A little more than 40 years ago, Kansas hunters went afield for the first modern deer season. Since then the state has seen many positive changes.

During that first deer season in 1965, few than half of the state was open to hunting, and Wildlife and Parks biologists estimated state deer numbers at 30,000 animals.

Thirty-nine hundred permits were issued, and it was estimated firearms hunters took 1,340 deer that first season – a far cry from modern deer seasons.

In 2005, the state agency issued more than 70,000 whitetail either-sex firearms permits to residents and nonresidents. Kansas firearms deer hunters enjoy a phenomenal success rate of more than 50 percent.

And when the number of deer harvested by archers and firearms hunters is added to the deer taken with whitetail antlerless-only permits, the total likely will be more than 75,000 deer.

This year’s firearms deer season will open Wednesday and run through Dec. 10.

All hunters must have a deer permit. Resident hunters ages 16 to 65 must also possess a hunting license, unless exempt by law. Nonresident hunters must possess a nonresident deer permit.

Hunters must purchase a permit that allows the harvest of an antlered deer before they can purchase a whitetail antlerless only permit or game tag until after Dec. 30.