Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission to Meet April 9 in Topeka
For Immediate Release
March 31, 2026
Media Contact:
Laura Rose Clawson, Chief of Public Affairs
Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission to Meet April 9 in Topeka
TOPEKA—The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission will hold its next public meeting on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the Robert B. Docking State Office Building, 915 SW Harrison Street, in Topeka. The meeting will begin at noon and continue until all agenda items are addressed.
The Commission will hold a public hearing and final vote for several regulations that would be updated to allow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) to authorize snagging of nonsport fish and prohibited species, but only in locations and time periods that are explicitly posted by KDWP. These regulations do not create open or general snagging opportunities for prohibited species, but rather give KDWP the flexibility to allow snagging when management objectives require it. Several sections are also being updated for clarity and consistency.
The Commission will also vote on 2026-27 waterfowl season dates as well as bag and possession limits.
KDWP staff will also share updates about 2026 deer seasons on military units, nonresident waterfowl hunting on public lands, and trail cameras on public lands.
The public is invited to attend the meeting in person or virtually, with two opportunities for public comment. Instructions for joining the meeting virtually, a complete meeting agenda, and the proposed regulation changes can be viewed at ksoutdoors.gov/commission.
An interpreter for the hearing impaired can be requested by calling the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Individuals with disabilities can request other accommodations by contacting KDWP at (785) 294-2645.
Following this, the commission is scheduled to meet on Thursday, June 18, 2026, in Lindsborg, KS.
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The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of Kansas’s natural resources for the benefit of both current and future generations. KDWP manages 29 state parks, 177 lakes and wildlife areas, more than 300 public waterbodies, and 5 nature centers. Other services include management of threatened, endangered, and at-risk species, law enforcement, and wildlife habitat programs. For more information about KDWP, visit ksoutdoors.gov.
The seven-member, bi-partisan Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission serves in an advisory capacity in formulating policies and plans for KDWP. The commission holds public hearings on rules and regulations proposed by the Secretary of KDWP and ultimately votes to approve, modify, or reject those proposals.
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