Thousands of hunters are out in fields across Kansas for the biggest hunting weekend of the year and game wardens, state troopers, and sheriff deputies are mobilizing. With pheasant and quail season beginning Saturday, upland bird, deer and migratory bird seasons are all underway.

According to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism joint highway checkpoints are planned at various locations on Sunday. The checkpoints are intended to help enforce state and federal wildlife laws, as well as the state’s driver’s licensing laws.

Depending on the location, 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 checkpoints should also cause minimal delay.

The following locations may be used if weather conditions and manpower allow:

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
• 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 officers

• US-50 near milepost 127.5, Ford County
• US-400 near milepost 127.5, Ford County
• US-400 near milepost 139, Ford County
• US-54 near milepost 88, Ford County
• US-283 near milepost 37, Ford County

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