By Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
Game wardens, Kansas Highway Patrol troopers and county sheriff’s officers will conduct joint highway checkpoints at various locations November 13.
Upland bird, deer and migratory bird seasons will be underway, and the checkpoints help enforce state and federal wildlife laws, as well as the state’s driver’s licensing laws.
KHP troopers or county sheriff’s officers will operate the first stage of the checkpoints to be sure drivers are properly licensed to be driving. If a driver does not have a valid license, appropriate enforcement actions will be taken. Travelers should not expect major delays from this portion of the checkpoints.
Occupants of vehicles in the first check lane will be asked if they are hunters or are transporting wildlife. Travelers answering yes in either case will be directed to a nearby KDWPT check lane where game wardens will check for required licenses and permits, count the game and gather biological, harvest and hunter success information. This portion of the process should also cause minimal delay.
The following locations may be used depending on weather conditions and manpower.
Central Kansas – game wardens and KHP troopers: US-81 near milepost 161, Ottawa County; US-56 & K-46 intersection, McPherson County; K-156 near milepost 165, Ellsworth County; US-36 & K-14 intersection, Jewell County; K-156 & US-56 intersection, Pawnee County; and US-281 & K-4 intersection, Barton County.
Southeast Kansas – game wardens, KHP troopers, Woodson and Greenwood County sheriff’s officers: US-54 rest area near the Greenwood/Woodson county line, Greenwood County, US-400 rest area near the Greenwood/Butler county line, Greenwood County; US-75 rest area north of Yates Center, Woodson County.
Western Kansas – game wardens and Ford County sheriff’s officer: US-50 near milepost 127.5, Ford County; US-400 near milepost 127.5, Ford County; US-400 near milepost 139, Ford County; 54 near milepost 88, Ford County, US-283 near milepost 37, Ford County.
Additional wildlife checkpoints will occur around the state during fall and winter hunting seasons.