| KANSAS
VEHICLE PERMITS There is a permit to hunt from a vehicle. As you know, it is illegal to hunt, pursue or attempt to take wildlife from a vehicle unless you have this special permit. A "Hunt From a Vehicle" permit is issued to those individuals that qualify for a handicap vehicle placard. Those with severe visual impairments, those who cannot walk without an orthopedic device, those who must use portable oxygen or have a class III or IV cardiac condition are eligible for this permit. There is an application that must be filled out and signed by a licensed medical practitioner. This disability can be a permanent or temporary. The applications can be picked up at our regional offices or through the mail; the fee is $3.50 and the permits are issued though our regional offices. (you might also want to advise that state law prohibits shooting from or across any public road w/o permission of the adjoining landowner...called unlawful discharge of a firearm; it would be criminal hunting to hunt w/o permission, this would include road ditches; can't shoot from state or federal highways; always check local laws and ordinances; this permit does not allow you to run willy-nilly over hill and dale on public hunting areas KANSAS CROSSBOW PERMITS There is a crossbow permit to hunt big game for permanently disabled hunters who cannot draw a conventional or compound bow. The disability must be certified by a licensed medical person. The applications can be picked up at our regional offices or through the mail; there is no fee and they also are issued through our regional offices. KANSAS DISABILITY ASSISTANCE PERMIT This permit is designed for those who are physically incapable of pulling the trigger or reeling in a fish, i.e. someone else must perform these acts. Examples of this type of disability would be quadriplegics and those who are totally blind. The application is available through our Pratt office and also requires certification by a licensed medical or optical person. There is no fee for this permit. (there is still confusion on this one. You don't need a permit to assist a big game hunter up to ...but NOT including...pulling the trigger. This permit was designed for the severest disabilities where the person is physically unable to hunt/fish safely, not just a bad limp or short of breath thing) KANSAS BIG GAME ASSISTANCE REGULATION We have a regulation that specifically allows others to assist big game hunters, including special privileges for those who are disabled. Regulation allows an individual to assist, without doing the actual shooting, and the disabled permit holder may designate someone to assist in pursuing and dispatching a big game animal wounded by the disabled hunter. There is no permit required, other than a hunting license, for someone to assist a disabled big game hunter in this way. (this is a good one to mention, many who are seeking a disability permit of some kind do not qualify- this one covers their activity- see KAR 115-4-12). HANDICAPPED HUNTING IN KANSAS Anyone with a permanent physical disability that prevents them from hunting safely may apply for a Disability Assistance Permit. The permit allows a designated person to actually harvest game for the permit holder. (This law also applies to fishing.) For more information or applications, contact the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Law Enforcement Division, 512 SE 25th Ave., Pratt, KS 67124, (316) 672-5911. In addition, a number of public areas in the state offer special areas for handicapped access hunting. In some cases, this may mean places where hunters whose handicap prevents them from walking but not from shooting may drive and hunt from their vehicles, if they have the proper permit. In others, it may mean a special waterfowl area. For more information on activities and acreage, contact the numbers listed below.
For more information on handicapped permits, contact the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, 512 SE 25th Ave., Pratt, KS 67124, (316) 672-5911. |