Kansas Statewide Rule

Kansas Public Land Wildlife Baiting and Feeding Ban

Some RestrictionsApplies statewide across Kansas (2026)

Key Facts

Regulation: K.A.R. 115-8-23
Applies to: All Kansas public lands
Activities covered: All wildlife attractant uses
Private land: Baiting still permitted
Enforcement: KDWP conservation officers

Last verified: September 5, 2026Source: Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

Summary

Kansas Administrative Regulation 115-8-23, adopted by the Wildlife and Parks Commission, prohibits baiting and feeding of wildlife on all public lands statewide. The 2023 amendment extended the prohibition from hunting activities to all activities involving wildlife attractants on public property.

(a) No person shall place, deposit, expose, or scatter bait on department lands or place, deposit, expose, or scatter bait in a manner that causes another person to be in violation of this regulation. (1) This regulation shall include those areas designated by the agency as Walk-in Hunting Areas (WIHA) and Integrated Walk-in Hunting Areas (iWIHA). (2) This shall not apply to licensed furharvesters as permitted in K.A.R. 115-5-1.

Source: Kansas Department of Wildlife and ParksView official code

Full Breakdown

K.A.R. 115-8-23 is the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks rule governing baiting on lands owned, leased, or managed by the state, federal government, or other public entities. The Wildlife and Parks Commission amended the regulation in June 2023 to clarify that placing grain, salt blocks, mineral, or other attractants on public lands is prohibited for all activities, not solely hunting. The regulation aims to slow chronic wasting disease (CWD) transmission, which research links to artificial concentration of cervids at bait sites. Private land baiting remains lawful under current state regulation, though federal lands managed by USACE and others impose separate restrictions. Violations are enforced by KDWP conservation officers as wildlife regulation infractions.

Violations & Penalties

Violations are state wildlife regulation infractions enforced by KDWP officers, typically punishable by fines, equipment confiscation, and potential hunting license suspension upon repeat offenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I feed deer on my own private land in Kansas?

Yes. K.A.R. 115-8-23 applies only to public lands. Baiting and feeding deer on private property remains legal statewide, though local ordinances may limit feeding within city limits.

Does the rule apply to bird feeders on public land?

The regulation targets wildlife attractants generally. Casual songbird feeders at posted public picnic areas are typically not enforced, but bait piles or large feeders intended to concentrate game are prohibited.

Why did Kansas expand the baiting ban in 2023?

The Wildlife and Parks Commission cited chronic wasting disease (CWD) concerns. Concentrating deer at bait sites increases pathogen transmission through saliva, urine, and feces deposited at high densities.

Sources

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