With the beginning ofthe biggest hunting season in Kansas less than a week away, game wardens and state troopers are ready. The regular pheasant and quail seasons open November 8, the greater prairie chicken regular season starts November 15 and duck and goose seasons will also be underway.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism and the Kansas Highway Patrol will conduct a joint checkpoint in north central Kansas in mid-November. The checkpoint is intended to help enforce state and federal wildlife laws, as well as the state’s driver’s licensing laws.

KHP troopers will operate the first stage of the checkpoint 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 checkpoint.

Occupants of vehicles in the first check lane will be asked if they are hunters or are transporting wildlife. If they are in either case, drivers 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 checkpoint should also cause minimal delay.

Additional wildlife checkpoints will occur around the state during the fall and winter hunting seasons.