Kansas has a robust agriculture industry valued in billions of dollars annually. That puts large tracts of grazing land and crop land, as well as buffer zones, in private possession. Hunting on privately owned lands without first obtaining permission from the landowner is considered trespassing. This includes hunting from public roads; the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT) also requires written permission be acquired where signs indicate this or where trees or fence posts have purple paint marking them.
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1. Visibility
Be sure to ask the landowner if there are any active trappers on the land, or if there has been any trapping recently. This is especially important when hunting with dogs; however, a human can just as easily become entangled in a trap or snare. Kansas has a very active trapping culture for furbearers. It is imperative, for personal safety as well as that of hunting companions be they canine or human, to become comfortably familiar with how to release and operate the safety catches on the most widely used trapping and snaring mechanisms.
2. Leave It Like You Found It
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This goes for gates in fences that a hunter may pass through as well as the state of the land and environment. Granted, the sport of hunting is designed to harvest from the wildlife. However, a considerate hunter is one that is attentive to their footprint on the land and minimizes it as much as possible. A considerate hunter is also one who gets invited to return in the future. Most importantly, however, is the fact that a vast majority of private landowners with large tracts of land are involved in agriculture and the livestock industry. If a gate is open, be sure it remains open. If a gate is closed, be sure to secure it again immediately after use. While livestock may not appear in the immediate vicinity, that does not mean they aren't present and have access to the gate.
3. Baiting
KDWPT makes allowances for baiting, for game animals only, on private lands. However, this practice is illegal on state lands or walk-in hunting access (WIHA) property, either during or in preparation for hunting. Be certain to discuss with the landowner any plans to bait in advance of or during hunting, to ensure the parcels they grant access to are not included in the KDWPT's WIHA program.
This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.
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