Pheasant season a Kansas tradition and economic generator

If you live in the Kansas one of the treats of the second weekend in November is the opening of pheasant season.

The tradition remains one of the most important in the state’s economic cycle. Years ago the opening of pheasant season was a staple of family gatherings. In my era it was always a group of friends who got together for the only weekend of the year to chase pheasants and enjoy incredible food at hunter breakfasts and soup suppers. As time went on family started to take hold, unpredictable conditions from drought and unusually warm years, college football commitments and a myriad of other events changed the culture.

In my 20s, I would work late Friday and travel to northwest Kansas, enjoy two days of bird hunting and then head home late Sunday night. Ahhh, to be young and energetic.

Today, my drive to undertake such an adventure simply does not exist and it has been awhile since I even bought a hunting license.

As an observer, I take great delight in seeing regions in the state promote events that stress the importance of pheasant season. When I lived in Norton, Kansas, the community’s arts and crafts fair was designed to provide spouses with a weekend activity while the “men and boys” headed to the fields. I checked the community’s website ad the Norton Arts and Crafts Fair is planned for Nov. 10.

Farther south, eight southwest Kansas counties and communities in those counties have once again joined forces to offer a contest in which pheasant hunters can win prizes.

According to the Dodge City City Convention and Visitors Bureau:

“Ford, Finney, Stevens, Hodgeman, Seward, Grant, Gray and Morton counties and the communities of Dodge City, Garden City, Hugoton, Jetmore, Liberal, Ulysses, Cimarron and Elkhart Kansas have announced the fifth annual pheasant hunting contest.

“During this year’s hunting season, 575 pheasants will be banded on the leg and released in Ford County near Dodge City, in Finney County near Garden City, in Grant County near Ulysses, in Stevens County near Hugoton, in Hodgeman County near Jetmore, in Seward County near Liberal, in Gray County near Cimarron, and in Morton County near Elkhart. If a hunter is lucky enough to bag one of the banded pheasants, he needs to bring the leg band to one of the approved locations to register and claim a prize.

“Kansas consistently ranks as one of the top three when compared to other states’ annual harvest of pheasants.  With 185,000 acres of walk in hunting land, that is open to hunters in southwest Kansas, this area will give hunters a shot at cash and seven grand prizes.”

The “Rooster Roundup” Pheasant Contest runs from Nov. 10 to Jan. 31, 2019.

It is cool to see what various commmunities are doing to take advantage of the outdoors.

If you are headed to the fields, remember to pay attention to the state regulations and wear burnt orange. Happy hunting!