kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/Hu...-WILDLIFE-AREA

"Prior to hunting, hunters will fill out the top portion of the card and deposit it in the iron ranger. The bottom portion must be kept on their person while hunting. When the hunter is finished for the day, the bottom portion should be filled out and returned to an iron ranger. The information collected will be used to help direct management in the future. Additionally, these permits will provide much-needed information regarding game population trends on the area as well as hunter preferences, participation, success, and satisfaction with their hunting experience. " This is BS!!

For 40 years I have hunted every year at least twice a week during upland season at Melvern. Now we are told we have to have a daily permit prior to hunting each day. I have been happy to fill out surveys and answer questions by Conservation officers and volunteers in the past, but to have to go find a box and fill out a permit each time is ridiculous. The Melvern wildlife area stretches out over 10 miles on both sides of the lake. I could agree with voluntary surveys but to imply we are getting ticketed for not having this permit is nonsence. The arguement can be made that the permit is "free", well at todays fuel prices it's not because 10 of these permit boxes isn't near enough. Perhaps getting the state employees out in the field more to take surveys would do just as well.

I agree 100%, also hunt public land twice a week although I predator I am all over the place in one day and never in the same spot for more than 30 min and don't have the time for it!

Copy of correspondence on this issue with Melvern Wildlife Area Manager.


Mr. Glenn:


Thanks again, for the response and I would be interested in the field day. Just my opinion but I believe the public is more receptive to volunteering information than being coerced under threat of prosecution for not having a daily permit. I would think a seasonal, monthly, or weekly permit with survey could do just as well, or possibly enticing participants by offering a chance at a small reward by drawing such as a years subscription to the Kansas Wildlife Magazine, guided hunt, or hunting gear. I appreciate what you are trying to accomplish and the job you are doing. I have noticed many improvements over the years at Melvern with food plots, wetlands etc. I just don't agree with this particular process.




From: "Glenn, James" [email protected]

Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 10:55 AM
Subject: Re: Melvern Daily Permits






At this time it would honestly be difficult for me to put an end date on the survey but I think it is safe to say I foresee it staying in place for at least the next 10 years and likely much longer than that. The information gathered from this survey will be used to develop trends in wildlife harvest and hunter use/participation. As with any trend data, it will take a minimum of 3-5 years to even establish a trend and the information collected will allow those trends to become more accurate and helpful to management the longer they are in place.


Data from the permits will be entered throughout the season and I will be provided with a summary of that data at seasons end. I would gladly share that information with anyone that is interested in viewing it and I will put together a summary report once I have everything back. I would anticipate that information would be available in the spring.


There is a 5 year management plan in place for Melvern Wildlife Area (as with all areas) that I re-wrote upon assuming the manager's position this past winter. I also develop annual work plans based upon past year's accomplishments and new management priorities that may come up during the span of the 5 year plan. If you would like to have a look at these items I would encourage you to come by the office and I would be happy to let you look them over and discuss your concerns/thoughts.


I hope you will find that I do value input from the hunters that use the area, particularly those that hunt it often, because you are the reason the wildlife area is here. Any actions I take on the area are to maximize the potential of the area for the hunters and the wildlife. We will be having a field day this fall that I would encourage you to attend where we will discuss and view some of the management that has taken place on the area recently and plans for the future. Once we have a date set I will forward you that information.


Thank you again for your input.


J.R. Glenn


:

Mr. Glenn:

Thank you for the response. I have several questions concerning this new daily permit requirement.

1. If the purpose is information gathering only then what is the end date for this survey/permit and can we expect a written report at the end of the year?

2. What management plan do you have in place to illustrate the need for this decision?

Sincerely:




From: "Glenn, James" <[email protected]>

Sent: Monday, August 13, 2012 2:00 PM
Subject: Melvern Daily Permits



Dear Sir/Madam,


I am writing in response to your email regarding the implementation of a daily permit system at Melvern Wildlife Area. I certainly understand your frustration in having to complete a daily permit to hunt, particularly for someone that goes as frequently as yourself. The decision to implement this program was not easy but I feel as the manager it was a necessity given the diversity of the habitat, wildlife, and the hunters that utilize the area.


The information we gather from these permits will allow Melvern Wildlife Area staff to better understand hunter demand, success, and satisfaction and more importantly how the area wildlife populations respond to hunter pressure and habitat management. Currently, I have no information regarding wildlife populations on the area and have to rely on subjective observations made during daily activities or while hunting the area myself. The information collected through these daily permits will allow me the ability to determine what management activities should be a priority for both the area wildlife and to meet the demands of constituents such as yourself.


Iron rangers will be placed in 10 locations across Melvern Wildlife Area and will provide reasonable access from most locations on the area. Permits are not required if you are hunting on land managed by the Melvern Lake Corps of Engineers or Eisenhower State Park. Permits are only required on the portion of the area west of Eisenhower SP on the north and west of Indian Hills road on the south. Maps illustrating the locations of iron rangers were placed on area kiosks today and will be posted on the website prior to the beginning of the hunting season.


Thank you for your interest in the Melvern Wildlife Area. If I can answer any more questions or if you have any additional concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me or stop by the area office in Reading. I understood prior to making the decision to use daily permits that some would be opposed to the program. However, I believe it is something that is necessary to reach the full potential of the area and provide a quality experience to our constituents.


Sincerely,







--

J.R. Glenn
Melvern Wildlife Area Manager

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, & Tourism
(620)-699-3372 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (620)-699-3372 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

I understand your issue. I am kinda the same way. I like to go out once in a while and hunt prairie chickens, and starting this year if you hunt prairie chickens you will have to purchase a $2.50 permit so they can conduct a survey, so they can better manage the resource. The way I understand Kansas is supposed to have the best population of Greater Prairie chickens in the US how about they just keep managing them to have the best population and habitat possible? I don't know if you remember but some time in the last 5-10 years they were talking about having permits for upland game birds and small game and everything else, and it didnt pass but this seems like a step in that direction.

KDWPT LINK
Kansas Prairie Chicken Permit

I've filled them out a few times hunting around Tuttle. It's not too bad. The iron rangers were set up near the parking areas. I think you pretty much just write down your name and tag # at the beginning, and fill in what you bagged when you are finished. I agree, the survey would be inconvenient if you hunted daily, but hopefully in the end it will result in better management of the areas. I think you only need one survey per day, even if you skip around all over the wildlife area. As in, you could drop off half of your survey in one iron ranger, and drop off the other half in whatever one is closest to you when you finish hunting. Don't quote me on that, but I think that was how it worked if I remember correctly...:dono

About the small game permits... I just hope that IF they start selling stamps for pheasants and quail that small game will start getting more attention and management $$$ statewide. Deer and turkeys seem to get all the attention and management focus since that is where the $$$ is currently generated. I'm not advocating special stamps, just saying...