PRATT – During the public hearing portion of its March 28 meeting, the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) Commission voted on several items, to include greater flexibility in hunting equipment and approving 2019-2020 Kansas hunting seasons. However, the first order of business during the public hearing session may have outdoor enthusiasts excited for an entirely different reason.

Commissioners approved staff recommendations to eliminate a $10 fee previously associated with obtaining a duplicate license or permit. Beginning in early May, KDWPT customers who require a replacement license or permit will be able to reprint any license or permit purchased online for free or simply pay a $2.50 fee through a license vendor.

Other items voted on and approved by the Commission include:

• Allowing hunters to use lures, decoys (except live decoys) and calls (to include electronic calls) when hunting rabbits, hares and squirrels

• Designating tumble-upon-impact bullets as legal equipment for hunting big game

• Moving the resident either-species deer and elk permit application deadlines to the second Friday in June, coinciding with the firearm antelope application deadline

Hunting season dates approved at the March 28 meeting are as follows:

ELK

Fort Riley

Muzzleloader – Sep. 1-30, 2019

Archery – Sept. 1-30, 2019

Firearm ­– Oct. 1-31, 2019, Nov. 1-30, 2019, and Dec. 1-31, 2019

Outside of Fort Riley

Muzzleloader – Sep. 1-30, 2019

Archery – Sept. 16-Dec. 31, 2019

Firearm – August 1-31, 2019, Dec. 4-15, 2019, and Jan. 1-March 15, 2020

DEER

Youth and Hunters with Disabilities – Sept. 7-15, 2019

Muzzleloader – Sept. 16-29, 2019

Archery – Sept. 16-Dec. 31, 2019

Pre-rut Whitetail Antlerless-only – Oct. 12-14, 2019

Firearm – Dec. 4-15, 2019

Extended Firearm

Units 6, 8, 9, 10, and 17 – Jan. 1-3, 2020

Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 14, and 16 – Jan. 1-5, 2020

Units 10A, 12, 13, 15, and 19 – Jan. 1-12, 2020

Extended Archery

Units 10A and 19 – Jan. 13-31, 2020

For more information on the Commission, including future meeting details, visit www.ksoutdoors.com.