The application deadline came and went almost three weeks ago. I called last week and was told successful applicants would be notified soon by mail, so I waited. Monday, nothing, yesterday, nothing and again today nothing and I had used up what little patience I had, so I called again. The gal on the other end of the line said “I can look up your name and see,” and lo-and-behold, another item on my bucket list is in my sights; WAHOO, I drew a Kansas Antelope tag for this year!

Kansas Antelope tags are awarded through a lottery process, and there are MANY more applicants each year than there are tags. If you apply and are unsuccessful you are awarded one preference point, and each unsuccessful application gets you another preference point. This means that when they apply again the following year, your preference point puts you one small step above every new applicant with no preference points, and will be awarded a tag before someone who has no preference points. Preference points can be purchased as such, and that was what I was advised to do for the first few years rather than apply in the lottery. In summary, each year for the past four years I have purchased a preference point toward an antelope tag, and this year, with four preference points to my account, I finally applied for the tag and was successful. That was the easy part, now comes updating my hunting equipment, and hardest of all, finding a place in western Kansas to hunt.

My deer rifle has always been an older model .270 caliber with a 4-power scope that has harvested many Kansas deer, but considering that many shots at antelope are upwards of 200 yards, I want to upgrade to something a bit more dependable at that distance. I also want to buy a range finder, something I’ve looked at for years but just haven’t felt the need to have. When purchasing any expensive piece of gear for the first time, I recommend going to area outdoor stores where you can physically see and touch the rifle, etc. then go home and get on the internet and look at reviews of the gear, as there are more websites offering reviews of outdoor equipment today than Bruce Jenner has identities. I went to a couple local reputable outdoor stores, and both let me take range finders out into their parking lot and try them out.

The area open to antelope hunting in Kansas is bordered by Interstate 70 on the north and runs south to the Oklahoma border. It stretches eastward to just past WaKeeney and westward to the Colorado border. It encompasses three big game hunting units, numbers 2, 17 and 18. Tags are designated for a specific unit, and my tag is for unit 2, the northern most unit containing the towns of Sharon Springs, Oakley, Trego Center, Scott City and Tribune.

I feel fortunate to have a possible connection that may help me find landowners who will let me hunt; my niece graduated from Colby Community College last spring, and through her and her friends from there, I was given a list of landowner names and phone numbers from that area. I’ll begin calling this weekend and see how that pans out. Other ways to find land on which to hunt that far away are to call out there and talk to the conservation officers from the unit you’ll be hunting or to the extension agents in the counties of that unit. Either of those folks should know landowners that might allow you to hunt. I have also heard of guys going out there a few days ahead of season, and buying plat map books of a couple counties to get land owner names and contact information, or just simply driving the countryside and knocking on doors.

Anyway, I have a 2016 Kansas Antelope tag. Opening day of Kansas Antelope season is October 7, and it runs for only 4 days, through October 10. I’ll work at getting land to hunt and probably take a trip out there in August or September to meet landowners and get the lay of the land. I’ll update my rifle and get it sighted-in for 200 yards, and buy a range finder. Anyway you look at it, win, lose or draw, it will be another adventure in Exploring Kansas Outdoors!

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].

The county fair is approaching! The fair may conjure images of grandstand shows and carnival rides, livestock barns and sinfully delicious fair foods. There will be lots to see and do at the Ellis County Fair, July 16-23 in Hays.

But to really make the most of the Ellis County Fair, you need to PARTICIPATE, not just ATTEND. Exhibiting an entry gives you personal involvement in the fair. You’re no longer a bystander, but a participant– a competitor!

When you enter items at the fair, you receive helpful comments and suggestions from qualified judges. You stimulate light-hearted competition with your friends and neighbors. You help to fill the building so fair-goers have plenty to see. And no matter your age, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of winning a ribbon on your fair exhibit.

It’s easy to participate in the Ellis County Fair by entering an exhibit. And thanks to a brand-new online entry system, the process is now even easier. But to participate this year, online entries are required IN ADVANCE, no later than July 5th. So now is the time to plan your fair exhibits and get them entered online to make the most of the Ellis County Fair experience.

The process begins at the Ellis County Fair website, www.elliscountyfair.com. Under the “4-H and Open Class” link, you’ll find the fair book listing of exhibit divisions and classes. Spend some time browsing the entry categories. You might be surprised at the variety of items which can be entered at the fair. We hope you’ll be inspired too, to choose several items to bring to the fair. Jot down the division and class numbers that you want to enter.

The next step is to select the link called “Online Fair Entry System” in the left box which takes you to the new online advance entry system. 4-H members may sign in using their 4-HOnline log-in and password. Non-4-Her’s– both non-4-H youth and adults– will need to create an account in order to use the system. You will be asked to enter your email address and create a password to begin your account. REMEMBER THESE for future reference.

One handy feature is that you can create one account for your whole family or household. Then each person can be added as an exhibitor to the family account, rather than creating a separate account for each family member. That means only one sign-in email and password to remember!
The online entry system is fairly self-explanatory– just choose the division you want to enter, find the specific class in that division that fits your entry, and include a brief description of your item to help fair staff identify and locate your exhibit as needed.

The final step in the process might create some confusion and that is the section called “Payment.” This step is built into the online system, but since there is no charge to enter anything at the Ellis County Fair, just click through the payment section until you reach the screen which asks you to “submit” your entry registration. Don’t panic about the potential for payment (the balance will remain $0.00 and you are never asked to give any financial information), ignore the section about questions and keep going; your entry is not complete until you hit “submit.”

You will receive two email messages from “FairEntry” to the email address on your account. The first arrives immediately and says “thanks for registering” and later you will receive a message that your entry has been approved or that there is an issue with your entry. (The problem might be something as simple as an adult trying to enter a class for youth only, or a 4-Her trying to enter a project in which they are not enrolled. Follow the instructions to edit your entry.)

The fair manager will approve your entries and print the entry tags which will be waiting for you at the fair– no need to fill any out this year. If you missed entering something the first time, you can add more after the fair manager approves the first group of entries.

On entry day at the fair– Monday, July 18 for most exhibits– you will bring your projects to the fair and enter through the Deutschfest Hall center doors. You will be handed your printed entry tags to attach to your exhibits and officially checked-in. You will then drop off your entries at the appropriate area in the building and that’s it! Entering exhibits in advance speeds up the check-in process at the fairgrounds.

Susan Schlichting, Ellis County 4-H Agent, prepared a video of the new online advance entry system. Please watch it for step-by-step guidance and to help answer any questions you might have. It is posted on our website at www.ellis.ksu.edu. It has also been shared on Facebook at “K-State Research and Extension-Ellis County” and also at “Ellis County Fair.” You can also find the video on Hays Post– select Eagle TV at the top of the page and click on “Extras From Extension” in the drop-down box. The direct link to the information is: https://tinyurl.com/jtu3zsk.

If you are not a computer user, or need help with the online entry system, please contact us at the Ellis County Extension Office, 601 Main Street in Hays, 785-628-9430. We’ll be happy to assist you to ensure that your items are successfully pre-entered for the Ellis County Fair.

Remember, the deadline is July 5 to get your projects entered for the Ellis County Fair, so start today!

Linda K. Beech is Ellis County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.