Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks….not tourism

cheesy

cheesy

Well-known member
Not sure if this was discussed on here or not. I noticed on their Facebook page tourism has been dropped from the name, so I asked why.

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Quote:

Higreat question! An Executive Reorganization Order, which was passed during this year's legislative session, relocated Tourism to the Kansas Department of Commerce. This Executive Reorganization Order became effective on July 1, and since then, we have been in the process of changing our name and branding to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. We will still work with Tourism, they will just be housed under the Department of Commerce going forward. 🙂

End Quote
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I wasn’t really happy when they added tourism to Wildlife and Parks. I think many of us felt it would just drive the spin machine to get more license dollars without focusing on the wildlife. I know there has to be a balance, license dollars drive improvements. But at what cost. Hard to quantify all that.
 
Well said. I am sensitive to the fact that Kansas's primary tourism drive is hunting, but I shudder to think of what the natural outcome of that is, and I think most people who have hunted there a long time and care about wildlife as a resource and hunting as something more important than "sport" have seen how negatively that relationship has impacted Kansas's hunting. While there are a lot of other reasons to enjoy Kansas's outdoors, and I acknowledge how beneficial tourism is for none-extractive enjoyment of outdoor Kansas, and I am keenly aware of how shakey its economy and economic policy is, it seems to me like tourism has been an overall negative for hunting or fishing.
 
cheesy said:
Not sure if this was discussed on here or not. I noticed on their Facebook page tourism has been dropped from the name, so I asked why.

—————————
Quote:

Higreat question! An Executive Reorganization Order, which was passed during this year's legislative session, relocated Tourism to the Kansas Department of Commerce. This Executive Reorganization Order became effective on July 1, and since then, we have been in the process of changing our name and branding to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. We will still work with Tourism, they will just be housed under the Department of Commerce going forward. 🙂

End Quote
———————-
I wasn’t really happy when they added tourism to Wildlife and Parks. I think many of us felt it would just drive the spin machine to get more license dollars without focusing on the wildlife. I know there has to be a balance, license dollars drive improvements. But at what cost. Hard to quantify all that.
Click to expand...

makes sense to me
 
I’m glad it’s been removed! With tourism under the same umbrella, I feel that the priority and focus of the department would undoubtly be compromised. Not that it can’t happen but with that kind of “branding” - it would provide more flexibility to other priorities and things to focus on.
 
s.davis said:
Well said. I am sensitive to the fact that Kansas's primary tourism drive is hunting, but I shudder to think of what the natural outcome of that is, and I think most people who have hunted there a long time and care about wildlife as a resource and hunting as something more important than "sport" have seen how negatively that relationship has impacted Kansas's hunting. While there are a lot of other reasons to enjoy Kansas's outdoors, and I acknowledge how beneficial tourism is for none-extractive enjoyment of outdoor Kansas, and I am keenly aware of how shakey its economy and economic policy is, it seems to me like tourism has been an overall negative for hunting or fishing.
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There was a time when I thought Kansas had the best game and fish management practices in the U.S. They used to put out a very useful magazine called Kansas Fish and Game. Back in the early 70's through early 80's I loved to read that magazine. Then they would put out a yearly report like this one https://kgi.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16884coll14/id/84/. They were transparent and governed with conservation in mind. This was all before commercialization of Kansas wildlife. Now they try and hide all of the data and push through agenda's secretly from the public. They let outsiders like Ten Point Crossbows dictate game regulations and squeeze through special regulations to line the pockets of special interest. They give in to Ken Corbet and his cronies. Whether the name has a "T" on it or not, nothing will change now.
 
In Colorado they added "Parks" to the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Many of us felt it was an attempt by the legislature to tap hunting/fishing license revenue for "Parks". Though it didn't turn out as bad as it could have, it still causes an accounting nightmare, which is compounded when you add in federal wildlife funding granted to States. I'm a retired wildlife biologist and it has always concerned me when the politicians start adding new entities (parks, tourism, etc.) to wildlife management agencies. It changes the focus of the agency and challenges its credibility. Hopefully KDWP will be able to focus more on wildlife management and not on "tourism". The tourism will take care of itself, at least in the context of upland and big game in Kansas.
 
Powderhorn Jim said:
In Colorado they added "Parks" to the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Many of us felt it was an attempt by the legislature to tap hunting/fishing license revenue for "Parks". Though it didn't turn out as bad as it could have, it still causes an accounting nightmare, which is compounded when you add in federal wildlife funding granted to States. I'm a retired wildlife biologist and it has always concerned me when the politicians start adding new entities (parks, tourism, etc.) to wildlife management agencies. It changes the focus of the agency and challenges its credibility. Hopefully KDWP will be able to focus more on wildlife management and not on "tourism". The tourism will take care of itself, at least in the context of upland and big game in Kansas.
Click to expand...
They can't unfortunately - the legislature and ag interests drive the bus - as WestKS said - about 1995 is when it started -- Mike Hayden started the downhill slide - and every governor/Sec of KDWP since has helped dig the hole further.

We've beaten the horse quite a bit - but a focus on deer and deer only are the path the KDWP went down years ago and continue to go down - current ag practices dont help uplands much either.

Some of us may live to see it - but when the Ogallala is mostly depleted we will see a wholesale change in most of western KS - it's started in Texas, New Mexico and some parts of KS already - 20-30 years from now after the damage is done it will be talked about and studied. We'll continue to see changes out that way. The eastern part of the state will continue to become a forest.
 
Powderhorn Jim said:
In Colorado they added "Parks" to the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Many of us felt it was an attempt by the legislature to tap hunting/fishing license revenue for "Parks". Though it didn't turn out as bad as it could have, it still causes an accounting nightmare, which is compounded when you add in federal wildlife funding granted to States. I'm a retired wildlife biologist and it has always concerned me when the politicians start adding new entities (parks, tourism, etc.) to wildlife management agencies. It changes the focus of the agency and challenges its credibility. Hopefully KDWP will be able to focus more on wildlife management and not on "tourism". The tourism will take care of itself, at least in the context of upland and big game in Kansas.
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Kansas quit focusing on wildlife management long before a "T" was added to their abbreviation. The shift from conservation to commercialism was in place years ago, the "T" was a new thing that was short lived. This news in a nothing burger!
 
KsHusker said:
They can't unfortunately - the legislature and ag interests drive the bus - as WestKS said - about 1995 is when it started -- Mike Hayden started the downhill slide - and every governor/Sec of KDWP since has helped dig the hole further.

We've beaten the horse quite a bit - but a focus on deer and deer only are the path the KDWP went down years ago and continue to go down - current ag practices dont help uplands much either.

Some of us may live to see it - but when the Ogallala is mostly depleted we will see a wholesale change in most of western KS - it's started in Texas, New Mexico and some parts of KS already - 20-30 years from now after the damage is done it will be talked about and studied. We'll continue to see changes out that way. The eastern part of the state will continue to become a forest.
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duwaterlawreview.com

Crisis on the High Plains: The Loss of America’s Largest Aquifer – the Ogallala | University of Denver Water Law Review at the Sturm College of Law

The grain-growing region in the High Plains of America—known as America’s breadbasket—relies entirely on the Ogallala Aquifer. But long term unsustainable use of the aquifer is forcing states in the region to face the prospect of a regional economic disaster. As the High Plains states reach the...
duwaterlawreview.com duwaterlawreview.com
 
westksbowhunter said:
duwaterlawreview.com

Crisis on the High Plains: The Loss of America’s Largest Aquifer – the Ogallala | University of Denver Water Law Review at the Sturm College of Law

The grain-growing region in the High Plains of America—known as America’s breadbasket—relies entirely on the Ogallala Aquifer. But long term unsustainable use of the aquifer is forcing states in the region to face the prospect of a regional economic disaster. As the High Plains states reach the...
duwaterlawreview.com duwaterlawreview.com
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure most have the attitude they'll just pump that sucker till it's dry. Living in Garden/Holcomb for a couple years I could never figure it out. Darn things ran 24/7 as far as you could see.
 
westksbowhunter said:
duwaterlawreview.com

Crisis on the High Plains: The Loss of America’s Largest Aquifer – the Ogallala | University of Denver Water Law Review at the Sturm College of Law

The grain-growing region in the High Plains of America—known as America’s breadbasket—relies entirely on the Ogallala Aquifer. But long term unsustainable use of the aquifer is forcing states in the region to face the prospect of a regional economic disaster. As the High Plains states reach the...
duwaterlawreview.com duwaterlawreview.com
Click to expand...
Interesting read, especially the contrast between how Nebraska and Kansas is approaching the issue with predictable results...
 
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