Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission
The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the Governor and Secretary in formulating policies and plans of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. The commission facilitates public hearings on rules and regulations proposed by the Secretary, ultimately voting to approve, modify, or reject those proposed rules and regulations. The Commission is a seven-member, bi-partisan board with four members appointed by the Governor, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one appointed by the President of the Senate, and one appointed by the Attorney General. The Commission is required by state law to preserve the right to hunt, fish, and trap wildlife, which is established in section 21 of the the Kansas Constitution's Bill of Rights.
All Commission meetings are accessible and open to the public, and each meeting includes two opportunities for public comment. No sign-up is needed, simply approach the microphone when invited. You can also submit public comment without attending Commission meeting by using this form.
See the links below to view a list of upcoming meetings dates or contact Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commissioners so your voice can be heard.
Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commissioners
Chair
Whitney Damron
Topeka, KS
785-224-6666 | Email Whitney
Term expires June 30, 2028
Commissioners
Representative Will Carpenter
El Dorado, KS
316-541-2932 | Email Will
Term expires June 30, 2026
Emerick Cross
Kansas City, KS
913-424-6767 | Email Emerick
Term expires June 30, 2027
Warren Gfeller
Russel, KS
913-221-1173 | Email Warren
Term expires June 30, 2027
Delia Lister
Pittsburg, KS
620-235-4805 | Email Delia
Term expires June 30, 2026
Keith Mark
Basehor, KS
816-803-2893 | Email Keith
Term expires June 30, 2026
Bruce Riedl
Ellinwood, KS
620-566-7263 | Email Bruce
Term expires June 30, 2026
You can email all Commissioners at once by using THIS FORM.
Upcoming Meeting Information
The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commissions holds public meetings several times a year, at locations across the state. Click the links for details about upcoming meetings.
How to Attend Commission Meetings Virtually
Attendees can participate in-person or virtually.
Zoom
- Register in Zoom with your first and last name and email address.
- Once registered, you will be provided a link to join the meeting.
- Visitors will be muted upon entering the meeting. To comment or ask a question, use the Raise Hand feature or type your question in the chat.
Call In
- Call: 1-877-853-5257
- When a meeting ID is requested, enter 814 3800 8987#
- When a participant ID is requested, enter: #
Live Video/Audio Stream
You can watch a live video/audio stream of the meeting without registering at https://ksoutdoors.com/commission-meeting.
Watch Meetings Here
Date: January 8, 2026
Time: 12:00 p.m. CST
Location: Council Grove, KS - The Territory Ballroom, 119 W Main St, Council Grove, KS 66846 - Instructions to participate in virtual meeting
View the Commission meeting on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNdtR1v4ASQ
What do you think about our video broadcast effort? Use the KDWP Contact Form to send us your thoughts.
Commission Big Game Permits
Kansas-based non-profit organizations that actively promote wildlife conservation and the hunting and fishing heritage are eligible to participate in KDWP's Commission Big Game Permit program. Through this program, eligible nonprofits have a chance to be drawn for one of seven special big game permits. These permits can then be sold by the organization to raise money for conservation projects.
State law (K.S.A. 32-970) allows the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to issue up to seven Commission Big Game Permits each year. Of the seven Commission Big Game Permits, one may be an elk permit, one may be an antelope permit, and the rest are deer permits (or, all seven can be deer permits). Only nonprofits that actively support wildlife conservation and the hunting and fishing heritage can participate. Each organization can receive only one permit, but different chapters of the same organization may be drawn separately. Groups that oppose hunting and fishing are not eligible.
Organizations that receive a permit then market it to the public to to raise as much funding as possible for conservation work. These organization must pay KDWP the standard price for the highest-value version of that permit type. Kansas Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry must return at least 15% of the funds they keep to KDWP for jointly approved projects. All other organizations must return at least 85% for jointly approved projects. Any remaining funds may be used by the organization as they choose.
After a winning organization pays for its permit, KDWP will issue a voucher showing the type of permit awarded. The final recipient of the permit must submit this voucher to KDWP’s Licensing Section to receive the actual permit in their name. Once issued, the permit cannot be transferred to anyone else. State regulation 115-4-11(b)(3) also states that a person who receives a commission deer permit may not hold more than one regular antlered deer permit in addition to the commission permit. All Commission Big Game Permits must follow the season dates, equipment rules, sex restrictions, and hunt unit boundaries printed on the permit.
2026 Winners of the Commission Big Game Permit
Please contact the winning organizations directly to find out how you can bid on a permit.
Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors, Inc.
CONTACT: Michael Christensen, mchristensen@outdoormentors.org, 316-253-7221
National Wildlife Turkey Federation—Flint Hills Gobblers
CONTACT: Nate Watson, nwatson@nwtf.net, 505-401-6474
Pheasants Forever - KS Pioneer Chapter (PF 120)
CONTACT: Robert Hix, bhix@pheasantsforever.org, 303-588-1542
Pheasants Forever - Longspur Chapter (PF 423)
CONTACT: Robert Hix, bhix@pheasantsforever.org, 303-588-1542
Pheasants Forever - McPherson Area Chapter (PF 510)
CONTACT: Robert Hix, bhix@pheasantsforever.org, 303-588-1542
Pheasants Forever - Ninnescah Chapter (PF 990)
CONTACT: Robert Hix, bhix@pheasantsforever.org, 303-588-1542
Pheasants Forever - Post Rock Ringnecks Chapter (PF 635)
CONTACT: Robert Hix, bhix@pheasantsforever.org, 303-588-1542
Proposed Regulations Pending Commission Vote
To be voted on during the January 8, 2026 Commission Meeting.
To be voted on during the January 8, 2026 Commission Meeting.
To be voted on during the January 8, 2026 Commission Meeting.
To be voted on during the January 8, 2026 Commission Meeting.
Archived Meetings
Meeting minutes are not available to the public until approved by the Commission at the next scheduled meeting.
To view past meetings you can use the following links:
- January 2020 and 2019: https://vimeo.com/channels/kdwptcommission
- April 2020 to present: https://www.youtube.com/c/kdwpinfo