I am a citizen of the state of Kansas and request the number of nonresident deer permits issued each year be reduced. The public trust doctrine should be followed by the state, and the state has the duty to protect the resident citizen's interest in the wildlife resources. Being a free resource, the state can not reallocate this resource in a way that is unfair to the citizens of Kansas. The state also can not do so to serve the special interest of private parties or businesses, such as outfitter organizations. Since Kansas is ranked 49th for public land, having only two percent, I request the number of nonresident deer permits be two percent of the total resident deer permits issued each year.

When private land is leased out for the purpose of nonresident deer hunting, it removes the wildlife and the land from the citizens of Kansas. Not only do Kansas deer hunter numbers decline as a result, but also quail hunters, pheasant hunters, waterfowl hunters, small game hunters, fisherman, and hikers to name just a few. While I support landowners' rights to lease, I do not support the state of Kansas passing laws that are against the public trust doctrine.