By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The rules are pretty simple when it comes to drones on public lands in Kansas: keep them out. While there are specified areas where unmanned aircraft vehicles are allowed at some state parks in Kansas, flying over people, structures, campgrounds, or beaches is prohibited. Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Manager Jason Wagner said that includes drone use at the Bottoms.
"Drone use on public land is strictly prohibited," he said. "There is no drone use on any of our public lands. That includes, not only the wildlife areas, but also includes our state parks."
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks quickly passed regulations regarding drones after the technology was used to harass people and wildlife as the aircraft became more available to the public. Using a drone to track an injured animal is also prohibited.
"What we've found is a lot of the deer are still alive and, again, you can't legally pursue a live deer using an electronic device such as a drone," Wagner said. "Even if you do hit your deer, you think it's wounded and it's still alive, you cannot use a drone to recover that deer."
Both federal and state laws prohibit the use of aircraft to take wildlife. In many states, including Kansas, it is illegal to use a drone for scouting and to hunt on the same day.