Driver’s License, Wildlife Checkpoints Planned in Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. -(Ammoland.com)- Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) game wardens, Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) troopers and county sheriff’s office deputies will conduct joint highway checkpoints at various locations on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017.

Upland bird, deer and migratory bird seasons will be underway, and these checkpoints are intended to help enforce state and federal wildlife laws, as well as state driver’s licensing laws.

Depending on the location, KHP troopers or county sheriff’s deputies will operate the first stage of the checkpoints to be sure drivers are properly licensed. If a driver does not have a valid license, appropriate enforcement actions will be taken. Travelers should not expect major delays from this portion of the checkpoints.

Occupants of vehicles in the first check lane will be asked if they are hunters or are transporting wildlife.

Travelers answering yes in either case will be directed to a nearby KDWPT check lane where game wardens will check for required licenses and permits, count the game and gather biological, harvest, and hunter success information. This portion of the checkpoints should also cause minimal delay.

The following locations may be used as weather conditions and staffing allow:

Central Kansas – game wardens and KHP troopers

• US-81 near milepost 161, Ottawa County
• US-56 & K-46 intersection, McPherson County
• K-156 near milepost 165, Ellsworth County
• US-36 & K-14 intersection, Jewell County
• K-156 & US-56 intersection, Pawnee County
• US-281 & K-4 intersection, Barton County

Southeast Kansas – game wardens, KHP troopers, Woodson and Greenwood county sheriff’s deputies

• US-54 rest area near the Greenwood/Woodson county line, Greenwood County
• US-400 rest area near the Greenwood/Butler county line, Greenwood County
• US-75 rest area north of Yates Center, Woodson County

Western Kansas – game wardens and Ford County sheriff’s deputies

• US-50 near milepost 127.5, Ford County
• US-400 near milepost 127.5, Ford County
• US-400 near milepost 139, Ford County
• US-54 near milepost 88, Ford County
• US-283 near milepost 37, Ford County

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism is a cabinet-level agency with a Secretary appointed by the Governor. A seven-member, bipartisan commission, also appointed by the Governor, advises the Secretary and approves regulations governing outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife resources in Kansas. The commission conducts business during regular public sessions.

KDWPT employs approximately 460 full-time employees in five divisions: Executive Services , Administrative Services , Fisheries and Wildlife , Law Enforcement , Parks and Tourism.

Department History:

• 1905 – Fish and game laws were organized under the Kansas Fish and Game Department and implementation of a state law requiring a license to hunt.
• 1911 – The State Fish and Game Department was placed under the supervision of the University of Kansas Board of Regents
• 1925 – The Fish and Game Department was reorganized as the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission with three board members appointed by the Governor.
• 1927 – Commission was reorganized and was given approval to organize a warden service. Fishing licenses required of men 18-70.
• 1939 – Commission’s three-member board was abolished by the legislature and replaced by a six-member bipartisan commission appointed by the Governor
• 1943 – Legislature gives the commission full authority to set seasons and dates
• 1955 – The legislature and Gov. Fred Hall create the State Park and Resources Authority.
• 1960 – First Kansas boating laws enacted
• 1987 – Gov. Mike Hayden signs executive order merging the State Park and Resources Authority and Fish and Game Commission to create the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
• 2011 – Gov. Sam Brownback signs executive order moving the Division of Tourism from the Department of Commerce to the newly renamed Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

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