Want to hunt year-round? Try rabbits and coyotes
Crowds are smaller
at Marion Reservoir
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
It's not what one normally thinks of as hunting season, but according to state wildlife conservationist Marvin Peterson, rabbits and coyotes can be hunted year round, and squirrel hunting season began June 1.
The spring turkey hunting season, in which only gobblers can be harvested, ended May 18. Turkey hunting will resume in October.
Peterson, who works out of his home in Lincolnville, has been employed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks for 20 years, the last 11 in law enforcement.
He is one of more than 50 officers who have statewide authority to enforce hunting, fishing, and boating laws, but each officer is primarily responsible for an assigned district.
Peterson's district includes Marion, Morris, and Harvey counties. In summer, he spends most of his time on the water. He oversees Marion Reservoir, Marion County Lake, Council Grove Reservoir, Council Grove City Lake, Harvey County East and West lakes, and Lake Kahola along the southern boundary of Morris County.
Because crowds are down a little at Marion Reservoir, Peterson said, he has spent more time at Council Grove this summer. He thinks the smaller crowds are due to the algae problem.
He works together with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees to patrol reservoirs. Their main concern is that pleasure boaters have the proper safety equipment on board and fishermen have current boat registrations and fishing licenses.
He said the most common infractions are expired boat registrations, and not enough life jackets to equip everyone on board.
People who are caught breaking the law receive a citation to appear in district court and pay a fine.
Peterson said he sees a lot of unsafe operation of personal water craft but not a lot of boating under the influence of alcohol. The level of alcohol in the blood of a boat operator can be no more than .08, the same as a road vehicle operator.
Peterson uses a Seadoo personal watercraft for water-safety operations. It can pull stranded boats to shore and is equipped for water rescue.
He and the park rangers also have patrol boats. He patrols the wildlife area at the upper reaches of Marion Reservoir from time to time to check for infractions and criminal activity such as illegal parties and meth labs. He discourages visitors from driving over farm crops growing in the area.
Peterson bemoans the loss of some staff members at the reservoir office, which has cut down on the time rangers can spend on the water, making it more difficult to patrol the whole lake. He said he and the rangers have a good working relationship.
Jenny Creamer of Florence is working as Peterson's part-time assistant during the summer. She holds Peterson's water craft steady during boat checks and assists in other ways, as well.
Creamer also is a dispatcher for Marion County Sheriff's Department.
"People often are heard commenting about Marion Reservoir being a safe lake," Peterson said. "It's because we ride herd on it all the time."
He has seen his share of boat accidents and drownings, the worst aspect of his job. But he likes the changing of the seasons and the variety they bring.
Every summer weekend, he is sure to be seen somewhere on the water looking out for everyone.
"We're out here to keep everybody safe," he said. "We want you to have a good time but, at the same time, be safe."
