Nonprofit organizations based or operating in Kansas 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 get a chance to draw one of seven special big game permits, which can then be sold to raise money for conservation-based projects.

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Pursuant to K.S.A. 32-970, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Commission is authorized to issue up to seven Commission Big Game Permits per calendar year. Of the seven Commission Big Game Permits, up to one may be an elk permit, up to one may be an antelope permit, and the remaining balance may be any deer permits. Such permits are only available to nonprofit organizations that actively promote wildlife conservation and the hunting and fishing heritage. Only one Commission Big Game Permit may be issued to a qualified organization, but this limitation does not preclude active individual chapters of the same organization from being issued permits. Applications from individual chapters of the same organization must be completed and submitted by an active member of that chapter. Organizations are not eligible to receive a Commission Big Game Permit more than once in a three-year period. Organizations that oppose hunting and fishing shall not be eligible for award of a Commission Big Game Permit.

Applications must include:

• Completed application form
• Copy of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit status
• Articles of incorporation
• Mission statement
• List of events held during the previous calendar year which promoted wildlife conservation and the hunting and fishing heritage in Kansas, including the event date and an estimated number of participants.

Organizations receiving Commission Big Game Permits must market the permit to the public to receive the maximum financial benefit available to both the organization and the department. Organizations awarded Commission Big Game Permits by random draw must pay to the department the price established by rules and regulations for the highest value of the type of permit awarded. If the organization is Kansas Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, not less than 15 percent of the amount retained by the organization must be remitted to the department for use on jointly approved projects. For any other organization, not less than 85 percent must be remitted to the department for use on jointly approved projects. The remainder may be spent at the organization’s discretion.

The completed application shall be submitted no later than December 26th, 2025, to:

     Sarah Navarro
     Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
     512 SE 25th Ave.
     Pratt, KS 67124
     sarah.navarro@ks.gov

The Commission shall conduct a random drawing from the pool of eligible organizations to award Commission Big Game Permits at the January 8th, 2026, KDWP Commission meeting held on location or virtually on Zoom.

Upon receipt of payment for the Commission Big Game Permit by the winning organization, the department’s licensing section will issue a voucher signifying the type of permit awarded. Once the voucher is obtained by the final recipient, the final recipient shall return the voucher to the Licensing Section of the Department, and a permit shall be issued in the final recipient’s name. After a Commission Big Game Permit is issued in the name of the final recipient, it shall not be transferred to any other individual for any reason. As a reminder, 115-4-11(b)(3) states, “If an individual is a final recipient of a commission deer permit, the individual shall not possess more than one regular antlered deer permit and one commission deer permit.” Any Commission Big Game Permit shall be subject to the restrictions of the season, sex, equipment type or hunt units as issued on the permit by the department.