Chestle
Well-known member
Not to derail any other thread, I thought I'd open one just for this topic.
I've been out of Kansas for almost a decade. I will be moving back though sometime in 2020. I am looking forward to returning to a state where I do have comparatively easy access to potentially good upland hunting. This is not the case for me at the moment. So, I know my dogs are going to be happier just based on the fact that we will be going afield many more days a year.
That said, I have been surprised at how things have been changing. I'm not that excited about deer hunting, although I have harvested a fair number. The biggest buck was off a public hunting area. Big bodied, antlers beginning to decline. I actually prefer the does for meat; I'm not really a horn hunter.
But...wow...looking at KDPW on deer licenses. Knocking on $550 for a non-res deer tag + general license? Every available non-res tag selling out in 2019? Yeah, I can see where it's a real money maker for Kansas. A Colorado either sex non-res Elk tag is only about $100 more. Having done both, I'd take the Colorado hunt every time. Elk, IMO, > than deer. That's just me though.
Now, thinking about upland/pheasant. I have gladly payed for 30 days of SD pheasant hunting and hope to do so again next year. $300+ for a month of great times. I'm sure there are others that feel that SD is a bargain at $110 for 10 days.
So I'm wondering why Kansas doesn't focus more effort on upland bird hunting. Kansas led the nation in quail harvest and was a close second for pheasant in 2017. Yes, I know..2017 was a really good year. Still, the potential is always there. If Kansas really developed it's upland situation (think NE Berggren plan), why couldn't KS adopt a licensing plan similar SD?
After all...it's all about the Benjamins, right? If upland poured more money into the coffers than deer....
I've been out of Kansas for almost a decade. I will be moving back though sometime in 2020. I am looking forward to returning to a state where I do have comparatively easy access to potentially good upland hunting. This is not the case for me at the moment. So, I know my dogs are going to be happier just based on the fact that we will be going afield many more days a year.
That said, I have been surprised at how things have been changing. I'm not that excited about deer hunting, although I have harvested a fair number. The biggest buck was off a public hunting area. Big bodied, antlers beginning to decline. I actually prefer the does for meat; I'm not really a horn hunter.
But...wow...looking at KDPW on deer licenses. Knocking on $550 for a non-res deer tag + general license? Every available non-res tag selling out in 2019? Yeah, I can see where it's a real money maker for Kansas. A Colorado either sex non-res Elk tag is only about $100 more. Having done both, I'd take the Colorado hunt every time. Elk, IMO, > than deer. That's just me though.
Now, thinking about upland/pheasant. I have gladly payed for 30 days of SD pheasant hunting and hope to do so again next year. $300+ for a month of great times. I'm sure there are others that feel that SD is a bargain at $110 for 10 days.
So I'm wondering why Kansas doesn't focus more effort on upland bird hunting. Kansas led the nation in quail harvest and was a close second for pheasant in 2017. Yes, I know..2017 was a really good year. Still, the potential is always there. If Kansas really developed it's upland situation (think NE Berggren plan), why couldn't KS adopt a licensing plan similar SD?
After all...it's all about the Benjamins, right? If upland poured more money into the coffers than deer....