WIHA receives Federal Grant to expand.

Don't get me wrong, the fact that this funding has come in is great and is going to one of the best programs in the country, but the NRA article makes this sound more glorious than it appears to be as stated by the KDWPT. This is a "renewal" of a prior grant, not "new" or additional money as implied by the NRA article. I tried to look at what the prior grant was, but couldn't find out with some cursory research. I hope that it is more than previously provided, especially because it can go toward CRP funding.

See Jake George's comment in: http://ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/News/Weekly-News/8-20-15/KDWPT-Receives-2.7-Million-Grant-For-Public-Access-on-Private-Lands

Regardless, it's nice to know that the WIHA Program will continue to thrive.
 
This is a Renewal of a previous VPA grant which is outside the traditional WIHA program
i.e. additional money for WIHA that requires habitat improvements to be eliglibe

First round was 3 years ago and added >80,000 acres almst all new tracts included CRP
 
So Kansas IS taking federal money. :eek:
 
Would LOVE to see this money go to improving the upland bird habitat on existing WIHA lands and not to purchase additional lands. No more harvested wheat fields needed.
 
As a consummate fire bug and knowing the benefits for reproduction and recruitment, I would like to see the FSA be more progressive with maintenance requirements on CRP. Setting back succession on established CRP tracts could increase brood production on those acres by multiples!
 
Drifter,

I agree. Last January I was scouting for hunt areas for two hunters I would be hosting. I drove hundreds of miles scouting WHIA's searching for some good areas to hunt. What I found was thousands and thousands of acres of absolutely great CRP grass in the WHIA's. What I did not see in most cases was anything but grass. What could be great brooding and rearing areas they were not. The areas have so much potential, but were not performing.

Some rotational prescribed burns and interseeding of forbs and legumes would make these great areas for the birds. Even simple disking of the terrace channels would yield a host of annuals that would benefit the birds. IMHO, disk every terrace channel, then burn every third terrace would do wonders for the birds.

The potential is huge, but in reality it isn't there at the moment.
 
You're so right Maynard! Far too many of the CRP acres function mainly as winter cover and are too thick and thatchy to function as nesting habitat, and lacking in forbs to the point they won't function as brood habitat. Simple disturbance with fire, disk, or even chemical would remedy the forb component and structure problems. It's just good management and good business. Too much rest leads to problems with woody invaders and noxious weeds. Keeping the stand vigorous results in the wildlife community being vigorous as well. The difference in the fall population could be several fold! All that from doing what should have been done all along! As hunters, we should all be willing to help out with that kind of management!
 
I agree about the disturbance and as hunters willing to help out with it , I wonder if there was a habitat stamp like in most states . And the local township , PF chapter could be reimbursed for their cost . Develop Burn teams / burn and disturbance training .
 
There are several burn cooperatives in the state founded by landowners wanting to get together and help each other burn. These might be a window for hunters to offer their time to aid in this pursuit. You can never have enough good help on a burn.
 
Just like farming, a good fall harvest starts well before the opening day of season.

We hunters can make a difference by teaming with groups like PF/QF, NWTF, DU local sportsmans clubs, or local farmers/landowners. PF/QF, NWTF, DU, KDWPT and Pass It On, Outdoors Mentors are involved in getting youth involved in hunting, fishing, shooting and conservation. Please do what you can to help. Thanks.
 
All good ideas, but how about some concrete positive steps to implement them? As a non-resident I am not able to do any on-the-ground work, but I would suggest that all hunters, or at least non-residents, should pay a fee to use WIHA's. Particularly in view of the low Kansas non-resident bird license fee, a $25 permit to us WIHA's would be reasonable. The Kansas WIHA is a great program and deserves to be protected and expanded.
 
Why not get local volunteer firefighting departments involved with these burns as well? They can get training on how to fight a wildfire while in a controlled setting while the burn takes place.
 
marsingbob said:
All good ideas, but how about some concrete positive steps to implement them? As a non-resident I am not able to do any on-the-ground work, but I would suggest that all hunters, or at least non-residents, should pay a fee to use WIHA's. Particularly in view of the low Kansas non-resident bird license fee, a $25 permit to us WIHA's would be reasonable. The Kansas WIHA is a great program and deserves to be protected and expanded.
Click to expand...

Troy I like what bob said above , you think the Governor/ head of Kdwpt would consider additional fees for out of state hunters ?
 
Montana has an access fee you have to pay every year as a NR. I do that for 10 days of hunting and hopefully a few days of fishing - I'd do it in KS as well. But, it would have to go directly to the WIHA coffers before I would support it. I wouldn't want it go to the general fund.
 
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