County Commission passes on KDWP hunting at Banner

The Jackson County Commissioners have decided not to pursue any of the special hunting programs being offered by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks due to concerns about safety along the park trails at Banner Creek Reservoir.

The commissioners decided not to opt into the state’s walk-in hunting program or special hunts on private lands program that were pitched to them recently by Tyler Warner, local KDWP wildlife biologist.

Commissioner Janet Zwonitzer reported that she had received several phone calls from residents with concerns about allowing a broader range of hunting at Banner Creek Reservoir. Staff members at Banner Creek also recommended to the commissioners that they not open up additional land for hunting purposes.

The state’s special hunts on private lands program would have leased a portion of the reservoir to the state to allow a select group of people to hunt the land on certain days in certain seasons. Those wanting to hunt at Banner would have had to apply through KDWP and then be selected through a random drawing.

Warner suggested opening up 810 acres of land at Banner for hunting, including areas that overlapped some of the established horse and walking trails.

The commissioners also decided to modify the current hunting policies at Banner.

As it stands, area hunters can hunt small game (rabbits and squirrels), waterfowl, upland game (pheasants), turkey and deer at the reservoir. The commissioners, however, stated that archery should only be used to hunt deer and agreed to ban the use of shotguns when hunting deer. Shotguns can now only be used to hunt waterfowl.

“When you use a shotgun, the distance between you and the animal is shorter,” said Commissioner Rob Ladner.

Banner Creek Reservoir Director John Kennedy also recommended that some acres of the current designated hunting area at Banner be reduced, especially areas near campground C. The commissioners agreed.

At the conclusion of the hunting discussion, Kennedy questioned if the barbed wire fence that surrounds portions of the reservoir could be removed. He stated that the ditches surrounding the reservoir are deep and he didn’t foresee anyone trying to drive over them to get into the reservoir illegally.

“We have a really hard time mowing those ditches with the fence,” Kennedy said.

The commissioners said they would consider removing the fence.

Kennedy also reported that he recently attended a workshop in Kansas City about establishing natural playgrounds, and he said he would like to create such a playground for Banner.

“I don’t really have a location for it yet, but it needs to be close to restrooms, parking, electricity and water since I think it would be neat to include a water feature,” he said. “They’re not that expensive to build.”

Natural playgrounds are areas where kids can play with natural elements, such as sand, water, wood and plants.

“We need to get kids back to nature,” he said. “Kids today spend seven and a half hours a day staring at a screen.”

Kennedy said he could design the playground in house in hopes of building it in the spring.

The commissioners said they were in favor of establishing a natural playground.

Kennedy also noted that the speed bumps at the entrance of Banner are deteriorating and that he’s looking into installing elongated speed bumps, which are easier for vehicles hauling boats and other trailers.

The creation of a possible trail from Banner to Holton’s city limits was also discussed. The commissioners stated that the trail could run along the south fence of the Holton cemetery next to the cemetery’s shop.

Commissioner Zwonitzer has discussed a possible trail with some cemetery board members, who plan to review it at their next board meeting.

Kennedy said the area for the trail needs to be surveyed and that he would contact companies to see if a survey could be completed soon before more decisions are made regarding the trail.

Before Kennedy left the meeting, the commissioners also asked him to research different cabin structures for the reservoir.