Experienced Kansas bullfrog hunters are sharing some of their tips and tricks to help out new and practiced froggers alike. The Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, or KDWP, reached out to froggers through social media to hear their stories.
“A summer in Kansas isn’t complete without getting your feet a little wet – while frogging, that is. Bullfrog season in Kansas is July 1-October 31, and farm ponds, puddles, shallow creeks, and marshes will be teeming with the sounds of bullfrogs splashing and croaking,” said the department. “Do you grab, gig, or dip? We’re curious to know what your favorite method is.”
“You just kind of creep up on them, shine the light in their eyes, then reach out and grab them,” said Thad Lowrance, who just uses a flashlight. “But if your hand breaks that beam of light between the flashlight and the bullfrog, it’ll jump, and get away.”
“When I was a kid I caught them on a cane pole with a short nylon line and a small red sponge tied on the end,” said Charles Webster. “Once they attacked the sponge, they would not let go.”
“Took my wife frog gigging on one our first couple dates,” said Kevin Shellnut. Neck deep on a nasty cow pond. That’s how you weed out the poser country girls.”
The Topeka Capital-Journal reached out to Lowrance for more. Lowrance, who considers it more sporting to just use a flashlight, said “I got to the point where I was successful probably eight out of 10 times.”
He also employed the red cloth on a pole technique during daylight hours. “You’d just dangle it around in front of them and they’d jump up and grab it,” he said.
SEE ALSO: How to Gig a Frog and How to Clean a Frog
Growing up, Lowrance and his family would eat frogs’ legs, but now he practices catch and release when frogging or fishing. “It’s a young man’s sport,” he said. Frogs are regaining popularity on forks wherever they’re caught, especially with field-to-table practices becoming more prominent.
“Bullfrog season extends from July 1 through October 31,” explains the KDWP. “Daily creel limit is eight. Possession limit is 24 bullfrogs after the third day of the season. A valid fishing license is required for any person to take, catch, or kill bullfrogs, except persons exempt by law from having such license.”
“Bullfrogs may be legally taken any time of day or night by dip net, gig, hook and line, hand, bow and arrow, or crossbow,” the department says. “A line must attach bow to arrow, and the arrow must have a barbed head. Any other method of taking bullfrogs is prohibited.”
Froggers in Kansas need a fishing license to hunt bullfrog, although there are some exceptions for certain individuals. For more information visit the KDWP.