Lovewell State Park, like others in the state parks system remains open in this time of social isolation. However, the state park office is no longer open to the public. The office is still selling licenses and permits but the actual documents will not be delivered in person, they will be mailed.
Normally the office would a busy place this time of year as the advance purchase discount offers on some permits exprire on March 31. Among those are the annual camping permit, which gives the purchaser a $10 per night discount on campsite purchases. The permit fee is currently $202.50, but increases to $252.50 on April 1. Spring Turkey Combo permits (2 tags) are only available through March 31. On and after April 1, two tags can still be purchased however at the regular price.
Effective Monday, all Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) offices are closed for two weeks to prevent the potential spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The current plan is for KDWPT staff members to resume essential business activities on April 6. Until then, outdoor enthusiasts in Kansas can benefit from the department’s online and mobile services, which offer nearly all of the same purchasing and reservation services available in-office, without risk.
Kansas hunting and fishing licenses may be purchased electronically from kshuntfishcamp.com, at most license vendors, and through KDWPT’s mobile app – HuntFish KS.
All Kansas state parks remain open and campsites, cabins and yurts can be reserved online through ReserveAmerica.com and KDWPT’s mobile app – CampIt KS.
All vessels powered by motor (gasoline, diesel or electric) or sail must be registered and numbered in Kansas. A registration is valid for three years from date of purchase.
To register a vessel for the first time, complete the Application for Certificate of Number Kansas Boating Act Form available at https://ksoutdoors.com/Boating/Registering-Your-Boat then, mail it with the $42.50 registration fee to: KDWPT Pratt Operations Office, Attn: Boat Registration, 512 SE 25th Avenue, Pratt, Kan. 67124.
The application period for the 2020 Kansas nonresident deer draw is April 1 to 24. Applications can be made online at https://www.kshuntfishcamp.com/signinWithIdentifierAndDob.page.
Visit ksoutdoors.com for frequently-asked questions at this time, and other information that will make your time outdoors more enjoyable – like a day spent fishing. Anglers should check out the Fishing Forecast page to find the best places to catch the kind and size of fish they prefer. If you just want to catch fish, type “Whatever’s Biting” into the search box for a list of the top 20 lakes and reservoirs that give you the best chance to catch a fish. And district fisheries newsletters are also great sources of information for anglers. They can be found by clicking “News,” then “All Agency Newsletters.” You can even sign up to have the newsletters emailed directly to you.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has developed a plan to keep Kansas’ 28 state parks, 63 state fishing lakes, and more than 100 wildlife areas open to the public during the COVID-19 crisis. In addition, KDWPT’s online and mobile sales options allow Kansans to purchase the licenses, permits and reservations they need without risk of exposure to the COVID-19 coronavirus.
“We encourage families across the state to get outside, get fresh air, go fishing or for a hike, and enjoy our natural spaces.”
Though the offices are closed, state park staff will regularly clean and disinfect the facilities. Though they often adjoin federal facilities, state parks are separate from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) facilities, which are closed. Visitors can locate an open KDWPT state park nearest them by visiting ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations.
Licenses can be printed on home desktop printers or most can be stored as PDFs within the mobile device apps.
Kansas state parks offer 10,000 campsites and hundreds of miles of trails open to hiking, biking and horseback riding. Parks offer convenient access for boating and fishing, and some parks have shooting ranges. Small, family-friendly state fishing lakes are scattered across the state and provide more than 5,000 total surface acres of fishing opportunities.
All public land regulations and license requirements remain in effect. Check with local governments for access restrictions to community lakes and USACE-operated parks.
For more on Kansas state parks, and other outdoor recreation opportunities in Kansas, visit ksoutdoors.com. For more information on COVID-19 in Kansas, and to sign up for daily updates, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment website at kdheks.gov/coronavirus.
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