Volume 45 - Issue 4 - January 22, 2026
State of Kansas
Department of Wildlife and Parks
Permanent Administrative Regulations
Article 15.—NONGAME, THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
115-15-1. Threatened and endangered species; general provisions. (a) The following species shall be designated endangered within the boundaries of the state of Kansas:
(1) Invertebrates
Flat floater mussel, Utterbackiana suborbiculata (Say, 1831)
Rabbitsfoot mussel, Thaeliderma cylindrica (Say, 1817)
Western fanshell mussel, Cyprogenia aberti (Conrad, 1850)
Neosho mucket mussel, Lampsilis rafinesqueana (Frierson, 1927)
Elktoe mussel, Alasmidonta marginata (Say, 1818)
Ellipse mussel, Venustaconcha ellipsiformis (Conrad, 1836)
Slender walker snail, Pomatiopsis lapidaria (Say, 1817)
Scott riffle beetle, Optioservus phaeus (White, 1978)
American burying beetle, Nicrophorus americanus (Olivier, 1890)
Mucket, Ortmanniana ligamentina (Lamarck, 1819)
Cylindrical papershell mussel, Anodontoides ferussacianus (I. Lea, 1834)
(2) Fish
Arkansas River shiner, Notropis girardi (Hubbs and Ortenburger, 1929)
Pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus (Forbes and Richardson, 1905)
Sicklefin chub, Macrhybopsis meeki (Jordan and Evermann, 1896)
Peppered chub, Macrhybopsis tetranema (Gilbert, 1886)
Silver chub, Macrhybopsis storeriana (Kirtland, 1845)
(3) Amphibians
Cave salamander, Eurycea lucifuga (Rafinesque, 1822)
Grotto salamander, Eurycea spelaea (Stejneger, 1892)
(4) Birds
Least tern, Sternula antillarum (Lesson, 1847)
Whooping crane, Grus americana (Linnaeus, 1758)
(5) Mammals
Black-footed ferret, Mustela nigripes (Audubon and Bachman, 1851)
Gray myotis, Myotis grisescens (A.H. Howell, 1909)
(b) The following species shall be designated threatened within the boundaries of the state of Kansas:
(1) Invertebrates
Rock pocketbook mussel, Arcidens confragosus (Say, 1829)
Flutedshell mussel, Lasmigona costata (Rafinesque, 1820)
Butterfly mussel, Ellipsaria lineolata (Rafinesque, 1820)
Ouachita kidneyshell mussel, Ptychobranchus occidentalis (Conrad, 1836)
Sharp hornsnail, Pleurocera acuta (Rafinesque, 1831)
Delta hydrobe, Probythinella emarginata (Kuster, 1852)
(2) Fish
Flathead chub, Platygobio gracilis (Richardson, 1836)
Hornyhead chub, Nocomis biguttatus (Kirtland, 1840)
Neosho madtom, Noturus placidus (Taylor, 1969)
Redspot chub, Nocomis asper (Lachner and Jenkins, 1971)
Blackside darter, Percina maculata (Girard, 1859)
Sturgeon chub, Macrhybopsis gelida (Girard, 1856)
Western silvery minnow, Hybognathus argyritis (Girard, 1856)
Topeka shiner, Notropis topeka (Gilbert, 1884)
Plains minnow, Hybognathus placitus (Girard, 1856)
(3) Amphibians
Eastern newt, Notophthalmus viridescens (Rafinesque, 1820)
Longtail salamander, Eurycea longicauda (Green, 1818)
Eastern narrow-mouthed toad, Gastrophryne carolinensis (Holbrook, 1836)
Green frog, Lithobates clamitans (Latreille, 1801)
Strecker’s chorus frog, Pseudacris streckeri (Wright and Wright, 1933)
Chihuahuan Green toad, Anaxyrus debilis (Girard, 1854)
(4) Reptiles
Checkered gartersnake, Thamnophis marcianus (Baird and Girard, 1853)
New Mexico Threadsnake, Rena dissecta (Cope, 1896)
(5) Birds
Piping plover, Charadrius melodus (Ord, 1824)
Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (Linnaeus, 1758)
(6) Mammals
Plains spotted skunk, Spilogale interrupta (Rafinesque, 1820)
(c) A threatened or endangered species taken during established trapping seasons, authorized commercial wildlife operations, fishing by hook and line, bait fish seining, or other lawful activity shall not be unlawfully taken if immediately released.
(d) Any threatened or endangered species in possession before the effective date of this regulation and not prohibited by any previous regulation of the department or national listings may be retained in possession if either of the following conditions is met:
(1) An application of affidavit to that effect has been filed with and approved by the secretary within six months of the species listing as a threatened or endangered species in Kansas that states the circumstances of how the species came into the applicant’s possession; or
(2) Possession of the animal has been previously approved by the department. (Authorized by K.S.A. 32-960 and 32-963; implementing K.S.A. 32-960, K.S.A. 32-961, K.S.A. 32-963, K.S.A. 32-1010, and K.S.A. 32-1011; effective Oct. 30, 1989; amended Aug. 31, 1992; amended Nov. 29, 1999; amended Feb. 18, 2005; amended July 24, 2009; amended Nov. 14, 2014; amended Dec. 20, 2019; amended Feb. 6, 2026.)
115-15-2. Nongame species; general provisions. (a) The following species shall be designated nongame species in need of conservation within the boundaries of the state of Kansas:
(1) Invertebrates
Snuffbox mussel, Epioblasma triquetra (Rafinesque, 1820)
Wartyback mussel, Pustulosa nodulata (Rafinesque, 1820)
Spike mussel, Eurynia dilatata (Rafinesque, 1820)
Fatmucket mussel, Lampsilis siliquoidea (Barnes, 1823)
Yellow sandshell mussel, Lampsilis teres (Rafinesque, 1820)
Washboard mussel, Megalonaias nervosa (Rafinesque, 1820)
Round pigtoe mussel, Pleurobema sintoxia (Conrad, 1834)
Creeper mussel, Strophitus undulatus (Say, 1817)
Fawnsfoot mussel, Truncilla donaciformis (I. Lea, 1828)
Deertoe mussel, Truncilla truncata (Rafinesque, 1820)
Ozark emerald dragonfly, Somatochlora ozarkensis (Bird, 1833)
Gray petaltail dragonfly, Tachopteryx thoreyi (Hagen in Selys, 1857)
Prairie mole cricket, Gryllotalpa major (Saussure, 1874)
Neosho midget crayfish, Faxonius macrus (Williams, 1952)
(2) Fish
Arkansas darter, Etheostoma cragini (Gilbert, 1885)
Banded darter, Etheostoma zonale (Cope, 1868)
Banded sculpin, Cottus carolinae (Gill, 1861)
Black redhorse, Moxostoma duquesnei (Le Sueur, 1817)
Blue sucker, Cycleptus elongatus (Le Sueur, 1817)
Western blacknose dace, Rhinichthys obtusus (Agassiz, 1854)
Bluntnose darter, Etheostoma chlorosoma (Hay, 1881)
Brassy minnow, Hybognathus hankinsoni (Hubbs, 1929)
Gravel chub, Erimystax x-punctatus (Hubbs and Crowe, 1956)
Greenside darter, Etheostoma blennioides (Rafinesque, 1819)
Highfin carpsucker, Carpiodes velifer (Rafinesque, 1820)
Northern hog sucker, Hypentelium nigricans (Le Sueur, 1817)
Ozark minnow, Notropis nubilus (Forbes, 1878)
River darter, Percina shumardi (Girard, 1859)
River redhorse, Moxostoma carinatum (Cope, 1870)
River shiner, Notropis blennius (Girard, 1856)
Slough darter, Etheostoma gracile (Girard, 1859)
Highland darter, Etheostoma teddyroosevelt (Layman and Mayden, 2012)
Spotfin shiner, Cyprinella spiloptera (Cope, 1868)
Spotted sucker, Minytrema melanops (Rafinesque, 1820)
Sunburst darter, Etheostoma mihileze (Mayden, 2010)
Tadpole madtom, Noturus gyrinus (Mitchill, 1817)
Brindled madtom, Noturus miurus (Jordan, 1877)
Bigeye shiner, Notropis boops (Gilbert, 1884)
Redfin darter, Etheostoma whipplei (Girard, 1859)
Lake Sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens (Rafinesque, 1817)
Striped shiner, Luxilus chrysocephalus (Rafinesque, 1820)
Common shiner, Luxilus cornutus (Mitchill, 1817)
Southern Redbelly Dace, Chrosomus erythrogaster (Rafinesque, 1820)
Cardinal Shiner, Luxilus cardinalis (Mayden, 1988)
Johnny Darter, Etheostoma nigrum (Rafinesque, 1820)
Chestnut lamprey, Ichthyomyzon castaneus (Girard, 1858)
Silverband shiner, Notropis shumardi (Girard, 1856)
Shoal chub, Macrhybopsis hyostoma (Gilbert, 1884)
(3) Amphibians
Red-spotted toad, Anaxyrus punctatus (Baird and Girard, 1852)
Crawfish frog, Lithobates areolatus (Baird and Girard, 1852)
Spring peeper, Pseudacris crucifer (Wied-Neuwied, 1838)
(4) Reptiles
Rough earthsnake, Haldea striatula (Linnaeus, 1766)
Plains hog-nosed snake, Heterodon nasicus (Baird and Girard, 1852)
Timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Eastern hog-nosed snake, Heterodon platirhinos (Latreille, 1801)
Glossy snake, Arizona elegans (Kennicott, 1859)
Chihuahuan nightsnake, Hypsiglena jani (Duges, 1865)
Red-bellied snake, Storeria occipitomaculata (Storer, 1839)
Long-nosed snake, Rhinocheilus lecontei (Baird and Girard, 1853)
Smooth earthsnake, Virginia valeriae (Baird and Girard, 1853)
Broad-headed skink, Plestiodon laticeps (Schneider, 1801)
(5) Birds
Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Cerulean warbler, Setophaga cerulea (Wilson, 1810)
Curve-billed thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre (Swainson, 1827)
Ferruginous hawk, Buteo regalis (Gray, 1844)
Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos (Linnaeus, 1758)
Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus (Pontoppidan, 1763)
Henslow’s sparrow, Centronyx henslowii (Audubon, 1829)
Ladder-backed woodpecker, Dryobates scalaris (Wagler, 1829)
Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus (Bechstein, 1812)
Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus (Townsend, 1837)
Chihuahuan raven, Corvus cryptoleucus (Couch, 1854)
Black tern, Chlidonias niger (Linnaeus, 1758)
Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (Gmelin, 1789)
Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomas vociferus (Wilson, 1812)
Yellow-throated warbler, Setophaga dominica (Linnaeus, 1776)
(6) Mammals
Franklin’s ground squirrel, Poliocitellus franklinii (Sabine, 1822)
Pallid bat, Antrozous pallidus (LeConte, 1856)
Southern bog lemming, Synaptomys cooperi (Baird, 1858)
Southern flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans (Linnaeus, 1758)
Texas deermouse, Peromyscus attwateri (J.A. Allen, 1895)
Townsend’s big-eared bat, Corynorhinus townsendii (Cooper, 1837)
Northern myotis, Myotis septentrionalis (Trouessart, 1897)
(7) Turtles
Alligator snapping turtle, Macrochelys temminckii (Troost, in Harlan, 1835)
Northern map turtle, Graptemys geographica (Le Sueur, 1817)
(b) Any nongame species in need of conservation taken during established trapping seasons, authorized commercial wildlife operations, fishing by hook and line, baitfish seining, or other lawful activity shall not be unlawfully taken if immediately released.
(c) Any nongame species in need of conservation in possession before the effective date of this regulation and not prohibited by any previous regulation of the department or national listings may be retained in possession if either of the following conditions is met:
(1) An application of affidavit to that effect has been filed with and approved by the secretary within six months of the species listing as a nongame species in need of conservation in the state of Kansas that states the circumstances of how the species came into the applicant’s possession; or
(2) Possession of the animal has been previously approved by the department. (Authorized by K.S.A. 32-959 and 32-963; implementing K.S.A. 32-959 and K.S.A. 32-1009; effective Oct. 30, 1989; amended Aug. 31, 1992; amended Nov. 29, 1999; amended Feb. 18, 2005; amended July 24, 2009; amended Nov. 14, 2014; amended Dec. 20, 2019; amended Feb. 6, 2026.)
Article 25.—WILDLIFE SEASONS; BAG, CREEL, POSSESSION, SIZE, AND LENGTH LIMITS
115-25-8. Elk; open season, bag limit, and permits. (a) The unit designations in this regulation shall have the meanings specified in K.A.R. 115-4-6b, except that the area of Fort Riley, subunit 2a, shall not be included as part of Republican-Tuttle, unit 2.
(b) The open seasons for the taking of elk shall be as follows:
(1) The archery season dates and units shall be as follows:
(A) Statewide, except Fort Riley, subunit 2a, and unit 1: the Monday after the second Saturday in September through the last day of the same year.
(B) Fort Riley, subunit 2a: the first day of September through the last day of September.
(2) The firearm season dates and units shall be as follows:
(A) Statewide, except Fort Riley, subunit 2a, and unit 1: the first day of August through the last day of August; the Wednesday after Thanksgiving through the second following Sunday; and the first day of January through the 15th day of March.
(B) Fort Riley, subunit 2a:
(i) First segment: the first day of October through the last day of October.
(ii) Second segment: the first day of November through the last day of November.
(iii) Third segment: the first day of December through the last day of December.
(iv) Fourth segment: the first day of January through the last day of January.
(3) The muzzleloader season dates and units shall be as follows:
(A) Statewide, except Fort Riley, subunit 2a, and unit 1: the first day of September through the last day of September.
(B) Fort Riley, subunit 2a: the first day of September through the last day of September.
(c) A limited-quota either-sex elk permit shall be valid during any season using equipment authorized for that season. Fifteen either-sex elk permits shall be authorized.
(d) A limited-quota antlerless-only elk permit shall be valid during any season using equipment authorized for that season, except that a limited-quota antlerless-only elk permit shall be valid on Fort Riley, subunit 2a, only as follows:
(1) A first-segment antlerless-only elk permit shall be valid on Fort Riley, subunit 2a, only during the first segment. Eight first-segment antlerless-only elk permits shall be authorized.
(2) A second-segment antlerless-only elk permit shall be valid on Fort Riley, subunit 2a, only during the second segment. Eight second-segment antlerless-only elk permits shall be authorized.
(3) A third-segment antlerless-only elk permit shall be valid on Fort Riley, subunit 2a, only during the third segment. Eight third-segment antlerless-only elk permits shall be authorized.
(4) All antlerless-only elk permits shall be valid on Fort Riley, subunit 2a, during the September archery and muzzleloader seasons, and the January firearm season.
(e) The bag limit shall be one elk as specified on the permit issued to the permittee.
(f) An unlimited number of hunt-on-your-own-land antlerless-only elk permits and either-sex elk permits shall be authorized in units 2 and 3. A hunt-on-your-own-land permit shall be valid during any open season. The bag limit for each hunt-on-your-own-land elk permit shall be one elk as specified on the permit.
(g) An unlimited number of over-the-counter antlerless-only elk permits and either-sex elk permits shall be authorized in unit 3.
(h) Permits are not valid after March 15 following the date of issuance. (Authorized by and implementing K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 32-807 and K.S.A. 32-937; effective May 2, 1990; amended May 1, 1991; amended May 1, 1992; amended May 1, 1994; amended May 14, 1997; amended May 1, 1998; amended May 19, 1999; amended May 12, 2000; amended May 9, 2001; amended April 22, 2002; amended April 23, 2003; amended April 26, 2004; amended March 28, 2005; amended May 4, 2006; amended April 20, 2007; amended March 17, 2008; amended April 20, 2009; amended April 23, 2010; amended April 26, 2011; amended May 2, 2012; amended April 26, 2013; amended March 25, 2014; amended March 31, 2015; amended March 29, 2016; amended March 28, 2017; amended April 30, 2018; amended April 3, 2019; amended April 27, 2020; amended May 4, 2021; amended June 2, 2022; amended Aug. 18, 2023; amended Dec. 27, 2024; amended Feb. 6, 2026.)
Article 45.—WILDLIFE AND PARKS COMMISSION
115-45-1. Wildlife and parks commission; draft rules and regulations. (a) Any member of the Kansas wildlife and parks commission may make a motion to place on the agenda of a subsequent meeting a topic for discussion by the commission. Upon a majority vote in favor of the motion, the topic shall be placed on the agenda of the identified meeting. Upon a majority vote, the commission may direct the secretary to prepare a draft rule or regulation addressing the topic.
(b) If the commission votes to place on the agenda a topic for discussion, the commission shall provide the public the opportunity to comment on the draft rule or regulation at no less than two consecutive commission meetings.
(c) Following at least two consecutive commission meetings during which the public was permitted to comment on the draft rule or regulation, a majority of the commission may vote to direct the secretary to initiate the regulatory promulgation process pursuant to the Kansas rules and regulations filing act, K.S.A. 77-415, et seq. (Authorized by K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 32-807; implementing K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 32-805; effective Feb. 6, 2026.)
Christopher Kennedy
Secretary
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Doc. No. 053824
