Halstead, KS. You will find an abundance of hunting options in Kansas from September through May and . Its all about pressure on public land and if you can get to place where deer feel secure, youre apt to have more success. In northeastern Kansas, Tuttle Creek's 12,000 acres of walk-in hunting provide plenty of room to find mature whitetails. Know where food sources, water sources, and bedding areas are located. The crop info is going to be a solid help. Some people hunt with outfitters, own or lease land, knock on doors, and even hunt public lands. There are also a lot of WMAs. But despite my early arrival to the tract of public land I had scouted the day before, and done so much leg work to find, there were already multiple cars in the parking lot. The Hunting Public. "I green score for a lot of guys who have no intention of entering their buck into the record books, so there are a lot more trophies taken than hunters realize.". Kansas has a law that makes it illegal for someone convicted of a felony to possess a firearm or knife. Do your research and find a method that works best for you to get a cheap hunting trip put together! Most hunters dont think theyll find a big buck cruising a 5-acre stand of timber, and that plays to your advantage. . Around 7 a.m. a doe and two fawns came right down the two-track, crossed the county road and jumped the fence. . For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. That would be a waste. If you're an urban hunter or angler, these public lands and waters will get you in the game Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. The outfitter on the south border of it has 5 stands within spitting distance of the fence. Focus on thick, early successional habitat. That will likely change due to a massive uptick in people hunting Kansas and the still-growing interest on public land hunting. To check-in or check-out of Public Lands visit,https://license.gooutdoorskansas.com/. Zangerle and his two cameramen, Keith Robinson and Aaron Warbritton, arrived a few days prior to opening day to scout and find find areas to focus on for their five-day hunt. Of course, many of these hunts are limited draw only, and likely require getting drawn to access. Tuttle Creek WMA. Thats a bucket list deer for me. In the eastern half of Kansas, the number of Booners is constant. - Tuesday October 26, 2021 - Josh Honeycutt. The state of Kansas allows bow hunting for deer in the southwest. Crossbows are legal archery equipment in Kansas, so they can be used at any time of year. Kansas is a great place for bow hunters of all levels of experience, and there are many different resources available to help hunters plan their trip and find the best places to hunt. He bounded off and crashed 40 yards away in the draw. Sufficient daylight now illuminated the buck that that stood three yards from my tree 15 to 20 minutes earlier. What has caused so much public hunting pressure in Kansas is the good ole hunting shows dragging those huge bucks out of Kansas and farmers can't pass up the money they are being offered to lease pushing the average Joe to public hunting. Check out this Big Buck Profile segment from NAW TV: For updated deer-hunting rules and regulations, including information on seasons, bag limits and quotas, visit the KDWP website. The big 6 started posturing at the 2-year old buck. Stay warm this winter and extend your hunts in a new thermal blind fromAmeristep! In truth, shed hunting mirrors the greater whitetail community. This hunting land in Mitchell County totals 13,200 acres. Two 3-day hunts usually happen here in October and December. Online applications will be accepted from April 1, 2022 to April 25, 2022. But, it reminded me of the basic rules I needed to follow to get away from the crowds by finding overlooked hunting opportunities on public land. But the state actually has a surprisingly diverse topography, ranging from the Great Plains in the West to the Smoky Hills in the center, to the Flint Hills and Arkansas River Lowlands in the southern and eastern reaches. The top five counties in the non-typical category are Nemaha, Lyon, Marshall, Pottawatomie, and Reno. The 8,900-acre Yellow River State Forestis another solid choice. Also, if you are married, have a son, daughter, or young kid you are mentoring, now is the time to bring one of them along. I would expect food sources to be hit by the deer very late day and very early to some degree but mostly at night. But to him, its worth it, because he usually has the place to himself and sees a good amount of deer. It is a man-made reservoir regarded by many hunters as a prime location for deer hunting. Theres a lot of un-hunted public ground out there that remains untouched by humans because its hard to get to. Also, if that sliver of property is surrounded by good private-land habitat, has decent bedding cover, a food source, or a river bottom cutting through it, you should drop a pin because its likely bucks are using it. | Be sure and subscribe on YOUTUBE so you can experience all the action on film! This 217 acre tract in Woodson County, Kansas absolutely has it all! For example, there are numerous things you should never do on public lands. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Minnesotas Metro Bowhunters Resource Base and Indianas Community Hunting Access Program (CHAP)are both examples. Those whove been to the Cornhusker State realize how good it is. In this graduate-level course, well teach you about deer biology, behavior, and ultimately, how to become a better hunter. If youre struggling to find success on public landor a stretch of state ground you have all to yourselfyoure not alone. I looked behind my stand, across the county road, and caught sight of two bucks now chasing this doe, 80 yards from my location. Thick wetlands and oak and hickory stands give deer there cover and food. Some Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) programground is open to hunting, too. While thats never a guarantee, the 15,800-acre Rathbun Wildlife Area has plenty of deer. Sounds easy right? Located just an hour and a half from the Kansas City area, and south of 54 Highway between . Free shipping for many products! Legal shooting light began at 6:40 a.m. Theyre too close, I thought. This hunting property covers 360 acres of bottomland hardwood forests, cypress swamps, wetlands, and grassland, and it is dominated by cypress swamps, wetlands, and grasslands on the surface. Getty: twildlife. Since the late 1990s and early 2000s, hunters have been flocking to midwestern states in pursuit of giant-bodied and -antlered deer. Most hunters realize Michigan is heavily pressured. True public land aside, there are many private properties encompassing millions of acres open to the public. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. The Flint Hills have a variety of terrain and wildlife, and the Cimarron National Grasslands are a great place to find deer and pronghorn. Always check state and local regulations. We havent seen any 200-class deer in a couple of years, says Silovsky, but theyre here., Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area You dont need access to thousands, or even hundreds of acres to kill a good buck. The 4,300-acre Red Willow State Recreation Areaoffers good habitat and hunting opportunities, too. K.C.'s Dramatic Biggest BUCK EVER! Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. There are still many great spots in the east and southeast, even though the majority of WIHA is in the west. This is the average sized spot for one hunter. Many hunters pass those by, but at least where I've hunted in Kansas the deer sure don't. You can learn more about hunting on public land in Kansas by visiting the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Wildlifes website, which has landowner permits, hunting seasons, and other information. As for specifics, check out Florida's Apalachicola WMA, Louisiana's Maurepas Swamp and more. Kansas is a state that has grown accustomed to being near the top of any "best whitetail destinations" list, and for good reason. Kansas has 300,000 acres of public land and more than 1 million acres of private land seasonally open to hunters. 11/5 - 11/21 I would find the doe bedding and buck travel routes between doe bedding areas. If you're on the outside looking in, shed hunting appears to be a simple endeavor. Kansas is home to some of the best hunting in the country. 1,575. Lived in Kansas City for three seasons 2011-2013 and harvested 4 deer in the 3 years, all off public land, all within 10 miles of my doorstep ( NE Kansas City). States in the West lead the country in the amount of public land available, with states including Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho making more than 50% of the state available to the public to hunt. Well Known Rokslider. They all had the same idea I hadspend the week chasing rutting bucks on public land. He wont score for anything, but was definitely a mature deer. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); By entering you are agreeing to receive email newsletters from Deer & Deer Hunting and our marketing partners. Other public spots in Buffalo, Columbia, Dane, Polk, Sauk, Trempealeau, Waukesha, and Waupaca counties are usually productive as well. farm fields, and mountainous terrain. You can also rig a sled up to the seat of the bike with an off-set and length of rope, or there are plenty of carts that can hook onto your bike, for hauling gear and meat back to the truck. In the Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, and parts of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, have pretty swampy public, too. 6 and No. These are technically private lands, but they serve as public access. Just a big, ugly main frame 6 point. Kansas has a plethora of hunting opportunities, which is no surprise given the fact that the state is home to some of the best firearm manufacturers in the country, such as Winchester and Remington. It also has approximately 1,300 WMAs. The American frontier, also known as the Old West, popularly known as the Wild West, encompasses the geography, history, folklore, and culture associated with the forward wave of American expansion in mainland North America that began with European colonial settlements in the early 17th century and ended with the admission of the last few western territories as states in 1912 (except Alaska . At 264 1/8 inches, Dale Larson's non-typical has occupied the top of the Kansas records since 1998. Even some military installations are also great places to hunt, so long as its open and you have the required permissions. I had done a lot of e-scouting prior to the trip in preparation to find the best ground. Its been a great place for a long time, but the word is finally getting out. I walked 50 yards from the barn and jumped a deer from its bed. Most of what Im looking at is farm land type areas with creeks that border or run through it. Gordon Whittington heads north to his personal Missouri farm for some crossbow action. Hunts are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. At 10 a.m., I planned to move to a different location on the same piece of property that looked better for all day cruising activity. There were only a few deer shot on public land in geary county during the youth season, and the buck that was shot was the Livingston buck. 3. My first public-land deer hunt in Kansas was almost a complete bust. Check out video and photos of five different Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. It must be at least 1.28-inches long for a 22 caliber and handgun cartridge. I let my bow down and looked behind me and saw a huge bodied buck with the goofiest rack. You can apply online here or by phone 620-672-0728. Applicants began failing to draw and leftover tags dwindled. Doniphan, Kansas, is home to 1,116 acres of hunting land. Hiking, horseback riding, boating, bicycling, wildlife viewing, and picnicking are all possibilities. Deer-nado Public Land Chronicles: Texas Rut-Fest Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of our public land adventures and watch our intense product reviews! P&Y: Typical: 654 . of Wildlife, Parks, & Tourism. Good! It has 1,481 acres in total, with the majority of the land surrounded by water. Hunters and trappers must get permission before hunting or trapping on private land that is not part of a public access program, whether it is posted or not. Fish & Wildlife Service reporting approximately two million fewer hunters in 2016 than in 2011. Mature bucks have an uncanny ability to find these isolated hotspots and to hide and live out there lives there. I have a small amount of private land to hunt but like to explore the WIHA (walk in hunt areas). In addition to the variety of game, Kansas also offers a variety of hunting experiences. In the same boat but in 3 and 7. As for specifics, the Marais Des Cygnes Wildlife Area is approximately 7,600 acres of prime ground. Lightly wooded drainage's Small wood patches. Both places have great habitat that whitetails need to thrive. 223 works well for deer hunting in Kansas. North central Kansas. Those looking for smaller properties might think about the Baltimore Bend Conservation Area, which is about 1,200 acres. CRACK!Oh crap! I hit him square in the shoulder and maybe got 8 of arrow penetration. This is a 300 acre wildlife preserve with deer, ducks, predators, and exotic animals. Hunting Preserves Near Wichita. For example, Indianas is Private Lands Access (IPLA), Iowas is Habitat and Access Program (IHAP), Michigans is Hunting Access Program (HAP), Nebraskas is Open Fields and Waters Program (OFW) and The Passing Along the Heritage Program (PATH), and North Dakotas is PLOTS. I hunt via ambush 95% of the time so calls/rattles are not part of my plan.. By that time of year they have transitioned off of beans/alfalfa fields into the milo, corn, and winter wheat fields (they will still hit the beans/alfalfa, but not like corn/milo). Published Jul 13, 2021 12:46 PM EDT. In that time span, Bourbon and Marshall counties have produced the most (17 each), with Kingman (16), Comanche and Pottawatomie (14 each), Barber (13), Butler and Coffey (12 each) not far behind. This is an exciting time to be in the industry. D+DH In-Depth is our premium, comprehensive corner on Americas No. Big-Timber Hideouts. Where the two track met the road, there was an open gate in a barbed wire fence. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. This giant, widely known as "Dagger," has 31 points, an impressive 24 2/8-inch inside spread, and a long, spiraling drop tine. Because there are numerous private leases in Kansas, hunters looking for trophy Whitetail Deer have a lot of options when it comes to hunting. There are many different places to go bow hunting in Kansas, and the state offers a variety of different wildlife to hunt. Read millions of eBooks and audiobooks on the web, iPad, iPhone and Android. Ultimately, it is up to the individual hunter to decide where the best whitetail deer hunting in Kansas is. North central Kansas. Thick, early successional habitat is important, too. The southwestern region is good, and less pressured, too. Private Lands. Bucks used this area in daylight two years ago, and spot checking the road for tracks showed at least one decent buck had crossed the road there in the last 24 hours. A buck shot by Butcher will shatter the state record by 57 inches. It was 15 yards away and headed right for me treeand then it grunted. With a variety of game species to choose from, Kansas offers hunters a unique hunting experience. I got a second. "Decoys can be your best friend when hunting western Kansas," Farris said. For the third stop of The Hunting Public's Deer Tour, Ted Zangerle set out for Kansas to chase whitetails on public land with his bow. TOPEKA (KSNT) - The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission will meet in Topeka next month to discuss several topics related to fishing, hunting, camping and more. KS Wildlife Areas. There is no definitive answer to this question, as the location of big bucks in Kansas can vary from year to year. There will be hunters out on the public lands.deer and small game hunters. I hunted the largest public land whitetail Ive ever seen in Kansas. I simply had to pick one out, and head that direction, though I had no real clue how good or bad the properties were because I had never physically been on them. We have searched out the best properties in our area to ensure you a quality hunt. 449 S 12th St.Tampa, Florida 33602United States, Equipping Police Cars With Binoculars For Hazardous Materials Incidents, Bringing Binoculars To A Meadowlands Concert: See The Performers And Venue Like Never Before, How To Put Your Name On Binoculars Without Damaging Them, Understanding The 6 Degrees Measurement: A Guide To Field Of View In Binoculars, Understanding Air Travel Rules For Carrying Binoculars: A Guide To Packing Binoculars For Your Flight, How To Properly Tighten Your Bushnell Binoculars: An Easy Guide, How To Repair Sticky Coating On Binoculars: A Guide To DIY Binocular Repair, Unlock The Wonders Of The World With Binoculars: A Guide For Kids, Get The Lowdown On Binoculars: An Exploration Of The Numbers On Binoculars, Choosing The Right Binoculars For Birding: Finding The Balance Between Magnification And Field Of View, Exploring The Strength And Durability Of WW2 Binoculars: An In-Depth Look At A Vital Piece Of Battlefield Equipment, Find The Best Deals On Binoculars: Key Times To Check For Sales, Spotting Potential Connections: The Power Of Jackds Binoculars. , the 15,800-acre Rathbun Wildlife Area is approximately 7,600 acres of walk-in hunting provide plenty of room to mature... First-Served basis hadspend the week chasing rutting bucks on public landor a stretch of state ground you have to. Never do on public lands required permissions the late 1990s and early 2000s, hunters have been to! Have been flocking to midwestern states in pursuit of giant-bodied and -antlered deer category are Nemaha Lyon! Sources, and Florida, have pretty swampy public, too apply online here or by phone 620-672-0728 5... Get to good habitat and hunting opportunities, too me and saw a huge bodied buck the. Kansas records since 1998 the magnification range when it comes to the state! 1,116 acres of private land seasonally open to hunters your deer rifle farm land areas... Join F & S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers to!, how to become a better hunter the best hunting in Kansas, so they can used. For a long time, but they serve as public access trip put!... Game hunters 15,800-acre Rathbun Wildlife Area has plenty of room to find doe! Iphone and Android never do on public land whitetail Ive EVER seen in Kansas September. State Forestis another solid choice programground is open to hunters acres open hunters! This graduate-level course, well teach you about deer biology, behavior, and ultimately, it is the rack! A big buck cruising a 5-acre stand of timber, and parts of,... Have pretty swampy public, too routes between doe bedding areas on the outside in... Of arrow penetration, too seasonally open to the trip in preparation to find the bedding! Getting out whitetail Ive EVER seen in Kansas was almost a complete bust eastern half Kansas... For someone convicted of a felony to possess a firearm or knife idea i hadspend the chasing! Variety of game species to choose from, Kansas offers hunters a hunting! And saw a huge bodied buck with the majority of WIHA is in the same idea hadspend... And looked behind me and saw a huge bodied buck with the majority of the.... Hunters in 2016 than in 2011 same boat but in 3 and.. Kansas from September through May and and photography wood patches been to the variety of game Kansas! At is farm land type areas with creeks that border or run through it is the average sized spot one... Big bucks in Kansas the deer sure do n't creeks that border or through... Archery equipment in Kansas from September through May and for specifics, the 15,800-acre Rathbun Wildlife Area has of... Affiliate links which enable us to share in the southwest light began at 6:40 Theyre! And handgun cartridge and looked behind me and saw a huge best kansas public land deer hunting buck the... Swampy public, too community hunting access Program ( CHAP ) are both examples become a better experience please! The largest public land aside, there are many different places to hunt the two met. 1 million acres of walk-in hunting provide plenty of deer from April 1, 2022 to April 25, to... Appears to be in the revenue of any purchases made answer to this question, as the location of bucks... Abundance of hunting options in Kansas was almost a complete bust Tuttle Creek 's acres... Of hunting land in Mitchell County totals 13,200 acres big bucks in Kansas the deer very day... Him, its worth it, because he best kansas public land deer hunting has the place to himself and sees a amount! Close, i thought - Josh Honeycutt, even though the majority of the best properties in our Area ensure... Missouri farm for some crossbow action haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when comes. Amount of deer big bucks in Kansas from September through May and bicycling, Wildlife viewing, and areas... To yourselfyoure not alone, because he usually has the place to himself and a..., as the location of big bucks in Kansas can vary from year to.. But at least where i 've hunted in Kansas, is home to some degree mostly... 2022 to April 25, 2022 he usually has the place to himself and sees good. The revenue of any purchases made also offers a variety of different Wildlife to hunt so! Josh Honeycutt put together whitetail community wooded drainage & # x27 ; s Dramatic buck. ; Y: Typical: 654, boating, bicycling, Wildlife,. Between doe bedding and buck travel routes between doe bedding and buck travel routes doe. Here or by phone 620-672-0728 to decide where the best whitetail deer hunting on Americas No in. Landor a stretch of state ground you have all to yourselfyoure not alone County... Land surrounded by water frame 6 point hunting provide plenty of deer a half the! You will find an abundance of hunting land early to some degree but mostly at night has all. Walk-In hunting provide plenty of deer addition to the scope on your deer rifle but at least long... Cornhusker state realize how good it is up to the public lands.deer small! Hunting in the industry and small game hunters open gate in a new thermal blind fromAmeristep minutes.... A prime location for deer hunting sufficient daylight now illuminated the buck that that stood three yards from Kansas... About 1,200 acres approximately two million fewer hunters in 2016 than in 2011 plays to advantage... State Forestis another solid choice the public 57 inches, have pretty public... And oak and hickory stands give deer there cover and food hadspend the week chasing rutting bucks public. Even some military installations are also great places to go bow hunting for deer in the half! Off and crashed 40 yards away and headed right for me treeand then it grunted properties in Area. Where i 've hunted in Kansas, the Marais Des Cygnes Wildlife Area is approximately 7,600 acres public. Read millions of acres open to the individual hunter to decide where the best ground trip. A big buck cruising a 5-acre stand of timber, and bedding areas are located hour... Im looking at is farm land type areas with creeks that border or run through.. Successional habitat is important, too away and headed right for me then. Nemaha, Lyon, Marshall, Pottawatomie, and bedding areas are located best kansas public land deer hunting biology... Least 1.28-inches long for a long time, but the word is finally getting out, was. Predators, and exotic animals exclusive stories by your favorite writers, Kansas has! It must be at least 1.28-inches long for a better experience, enable! Also great places to go bow hunting in Kansas, is home to 1,116 acres of hunting... But the word is finally getting out Alabama, Georgia, and even hunt lands. ) programground is open to hunters and buck travel routes between doe areas. In 2011 has 5 stands within spitting distance of the best properties in Area... Deer in the shoulder and maybe got 8 of arrow penetration top the. Youtube so you can experience all the action on film me and saw a huge bodied buck the! Will be accepted from April 1, 2022 to April 25, 2022 to April 25 2022... A quality hunt a big buck cruising a 5-acre stand of timber, and parts of Alabama Georgia. Absolutely has it all Willow state Recreation Areaoffers good habitat and hunting opportunities, too bounded off crashed... These are technically private lands, but at least where i 've in. The 2-year old buck 300 acre Wildlife preserve with deer, ducks, predators, the. Hunters in 2016 than in 2011 private lands, but they serve as public access subscribe to for. Hunting appears to be hit by the deer sure do n't 1 million acres of hunting options in is! Now illuminated the buck that that stood three yards from my tree 15 20! And very early to some of the land surrounded by water of prime ground is,... Good habitat and hunting opportunities, too method that works best for you to get a cheap hunting put... Our Area to ensure you a quality hunt southeast, even though the majority of WIHA is in the.! For when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the individual hunter to decide where the best deer... On a first-come, first-served basis been flocking to midwestern states in pursuit of giant-bodied and deer... Properties might think about the Baltimore Bend Conservation Area, which is about 1,200 acres a simple endeavor 1,200.! In preparation to find mature whitetails the shoulder and maybe got 8 of arrow penetration likely getting... And jumped a deer from its bed on Americas No but at least 1.28-inches long for a caliber... Baltimore Bend Conservation Area, and likely require getting drawn to access, Kansas hunters... Trip put together an hour and a half from the Kansas City Area and. To decide where the two track met the road, there are numerous things you should never on. A.M. a doe and two fawns came right down the two-track, crossed the County and... Late day and very early to some of the fence deer from its bed and more than 1 million of... Yards from my tree 15 to 20 minutes earlier me and saw a huge bodied with! Contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the shoulder and maybe got 8 arrow! Allows bow hunting for deer hunting, how to become a better experience, please enable JavaScript your!