Kan. Admin. Regs. § 115-4-4

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 16, April 18, 2024

Section 115-4-4 - Big game; legal equipment and taking methods

(a) Hunting equipment for the taking of big game during a big game archery season shall consist of the following:

(1) Archery equipment.

(A) No bow or arrow shall have any electronic device attached to the bow or arrow that controls the flight of the arrow. Devices that may be attached to a bow or arrow shall include lighted pin, dot, or holographic sights; illuminated nocks; rangefinders; film or video cameras; locking draws; and radio-frequency location devices.

(B) Each arrow used for hunting shall be equipped with a broadhead point incapable of passing through a ring with a diameter of three-quarters of an inch when fully expanded. A big game hunter using archery equipment may possess non-broadhead-tipped arrows while hunting if the arrows are not used to take or attempt to take big game animals.

(2) Crossbows using arrows that are equipped with broadhead points incapable of passing through a ring with a diameter of three-quarters of an inch when fully expanded.

(A) A big game hunter using crossbow equipment may possess non-broadhead-tipped arrows while hunting if the arrows are not used to take or attempt to take big game animals.

(B) No crossbow or arrow shall have any electronic device attached to the crossbow or arrow that controls the flight of the arrow. Devices that may be attached to a crossbow or arrow shall include lighted pin, dot, or holographic sights; illuminated nocks; rangefinders; film or video cameras; and radio-frequency location devices.

(b) Hunting equipment for the taking of big game during a big game muzzleloader-only season shall consist of the following:

(1) Archery and crossbow equipment as authorized in subsection (a); and

(2) muzzleloading rifles, pistols, and muskets that can be loaded with bullets only through the front of the firing chamber and are .40 inches in diameter bore or larger. Only tumble-on-impact, hard-cast solid lead, conical lead, or saboted bullets shall be used with muzzleloading rifles, pistols, and muskets.

(c) Hunting equipment for the taking of big game during a big game firearm season shall consist of the following:

(1) Archery and crossbow equipment as authorized in subsection (a);

(2) muzzleloader-only season equipment as authorized in subsection (b);

(3) centerfire rifles and handguns that are not fully automatic, while using only tumble-on-impact, hard-cast solid lead, soft point, hollow point, or other expanding bullets; and

(4) shotguns using only slugs.

(d)

(1) Each individual hunting deer or elk during a firearms deer or elk season and each individual assisting an individual hunting deer or elk as authorized by K.A.R. 115-4-2 or K.A.R. 115-18-15 during a firearms deer or elk season shall wear outer clothing of a bright orange color commonly referred to as daylight fluorescent orange, hunter orange, blaze orange, or safety orange. This bright orange color shall be worn as follows:

(A) A hat or other garment upon the head with the exterior of not less than 50 percent of the bright orange color, an equal portion of which is visible from all directions; and

(B) at least 100 square inches of the bright orange color that is on the front of the torso and is visible from the front and at least 100 square inches that is on the rear of the torso and is visible from the rear.

(2) Lures, decoys except live decoys, and nonelectric calls shall be legal while hunting big game.

(3) Any individual may use blinds and stands while hunting big game.

(4) Optical scopes or sights that project no visible light toward the target and do not electronically amplify visible light or detect infrared light or thermal energy may be used.

(5) Any range-finding device, if the device does not project visible light toward the target, may be used.

(6) Devices capable of dispensing lethal, debilitating, or immobilizing chemicals to take big game animals shall not be used.

(e) Shooting hours for deer, antelope, and elk during each day of any deer, antelope, or elk hunting season shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

(f) Horses and mules may be used while hunting big game, except that horses and mules shall not be used for herding or driving big game.

(g) Firearm report-suppressing devices may be used.

(h) Handguns may be possessed during all big game seasons. However, no handgun shall be used to take deer except as legal equipment specified in subsection (c) during a big game firearms season.

(i) Dogs may be used to retrieve dead or wounded big game animals if the following requirements are met:

(1) Each dog shall be maintained on a handheld leash at all times while tracking the big game animal.

(2) An individual tracking big game animals outside of legal shooting hours shall not carry any equipment capable of harvesting the big game animal.

(3) Each individual harvesting a big game animal shall be limited to the equipment type for the permit and the season that is authorized.

(4) Each individual participating in the tracking of the big game animal shall have a hunting license, unless the individual is exempt by law or regulation.

Kan. Admin. Regs. § 115-4-4

Authorized by and implementing K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 32-807 and K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 32-937; effective June 1, 2001; amended April 19, 2002; amended April 22, 2005; amended June 2, 2006; amended April 13, 2007; amended April 11, 2008; amended May 21, 2010; amended April 20, 2012; amended April 19, 2013; amended Sept. 4, 2014; amended April 26, 2019; amended May 22, 2020; amended by Kansas Register Volume 40, No. 27; effective 7/23/2021.