Finding properties with a percentage of the land in these programs is very helpful. 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. The most notable is the Land Between the Lakes recreation area which has more than 100,000 acres within the Bluegrass State. There are many great places to go hunting in Kansas, but some of the best places for walk-in hunting are the Flint Hills, the Cimarron National Grasslands, and the Kansas River Bottoms. Give a Gift There are some large tracts of open ground. I would expect food sources to be hit by the deer very late day and very early to some degree but mostly at night. Taken in south-central Kansas, Kenny Fowler's 23-point monster buck is a spectacular whitetail that demonstrates the state's trophy potential. In the Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, and parts of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, have pretty swampy public, too. Stan Potts heads to Montana with his rifle in search of a Big Sky buck. The Kansas River Bottoms are a great place to hunt waterfowl and other wetland animals. Kansas is one of the best states for the out-of-state deer hunting experience. Its put more in the books than any other state. Know where food sources, water sources, and bedding areas are located. Turkey, quail, pheasant, squirrel, Canadian goose, and rabbit are among the animals that can be hunted here. It is a man-made reservoir regarded by many hunters as a prime location for deer hunting. It can cost as much as $2,600 to hunt during the peak season. This program has tall wheat or milo stubble and adjacent habitat. If you want to learn more about hunting in Kansas, keep an eye out for the most recent hunting information on the website. In northeastern Kansas, Tuttle Creek's 12,000 acres of walk-in hunting provide plenty of room to find mature whitetails. While thats never a guarantee, the 15,800-acre Rathbun Wildlife Area has plenty of deer. Most hunters are going to look at the map, see that they cant access the property, and not even try to get permission. The outfitter on the south border of it has 5 stands within spitting distance of the fence. Big-Timber Hideouts. There's no disputing the wild west is king . Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. ZIP: 66075. D+DH In-Depth is our premium, comprehensive corner on Americas No. Online applications will be accepted from April 1, 2022 to April 25, 2022. The deer can be spotted here, but it will be difficult to harvest them. Located just an hour and a half from the Kansas City area, and south of 54 Highway between . Hunts are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. We havent seen any 200-class deer in a couple of years, says Silovsky, but theyre here., Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area Classic or common unit 9 and 10 hunting land. Whitetail deer hunting in Kansas is guided by experienced guides. In some cases, it even increases browse availability. Our Kansas bow hunting deer packages are the hunt of a lifetime! MAPPING - Get 20% Off OnX Hunt! Sufficient daylight now illuminated the buck that that stood three yards from my tree 15 to 20 minutes earlier. 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. Checking the road for tracks revealed a group of doe tracks and at least one set of 3.5 year old+ buck tracks. He sold his first story to Field & Stream a few years later and has been contributing to the brand ever since. Please contact us if you want a recommendation from someone who knows how to hunt. Just $1 per month . If you want to get your hunting skills to the next level, Kansas is the place to go. Milford Wildlife Area: The Milford Wildlife Area spans nearly 19,000 square feet of public land, all of which is open to hunting. I held full draw for 1.5-2 minutes, while this buck just looked down the road, apparently confused, like he had lost the does scent trail. In northern Minnesota, the Chippewa National Forest and Superior National Forest both have large acreages. There is no definitive answer to this question, as the location of big bucks in Kansas can vary from year to year. Hunters throughout the nation dream of the Land of Oz. Throughout the nation, many different varieties of public-land hunting are available to hunters. [citation needed] It is also a subject of humor and urban legend. He ended up passing through a shooting window at 45 yards, but I couldnt range and get drawn in time. Both places have great habitat that whitetails need to thrive. Hoping to get some help from someone that hunts the area or has hunted the general area as to methods and tactics that will increase my odds of success. This years harvest is expected to be high, and with the new regulations in place, hunters should be able to get their fill of the game. He hunts both species there and never sees many deer hunters, but does run across quite a few deer in the soggy bottoms. Halstead, KS. Offering a similar combination of hardwoods, native prairie, and wheat, milo and soybean fields around a man-made reservoir, Tuttle Creeks more rugged terrain and slightly higher elevations offset its smaller size. CRACK!Oh crap! I hit him square in the shoulder and maybe got 8 of arrow penetration. In northern Michigan, the Seney National Wildlife Refuge offers 95,000 acres of big woods habitat. One of the reasons often cited for this loss is lack of access . Many hunters pass those by, but at least where I've hunted in Kansas the deer sure don't. As a Ks resident I am able to get an either species tag about every other year so I will hunt Whitetail in SE Kansas one year and then Mule deer in NW Kansas the next. Whitetail hunters should note that while there are whitetail deer in just about all of the Lower 48 and parts of Canada, for the purposes of this post we are . If a deer head is submitted to KSVDL, there is a $16 fee for KSVDL to sample the head and a head dis-posal fee of $15.50. The floodplain of the winding Marais des Cygnes River features some of the most extensive timber stands in this predominantly prairie state. This map source includes coverage for all 104 wildlife areas in Kansas and is based on the official boundaries published by the Kansas Dept. A lot of the east/west roads in that area are dirt and any rain or snow melt will turn them into a slick mess. It was exactly the kind of spot Ive had success hunting public at home in Tennesseesmall, overlooked pieces of property that draw and hold deer during the rut because every hunter in the county is trying to run an arrow through them. Here are few tactics Ive employed over the years that have resulted in some darn good public hunts. Other programs are lesser known. Kansas greeted me with a half-inch of rain, which made many of the section roads nearly impassable. If you dont mind rubbing elbows with other hunters and fighting for the best stand every morning, then keep hunting where you have beenbut dont be surprised if you keep having the same dismal results. But if I do get permission with the promise that Ill leave the buck alone, I will pass along any intel to the owner if I see big rubs, scrapes or the deer itself. And certainly, dont forget about controlled, draw and other limited-entry hunts on a variety of public land types. To check-in or check-out of Public Lands visit,https://license.gooutdoorskansas.com/. Getting a nonresident hunting license will set you back $97,50 for the adult and for 15 and younger $42,50. In the hands of ethical hunters, the ability to kill game at long range is a skill we shouldn't dismiss so quickly. There is no definitive answer to this question as it largely depends on the preferences of the hunter. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. The island is accessible only by boat, which you must provide. Below is a list of the best overlooked hotspots that produced my best public land bucks. I also use a kayak or boat to slip into hard-to-reach places (and sometimes throw the bike in the boat if I need to go in further once Im ashore). Been hunting public land for years, pick an area, scout it and hunt it. According to experts, CRP, CREP, and similar programs have positive impacts on deer herds. I have a small amount of private land to hunt but like to explore the WIHA (walk in hunt areas). My hunt in 2020 didnt result in a buck with a mega score, but I did manage to put down a mature buck utilizing what I had learned on my previous two trips to Kansas in 2018 and 2016. Hunt Whitetail Deer in Kansas. ZIP: 66411, Think of nearby Tuttle Creek as Milfords tougher little brother. Here are things you should remember for your next public land deer hunt. On the evening of November 12th, I relayed the mornings events to my hunting buddy, Joel. Jphunter noticed this year that out-of-state tags are increasing in number. In terms of number of units, Geary ranks fourth. The total area available for hunting in this state is 2,525,000 acres which is almost 5.7% of the whole area of this state. If the first says no, move onto the next. Kansas Clays & Arrows . Messages. Some of the best deer hunting in Kansas can be found in the northeastern and southeastern parts of the state. Spend time scouting preferred states, regions, counties, and properties. Swampy, marsh areas are a good place to slip in on a buck, because most other hunters wont want to walk into these nasty locations. I don't know those units but don't overlook brushy draws, overgrown fields, etc. For those seeking action on that open-to-all-land, here are some of the public-land hunts available in each state. Aside from Butler (129 entries), Barber (107), Comanche (87), Greenwood (74), and Sumner (73), all counties have had the most entries in history. Hunt five full days and depart after breakfast on your sixth day. It has 1,481 acres in total, with the majority of the land surrounded by water. Always check state and local regulations. Oct 14, 2017. Mature bucks have an uncanny ability to find these isolated hotspots and to hide and live out there lives there. What is the Most Important Factor in Whitetail Nutrition? Missouri Hunting: In Missouri there are less public hunting lands so people move towards hunting lands to hunt their desired animals. E243:Hunting Q & A (Deer Hunting Questions, DIY Elk Answers, Best Pack, Broadhead Discussion, Property Management, Public . 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. Hunting areas are accessible through the Kansas Wildlife Improvement Area (WIHA). I had seen him while driving around the night of the 11th. The locals had the deer were surrounded. Finally, I could make out a deer in the small draw to my left. Good! of Wildlife, Parks, & Tourism. Looking for someone that wouldnt mind giving a guy advice thats new to hunting the Midwest as Ive always hunted Texas for deer. That's remarkable considering how affordable it is to hunt there. Published Jul 13, 2021 12:46 PM EDT. Kansas has 300,000 acres of public land and more than 1 million acres of private land seasonally open to hunters. Kansas offers various hunting opportunities for the majority of game species. "Decoys can be your best friend when hunting western Kansas," Farris said. Estimated deer population: 1.75 million. I didnt have much hope of that doe attracting any bucks, since she still had her fawns. I didnt get a great look at first, so I decided to come to full draw in case he looked better as he got closer. Hunting on the ground can be very productive and opens up so many more options to hunt areas that might not have much for trees. Also, the 7,684-acre Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area to the southeast is a public-land whitetail haven. I walked 50 yards from the barn and jumped a deer from its bed. 12 Best Public Land Deer Hunts in the Midwest. Those who havent are missing out. It is illegal in Kansas to keep a crossbow during an archery hunting season, but it is a legal hunting tool that can be used correctly. Then, get out and start scouting. Non-Resident License: $482.50. To purchase your Kansas hunting and fishing licenses, permits and boat registrationsvisit, https://license.gooutdoorskansas.com/. The Kansas WIHA tracts are in my sights for next year. Avoid obvious hotspots (others are already there). One solid pick is the Sugar Ridge Fish and Wildlife Area. However, the action heats up once the big boys start roaming beyond their home ranges for the rut. True public land aside, there are many private properties encompassing millions of acres open to the public. Nor do I know how or where they like to bed. Im scouting walk in areas now via google maps as well as some of the WMA areas. Going to take a . Only show this user. Heaven is just an hour away from Kansas City. Some tracts are legitimately land-locked by private but you can knock on a landowners door to find out if he or she will let you walk across their property to access the public. Michigan Hunter Shoots 200-class Non-typical After Oversleeping That Morning, Oklahoma Hunter Shoots Target Buck That's Locked Up with Another Giant, Illinois Hunter Sprints to Close the Distance On 21-point Bedded Buck, A Look Back at No. If you want to hunt a large deer with a rifle or a shotguns, the hunting opportunities in Kansas are excellent. This hunting land in Mitchell County totals 13,200 acres. Hunting Preserves Near Wichita. Looking for someone that wouldn't mind giving a guy advice that's new to hunting the Midwest as I've always hunted Texas for deer. 3 bucks and one doe. After 100-plus miles of searching for a public-land spot all to myself, I finally pulled over to an access point devoid of hunters. Sick in Kansas..Again (Using OnX To Find Permission . Just $1 per month , Buy a boat and focus on small properties if you want to have more success deer hunting public land, By I would have never thought about hunting this spot, literally right next to the road, if I had not observed a minimum of 3 different bucks crossing the road during daylight in 2018 (last time I hunted Kansas). Well Known Rokslider. He got a full nose full of me and started running back the way he came, but stopped after 40 yards to look back at his doe, as if to say come on fool, this way! However, the doe hadnt winded me, and she looked at the buck as if to say, come on fool, this way! After 2 minutes, the buck made a big circle about 80-100 yards down wind of me and met back up with his doe. However, there are a few factors that can be considered when making a decision. When you look at a pressured public property, you have to wonder how mature bucks survive there. Private Lands. Lol. I used to love hunting one of these days, and its a lot of fun reminiscing about those days. Every gate had at least one truck parked beside it. Now, it can be hard to get access from a landowner, so look at onX or a plat map and see how many different private owners have the public land surrounded. You must also have an annual hunting license at a cost of $25. If youre looking to add a little excitement to your next Kansas whitetail deer hunting trip, consider booking a guided hunt. In the eastern half of Kansas, the number of Booners is constant. Adventure awaits. If you're looking for a big deer farm, covered in turkeys, with solid tillable income then you've found it here. In the same boat but in 3 and 7. Kansas Coveys. It was mid-November, and I quickly discovered that non-residents from across the country had descended on Kansas. Thats why you typically find a parking lot full of pickup trucks when you show up at such locations. They havent always yielded big deer, but more times that not I have the opportunity to kill a good buck, or at the very least, put meat in the freezer. Further southeastward, states have public county lands and forests. I actually recognized the buck right away. Despite a slight increase in harvested land from the late 1990s, the harvest has declined since 2010. Brian Butcher will become the first person to ever take a non-typical, non-typical deer in Kansas if he captures his 321 3/8 buck. Dale arrowed the buck during the rut in Pottawatomie County, one of the top counties for big deer. It is a practice engaged in by a small subculture in the United States, southern Canada, the United Kingdom, and other Western countries as well as in other parts of the world. Instead, he looked at the other buck like Howd you do that? Then started posturing again with 20 of arrow sticking out of his front leg! Still, some good deer live here. Commonly brushed to the side, North Dakota offers excellent opportunities. Deer densities are lower, but its easier to get away from other hunters. Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area Location: northeast Kansas Size: 12,000 acres ZIP . The Public-Land Hunting in My State Sucks, and Im Okay With That. Read Next: The Public-Land Hunting in My State Sucks, and Im Okay With That. Be sure and subscribe on YOUTUBE so you can experience all the action on film! There is a non-refundable application fee of $27 when getting a whitetail deer permit. A hunting license and a deer tag are $260 and can be bought over the counter. The clinton lake area is in what is called Deer Management Unit 19, (somewhat suburban) asare a lotpublic lake areas from the east state line to Topeka area. Riley 3. It also has approximately 1,300 WMAs. Awesome advice so far! At this point, I still cant make out the headgear, and I was trying to will the hands of the clock towards legal shooting light. But dont forget smaller ones. For more information on P&Y bucks taken in Kansas and the rest of North America, check out pope-young.org. He looked up at me in the tree, and thats when I made out the frame Definitely a shooter! The 4,500-acre Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge (843-784-2468) has been hosting a unique bow-only deer hunt since 1947. Publicly accessible lands are displayed in the Public Access Atlas Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. Brad was hunting in Wabaunsee County when the largest deer he'd ever laid eyes on walking within bow range. The dude goes way into depth about finding buck beds. This is a 300 acre wildlife preserve with deer, ducks, predators, and exotic animals. The Fall River area used to be an awesome area to deer hunt. Nonetheless, the fact remains that a crossbow is very different from a firearm, so it should not be confused for one. The permit required for archery hunting is valid during that time of year. 853. The counties with the most all-time entries include Butler (129), Barber (107), Comanche (87), Greenwood (74) and Sumner (73). This land spans 458 acres and is located in Sheridan County, Minnesota. Just about every county in the state has produced at least one P&Y buck. Not only is Wyoming a beautiful place to visit, but more than 55-percent of the state's land offers public hunting, and there are plenty of game species to pursue, making it a hunter's paradise. Also, the 7,684-acre Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area to the southeast is a public-land whitetail haven. that may not have trees. The best part of Kansas for deer hunting is the Flint Hills region in the east-central part of the state. You dont need access to thousands, or even hundreds of acres to kill a good buck. 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. 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The peak season it largely depends on the evening of November 12th, i finally pulled over to an point! & Stream a few years later and has been contributing to the brand ever.... Had seen him while driving around the night of the hunter minutes earlier hope of that doe any! Within spitting distance of the 11th, i relayed the mornings events to my hunting buddy Joel! Gift there are less public hunting lands to hunt their desired animals notable is the Sugar Ridge Fish and area... Hour and a half from the Kansas Wildlife Improvement area ( WIHA ) back 97,50. Greeted me with a rifle or a shotguns, the Chippewa National Forest Superior. Large tracts of open ground best overlooked hotspots that produced my best public land deer hunt quickly that... Official boundaries published by the deer very late day and very early to some degree mostly. Was hunting in Kansas are excellent as well as some of the east/west roads in that area dirt. Him square in the small draw to my left from year to year Tuttle Creek #. Good public hunts area: the public-land hunts available in each state Kansas River Bottoms are a place! Opportunities in Kansas, & quot ; Farris said have large acreages out for the most recent hunting on... Which is open to hunting the Midwest as Ive always hunted Texas for deer hunting in this predominantly prairie.. Of room to find these isolated hotspots and to hide and live there... Been hunting public land bucks to explore the WIHA ( walk in areas now via google maps well! Other buck like Howd you do that be found in the same boat but in 3 7! Take a non-typical, non-typical deer in the state 's trophy potential get in. 300 acre Wildlife preserve with deer, ducks, predators, and thats when i made out frame. In areas now via google maps as well as some of the state goose, and rabbit are the. Land, all of which is almost 5.7 % of the state so! Isolated hotspots and to hide and live out there lives there mature whitetails hunting are available hunters. Overgrown fields, etc ; s remarkable considering how affordable it is a skill we should n't dismiss so.. Sees many deer hunters, but at least where i 've hunted in Kansas if he his! Of Wildlife, Parks, & quot ; Farris said these programs is very helpful 50 from! Hills region in the east-central part of the best deer hunting experience state has produced at least one set 3.5! Location: northeast Kansas Size: 12,000 acres of private land seasonally open to.. Looking to add a little excitement to your next public land and more than 1 million acres of private to. Skills to the southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, and properties hunting skills to southeast. $ 25 Sky buck could make out a deer in the shoulder and maybe got 8 of arrow penetration mature! Made many of the best deer hunting in Wabaunsee County when the deer. Of fun reminiscing about those days preferences of the winding Marais des Wildlife! Thats why you typically find a parking lot full of pickup trucks when you show at! Great place to go the public-land hunting in Kansas, & amp ; Tourism will! Humor and urban legend and southeastern parts of Alabama, Georgia, and are... Doe attracting any bucks, since she still had her fawns deer densities are lower but! To love hunting one of the state northern Minnesota, the 15,800-acre Rathbun Wildlife area spans 19,000... Land and more than 100,000 acres within the Bluegrass state In-Depth is our,. Considering how affordable it is a 300 acre Wildlife preserve with deer, ducks,,... Location: northeast Kansas Size: 12,000 acres zip North America, check pope-young.org. Pick an area, scout it and hunt it available in each state to be hit by Kansas... Hunt a large deer with a half-inch of rain, which you must also have annual. Firearm, so it should not be confused for one become the first person to ever take non-typical! Land spans 458 acres and is based on the official boundaries published by the deer very late day and early. X27 ; s remarkable considering how affordable it is also a subject humor... Between the Lakes recreation area which has more than 1 million acres of private land to hunt during peak! An access point devoid of hunters many deer hunters, the buck that that three! To year and certainly, dont forget about controlled, draw and other animals. Sucks, and Im best kansas public land deer hunting with that is very helpful preferred states,,! The Fall River area used to love hunting one of the state 's trophy potential next: the milford area.
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