Kansas Notes, June 2015, Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
HATCHERIES ESTABLISH INTENSIVE LARVAL WALLEYE PROJECT
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Meade and Milford fish hatcheries
have established walleye tank larvaculture projects to overcome the problem of limited pond
space. The tank larvaculture technique was developed by Iowa fisheries biologists, and Kansas
fish culturists are optimistic that it can help raise more fingerling-sized walleye.
For the past 10 years, demand for walleye fingerlings by fish management biologists has
been greater than the fish culture section’s ability to produce those fish. Pond space at the state’s
four fish hatcheries is the primary limiting factor.
The tank larvaculture project involves raising 10,000 walleye fry in a 75-gallon tank with
some key elements in place. Light in the room is strictly controlled and the water is maintained at
an ideal temperature and turbidity level. A fine clay mixture is injected into the water because in
clear water, walleye fry tend to “cling” to tank walls. The turbidity prevents this and keeps the
fry focused on feeding. Special food is automatically dropped in every five minutes. Another
interesting element of this set-up involves spraying a fine mist of water on the surface of the tank.
Without that, oil from the food creates a slick on the surface and prevents the fry from gulping
air to inflate their airsacs.
If the project works as planned, walleye fry will be grown to fingerling size in a tank, rather than
a one-half-acre pond. This should mean more fingerling walleye produced, higher survival of
stocked fish and better fishing for walleye down the road.
KANSAS INITIATES ELECTRONIC HUNT PERMITS
Last September, Kansas hunters at select public wildlife areas were asked to get their free
daily hunt permits electronically. Kansas hunters are accustomed to obtaining free paper daily
hunting permits at parking lot kiosks, then returning those permits at the conclusion of their hunt.
Information gathered helps area managers learn more about hunting pressure, harvests and
hunter preference, and it also helps managers maximize hunting opportunities on limited public
lands.
The new electronic daily hunt permit system, hosted by iSportsman, was implemented at
15 wildlife areas last fall and will be expanded to additional areas in the future. Hunters are
asked to set up an iSportsman account and then can check in and out of specific wildlife areas for
daily hunts using a landline, cell phone, smart phone or personal computer.
PVC FISH STRUCTURES
This spring, Kansas fisheries staff launched a new program to increase the amount of
fish-attracting structures in Kansas lakes. New specially-designed PVC structures are in the
shape of a cubes three feet tall, four feet wide, and four feet deep are being placed in lakes
statewide. Cost-effective, easy to place and proven in other states, the new structures not only
last more than three times longer than natural brush piles, but they also have been shown to hold
as many fish as the natural counterpart without affecting water quality. Anglers can expect to see
the implementation of these structures as soon as early February.
Known as “Georgia Cubes,” the structures were originally designed by the Georgia
Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Stacking more than 50 feet of corrugated pipe on the
PVC frame, Georgia DNR staff have been able to create optimum surface area to attract fish
while still maintaining an open design. They have also found that the structures quickly
accumulate periphyton, a complex mix of algae, fungi, and bacteria, which further attracts
insects and fish – an ideal result for both fisheries staff and anglers.
“Our goal is to produce 150-300 of these PVC cubes each year,” said Bryan Sowards,
KDWPT fisheries programs specialist. “For 2015, structures will go in Milford, Wilson,
Melvern, El Dorado, and Cedar Bluff, as well as a variety of other community and state fishing.”
Sowards added the structures will immediately attract fish for angler harvest, but the overall goal
is to accumulate enough structures to improve fish populations.
WALLEYE TAGGED FOR STUDY
Walleye were tagged this spring at Milford Reservoir in northeast Kansas and tags
returned by anglers will provide fisheries biologists with valuable information needed to manage
the fishery. Biologists tagged 500 walleye with numbered, blue plastic tags, and anglers who
catch a tagged fish and intend to keep it are asked to return the tag along with a completed tag
reporting card.
Because the success of this study depends on angler participation, those who return a tag
will receive a limited-edition Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT)
“Walleye Research Team” hat. Awards will be mailed to anglers after staff receive the
completed tag reporting card.
Returned tags will provide staff with information about a variety of population
characteristics and trends in angling exploitation. The information obtained will also be used to
guide walleye management at other Kansas reservoirs.
KANSAS BEGINS PROCESS TO MODIFY DUCK HUNTING ZONES
Kansas’ Low Plains Duck Zone (the eastern two-thirds of the stat) has been split into
three zones since 2011. With the five-year period ending after the 2015 seasons, department staff
began the process of seeking public input on the current zone boundaries. Public discussions
were initiated at KWPT Commission meetings this spring, and seven public meetings were held
around the state in May. The Southeast Duck Zone, which is the most recent addition, has been
somewhat controversial in recent years.
HACH ENHANCED HUNTING ACCESS
The Hunting Access and Conservation Habitat (HACH) program, a sub-program of the
P-R funded Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) program, was initiated in Kansas to continue the
previous successes of the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive (VPA-HIP) program.
Because of the delayed Farm Bill and lack of continued funding for VPA-HIP, last year the
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) requested and received a
supplemental appropriation of $2.1 million to generate additional long-term public hunting
access to private properties with quality wildlife habitat.
The primary focus for HACH enrollment was on properties with new Conservation
Reserve Program (CRP) contracts. This included both general (whole field) and continuous
(CCRP/buffers) sign-up conservation practices. Participating landowners received compensation
in the form of a one-time enrollment incentive payment for the acres enrolled in CRP, and
payment for the hunting access lease on the whole property for the duration of the CRP contract.
This approach allowed leverage for additional federal dollars (CRP/CCRP payments),
maximized the benefits of P-R funds for access and wildlife habitat, and ensured that appropriate
wildlife habitat remained on the access properties for the duration of the lease agreement.
Due to the lack of a CRP sign-up at the time, KDWPT accepted enrollment on properties
with existing CRP contracts. While this slightly decreased the average lease length (properties
were only enrolled for the remainder of the CRP contract term), it increased the total number of
acres/properties enrolled.
The program proved so successful that $280,000 in leases were funded above and beyond
the initial supplemental appropriation. All totalled, 68,620 acres of private land were added for
public hunting access across the state. Two hundred forty-four leases were signed with willing
Kansas landowners, ranging in length from three to 15 years, with an average lease length of
about eight years.
TENTH MOUNTAIN LION VERIFIED IN KANSAS
A deer hunter from Labette County (southeast Kansas) got a surprise last fall when he
checked his trail camera he had set up for deer. He found a single image of a mountain lion
walking away, down the trail, the characteristic long tail prominently displayed. KDWPT staff
visited the site and verified the photo’s authenticity. This is the tenth mountain lion verified by
KDWPT since 2007, but the first in almost two years.
The first confirmed mountain lion was killed in 2007 by an individual in Barber County
(southcentral Kansas). Since then, most of the sightings have been confirmed with photographs
taken by remote, motion-triggered cameras commonly used by deer hunters to keep track of deer
movement near their stands.
In each instance, KDWPT staff traveled to the sites where photos were taken to validate
the photographs. Staff investigates sightings whenever evidence, such as tracks, a cached kill or
a photograph exists. Biologists assume most sightings are of transient young males, coming from
established populations in nearby states.
ZEBRA MUSSELS CONFIRMED AT POMONA RESERVOIR
KDWPT has confirmed the presence of invasive zebra mussels in Pomona Reservoir in
Osage County. A small adult group was discovered on a single rock by U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) staff on September 23, 2014 in Management Park Cove near the south end
of the dam. KDWPT staff found more zebra mussels the next day and sampled other parts of the
lake to determine if the population had spread. Twenty-three Kansas lakes now have confirmed
zebra mussel populations. Other reservoirs in northeast Kansas with zebra mussel infestations
include Milford, Perry, John Redmond, Clinton and Melvern.
Pomona Reservoir covers approximately 4,000 acres and is located 24 miles south of
Topeka. It is managed by the USACE, and KDWPT manages the fishery. The lake, completed in
1963, is home to Pomona State Park and several USACE parks. It is a popular destination for
fishing, camping, swimming, hiking, and a variety of boating and other water-related
activities.
MANAGED DOVE FIELDS BIG HIT
Over the past five years, Kansas wildlife area managers have been refining managed dove
fields, manipulating planted sunflowers and wheat to attract doves. And these fields have been
very popular with doves and dove hunters, but most area managers will hold at least one field
aside for youth hunting during the first few days of the season. The impact on recruiting young
hunters cannot be overlooked. During the first two days of the 2014 dove season, 2,374 young
hunters harvested 17,321 doves, an average of more than seven doves per hunter! There wasn’t a
count on the number of shells fired, but it’s safe to say that shell companies were not
disappointed.
TEAL SEASON HARVEST RECORD
The Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area in central Kansas is part of the largest inland marsh
in North America and a critical stopover point for many migratory birds. It is also known to
waterfowl hunters across the country. In 2013, the area had been dry for two years, but as the
drought broke, rains filled the area that July and August. What followed was one of the best early
teal seasons on record when 1,499 hunters harvested 5,744 teal. However, that mark was bettered
in 2014 when 2,510 hunters killed 10,856 teal during the 16-day September season.
Coincidentally, 2013 was the year the teal daily bag limit was raised from 4 to 6.
IMPERILED AQUATIC SPECIES PROPAGATION PROGRAM
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s Farlington Hatchery staff are
adding an Imperiled Aquatic Species Propagation facility. When completed, the facility will
allow staff to propagate a variety of rare, native species of mussels, as well as rare fish species to
be released into waters within their native ranges.
The Farlington Hatchery, located in Crawford County in southeast Kansas, currently
produces channel catfish, blue catfish, largemouth bass, redear sunfish, hybrid sunfish, striped
bass, striped bass/white bass hybrids, walleye, sauger, and saugeye for stocking into public
waters.
ANGLER INSTRUCTORS CERTIFIED
In cooperation with Fishing’s Future, the department has certified 230 instructors,
including nearly 100 Kansas school teachers, in the last six months. This year, angler education
instructors and KDWPT employees held 135 events ranging from fishing derbies and casting
events, to community outreach and aquatic education in the schools programs. Certified
instructors have donated 1,100 hours of their time to this successful program which has reached
nearly 60,000 participants and counting. These volunteer hours translate not only to a public
awareness and appreciation of natural resources, but to money reimbursed back to Kansas for
aquatic education supplies (fishing poles, lures, fish trading cards, etc.) and towards enhancing
the state's fisheries' resources.
Certified instructors learn valuable information regarding working with children, sample
curriculums, and tips for preparing a class or clinic. Other subjects covered in the four-hour class
include current fishing regulations, species identification, fishing ethics, equipment, knot-tying,
casting, fish habitat, aquatic nuisance species, and conservation practices.