Big-city hunting program helps reduce overpopulation of deer – KansasCity.com

When Joe Cascone started deer hunting, he thought nothing of driving an hour or two to get out of Kansas City.

Today, he stays in big city when he wants to hunt.

Through a program managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation, he bow hunts an island of timber within the city limits, not far from the traffic, subdivisions and activity of urban life.

“I used to be one of those hunters who thought you had to get way out of the city to have a good chance at a deer,” said Cascone, 41, of Kansas City. “I grew up in the inner city, and we never used to see deer.

“But now we see them all the time in greenways and little pockets of timber. It doesn’t take much to hold them.

“I’ve taken nice bucks within 20 minutes of my house, hunting with my bow. It’s unbelievable.”

Cascone is part of a carefully monitored program devised by the city and the Missouri Department of Conservation.

In response to growing deer populations in the city and increased deer-vehicle accidents, the City Council in 2003 passed an ordinance allowing bow hunting in the city under the program.

Private land must be at least five acres to qualify and it must be isolated from houses, roads, and other structures for safety purposes.

Landowners submit requests to the Missouri Department of Conservation, which then has wildlife biologists inspect the property to make sure it meets requirements.

Safety is a priority, and so far there have been no problems reported, said Joe DeBold, urban wildlife biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation. And the hunters who participate? Well, they’ve found a hunting paradise right here in the big city.  Click link below for full story!

via Big-city hunting program helps reduce overpopulation of deer – KansasCity.com.

Kentucky Afield Outdoors – Hunting Season Preview

Jul 21, 2011

 

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The first fall hunting season in Kentucky opens in less than a month. Here are some highlights of what’s to come:

The 2011-2012 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide is being printed and will be mailed to license vendors statewide next week.

The 66-page guide is free, and details the season dates, bag limits and regulations for deer, elk, bear, turkey, small game and furbearers.

There’s also information on licensing, youth hunting, hunter education requirements and quota hunts. This year, hunters may apply online for the special hunts for deer, pheasant and other upland bird hunts on state wildlife management areas.

Hunters and trappers can also find out about public lands and read a summary of regulations for each area.

Some items in the 2011-2012 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide include regulations for the new Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area. You can also see the changes to the elk seasons and an earlier opening day for bear season.

You can read a printable version of the 2011-12 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide online at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources website at fw.ky.gov.

Kentucky’s squirrel season kicks off the calendar of fall hunting seasons on Aug. 20, and the outlook is excellent.

“Last fall we had a really good mast (nut) crop, particularly the red and white oak groups, with the hickories close behind,” said Ben Robinson, small game biologist for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “There was abundant food and females were in good condition going into breeding. Usually that equates to more young being produced.”

The first of two statewide fall squirrel seasons continues through Nov. 11. The season opens again Nov. 14 and runs through Feb. 29, 2012.

The September Canada goose season increased from nine to 15 days for the 2011 season. This season opens Sept. 1 and closes Sept. 15. Fifteen days are the most allowed within Federal season framework.

In another change for early migratory bird hunting for 2011, the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission modified the American woodcock season by moving it later in the year during the peak of the bird’s migration. The American woodcock season opens Nov. 1 and closes Dec. 15. The season opened in mid-October last year.

Kentucky dove hunters will enjoy expanded opportunities this season. Well over 50 public dove fields located across the state give dove hunters productive places to go. These fields, located on both wildlife management areas and private land, are a significant increase in number from last season. A complete list may be found in the 2011-2012 Kentucky Hunting Guide for Dove, Wood Duck, Teal, Woodcock, Snipe and Crow, available in early August wherever hunting licenses are sold.

Keep these changes in mind as you make preparations for this fall’s hunting seasons. The first hunting season is just a month away.

via Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources – Kentucky Afield Outdoors – Hunting Season Preview.

Kentucky waterfowl season dates and limits | The Courier-Journal

Ducks, coots and mergansers: Statewide Nov.26-29 and Dec. 7-Jan.31. The daily duck limit is six, including no more than four mallards (one hen), three wood ducks, two redheads, one pintail and one black duck. The bag may include two scaup and one canvasback. The daily coot bag is 15. The daily merganser bag is five, including no more than two hooded mergansers. Possession for ducks, coots and mergansers is twice the daily bag.

Canada geese: Nov.23-Jan.31 statewide except in the Northeast zone, where the season is Nov.26-Jan.3 and Jan.19-31. Daily bag is two, possession limit four.

White-fronted geese and brant: Statewide Nov.23-Jan.31. Daily bag limit is two white-fronted geese and two brant. Possession limit four of each.

Snow geese (including Ross’ geese) regular season: Statewide Nov.23-Jan.31. Bag limit 20 per day. No possession limit.

Snow geese (conservation order season): Feb.1-5 and Feb.8-March21 in the Western, Pennyroyal/Coalfield and West-Central zones; Feb.1-March 31 in the Eastern zone. No limit.

Youth water hunt: Feb.6-7 in the Western zone. Regular bag and possession limits apply to all species.

Kentucky license and permit requirements

Resident hunters ages 16-64 must have an annual hunting ($20), combination hunting/fishing ($30) or one-day hunting ($7) license along with a Kentucky waterfowl permit ($15) and a federal migratory bird stamp ($15).

All hunters ages 12-15 need only an annual youth hunting license ($5).

Resident seniors 65 and older and disabled hunters of any age need a Kentucky senior/disabled license ($5) and a federal migratory bird stamp.

Nonresidents 16 and older need an annual ($130), one-day ($10) or five-day ($40) hunting license along with the state waterfowl and federal migratory bird stamps.

State hunting licenses and waterfowl permits are available at all license outlets and at www.fw.ky.gov. The federal migratory bird stamp is available at post offices.

Indiana waterfowl season dates and limits

Ducks, coots and mergansers: Ohio River zone, Nov.28-Jan.24. South zone, Nov.25-Jan.14. The daily duck bag is six, including no more than four mallards (two hens), three wood ducks, two redheads, two scaup, one black duck, one pintail, one canvasback and one mottled duck.

The coot limit is 15, and the merganser limit is five (two hooded mergansers).

Canada geese: Ohio River zone, open through Jan.31. South zone: Nov.25-Jan.28. Daily limit combined zones is two geese.

Snow geese, brant and Ross’ geese: Open in all zones through Jan.29. The daily limit is 20 for snow geese and Ross’ geese.

White-fronted geese: Open Jan.31. The daily limit is one.

via Kentucky waterfowl season dates and limits | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal.