Minutes for SB213 - Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources

Short Title

Prohibiting nonresidents from hunting migratory waterfowl during certain times and places and lowering fees for migratory waterfowl habitat stamps.

Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 12, 2025

Chairman Peck opened the hearing on SB213 at 8:52 a.m.

Tamera Lawrence, Revisor gave an overview of the bill.(Attachment 5)

Representative Will Carpenter spoke in support of SB213 dealing with non-resident waterfowl hunting. (Attachment 6) (Attachment 7) Because of lack of restrictions and abundant waterfowl, many of our resident hunters are finding no place to hunt or so much competition that they are finding it is not worth the effort especially in border areas and Cheyenne Bottoms.

Representative Carpenter stood for questions.

Mike Castelli spoke in support of SB213. (Attachment 8) As a Kansas resident waterfowl hunter he has spoke to the wildlife commission on the overcrowding of our wetlands on our very limited public grounds as have more and more resident hunters. Mr. Castelli has invested many hours on this matter as he has been pushed out of his own state. It is not uncommon to pull up to a boat launch or parking lot and see 10 trucks from other states before you see one from Kansas.

Mr. Castelli stood for questions.

Senator Billinger, no written testimony provided, spoke in favor of SB213.

Senator Billinger stood for questions.

Stuart J. Schrag, Deputy Secretary of Operations, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) gave neutral testimony on SB213. (Attachment 9) The bill would restrict non-resident waterfowl hunters to hunting on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays on department lands and waters and specified federal lands and waters. It would have no effect on hunting on private lands, walk property enrolled and designated as either a walk-in hunting access area or an interactive walk-in hunting access area, navigable rivers and KDWP's Special Hunts Program or other department authorized waterfowl outreach programs.

Mr. Schrag stood for questions.

Written Proponent testimony was submitted by the following:

Tony Sporer (Attachment 10)

Matthew Roberts (Attachment 11)

Lauren Sill (Attachment 12)

Matt Zumbrunn (Attachment 13)

Dan Heard (Attachment 14)

Written Neutral testimony was submitted by the following:

Marshal Loftus, Chair, Kansas Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (Attachment 15)

Cheech Kehoe (Attachment 16)

Chairman Peck closed the hearing on SB213 at 9:21a.m.