Think football season is over? Maybe not in Chief’s Kingdom! The Kansas Chapter of BHA has set up an 8 events in 8 weeks BHA Blitz! Check out our game plan:
Kansas BHA has been working with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism to develop a list of cooperative projects in State Parks and Wildlife Areas. At two events in the next two months, BHA members will help KDWPT with tree and brush removal, fence removal and clean-up of damage from the 2019 floods. A long list of cooperative projects has now been compiled and BHA members will, over the next several months, get the opportunity to back up our ‘boots on the ground’ reputation. The end goals of these projects are:
- Giving wildlife biologists and managers more time to do what they were actually trained to do.
- Easing access to public lands and waters. This, of course, means a better outdoor experience for everyone! Plus, our good friends at Walton’s will be supplying all kinds of meat samples so we don’t work on an empty stomach! Snack sticks and other tasty treats will be provided to all who show up ready and willing to work.
But it’s not all work! The Lenexa Clays Shoot and Pint Night promises to be a great event. With ticket prices from $45 to $150, there is no excuse to miss out on the fun. The Public Grouse Film Night promises to be quite an event, as well. In addition to the Project Upland movie, two KDWPT wildlife biologists will talk specifically about issues facing grouse in Kansas AND how to most effectively hunt them. Another fantastic event will introduce people to processing meat right at home! Walton’s will give a demonstration on how easy it is to make your own delicious bratwurst. Participants will learn about processing equipment and methods, then get to try out the brats, and take home some brats, too! And you can’t have brats without including some beers! Add in Pint Nights in Topeka, Emporia and Kansas City, and there will be plenty of opportunities to celebrate this past hunting season and make plans for upcoming outdoor adventures! To make sure there are plenty of exciting raffle items at these events, Walton’s has also supplied us with a huge prize pack for each event! You could win a meat grinder, sausage stuffer, meat slicer or vacuum packager! And the Walton’s folks always throw in some extra goodies, too.
In that same timeframe, Kansas BHA will be working on our educational goals by hosting a booth at a large employer-sponsored health fair and attending a state wide R3 committee meeting. We will also provide written testimony to the Kansas Legislature in support of a bill to add public hunting land to a State Wildlife Area. Luckily, Kansas BHA members and board members share the workload, because there are WAY too many fun springtime outdoor activities in Kansas to be at a BHA event all the time! If you'd like to learn more about our work in Kansas and if you'd like to join our chapter and lend a helping hand, become a member today.
About Kurt Ratzlaff
I'm an old retired guy, barely hanging in there, but focused on spreading the love for our public lands and waters!