5^th Central U.S. Falconry Meet

In Wichita, Kansas at the Best Western North

December 28^th thru January 1^st

Hosted by the Great Lakes Falconers Association and Wild Raptor Take Conservancy

 

It’s that time again – time for another Central States Meet!

 

Wichita Kansas was chosen as the Field Meet site due to its proximity to the Flint Hills, which is the largest region of native tallgrass prairie remaining in North America; a roughly 50-mile-wide band of prairie that extends from the Oklahoma border northward nearly to the Nebraska line. It is dominated by ranching (with its attendant cattle ponds where ducks can be found) but is interspersed with agricultural crops which help support prairie chicken and quail populations. To view some marvelous photos of this region, please go to www.sktc.net/~hmb/cowflint/.

Being on the southwestern edge of the Flint Hills, Wichita is not far from good jackrabbit populations to the west of Wichita. To the northwest good pheasant populations can be found and of course, any Field Meet staple, rabbits, can be found in the area as well. Relative to other States, Kansas is number one for prairie chickens, number three for pheasant, and number three for quail.

A few important reasons for picking Kansas for this Field Meet are: its central location; it is open for nonresident trapping (good for ferruginous, prairie falcons and merlins); pro-hunting State; falconry friendly fish & game department; and outstanding game populations. If you wish to trap during your stay, please contact Tonya Urban, Fisheries & Wildlife Falconry Coordinator, at 620-672-5911 or email her at tonyau@wp.state.ks.us.

The end of December is an excellent time to plan a Field Meet since this is typically vacation time for students and a slow time of year for most businesses. Also, falconers who were unable to get their birds going earlier in the season, should be in full swing by this point. In addition, falconers can ring in the New Year together, providing a New Years Eve to remember.

Membership to a falconry club is not necessary. We will have a weathering yard, a raffle, a vendor room, and a guest speaker. There will be no pre-registration; registration will be handled by Bob Herrick in the hotel on the mornings of Wednesday (the 28th), Thursday and Friday from 9:00 until noon. Registration fee will be $15 which includes a Meet print and name badge for access to Meet events.

You can purchase a hunting license on-line by going to www.kdwp.state.ks.us; in addition, this site provides other valuable hunting information. The price is $72 for nonresidents and if you want a waterfowl stamp, add $6.50 (Kansas’s duck season in this region is from Oct. 29^th thru Jan. 1^st; please be aware no pintail or canvasback are allowed to be taken). If you were born after June 1957, you will be required to have completed a hunter’s education course in order to purchase a hunting license.

Keep in mind that Kansas has a Walk-in Hunting Access Program (WIHA) which provides hunting access to private property with over 1 million acres enrolled in the program, providing countless opportunities for us to pursue our favorite game. Landowners receive a modest payment from the State in exchange for allowing public hunting access. These areas are posted with signs designating it as WIHA. A WIHA Atlas is available at hunting stores where hunting licenses are available (we will try to have them available at the registration table). Each page in the Atlas booklet is a county map which designates the enrolled private properties in each county, making it very easy to locate these properties.

If you can donate a raffle item or wish to display your wares in the vendor room, please contact Kevin Suedmeyer: home - 573-642-0184; cell phone - 573-808-4237; email - suedmeyerkr@health.missouri.edu; or send the raffle item to his home - 6164 Timber Hills Ln., Fulton, MO 65251. If you plan to bring it yourself, please notify Kevin so he knows what to expect.

To make reservations at the Meet hotel, please call the Best Western North at 316-832-9387. Room rates are $65 which includes a free buffet breakfast for two; pets are allowed. Individuals will be permitted to make only one reservation, which is to prevent any vacant rooms since it is our hope everyone will be able to stay at the Meet hotel.

 

Hope to see you there!

Bill Murrin

630-262-1002

bmurrin@sbcglobal.net