"There are fertile soils and a good mix of natural vegetation and croplands that provide deer with ample nutrition," explains Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism deer biologist Lloyd Fox. In the same boat but in 3 and 7. I had done a lot of e-scouting prior to the trip in preparation to find the best ground. Kansas, Minnesota, and other states have these programs, even if under different names. Whitetail honey-holes on public land are rarely clearly defined. Kansas has 300,000 acres of public land and more than 1 million acres of private land seasonally open to hunters. D+DH In-Depth is our premium, comprehensive corner on Americas No. It would be extremely difficult to hunt near that point, but I would take into account both wind and thermal flow direction. Tony J. Peterson Feb 26, 2023. If you want to hunt a large deer with a rifle or a shotguns, the hunting opportunities in Kansas are excellent. As for specifics, the Marais Des Cygnes Wildlife Area is approximately 7,600 acres of prime ground. Ive hunted in 1 of every 2 places where Ive seen a deer greater than 8 inches long. This is a much smaller area, but offers opportunity. Regardless, everyone wants to hunt the Midwest. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The Open Fields and Waters Program provides financial incentives to private landowners willing to allow public, walk-in access for hunting, trapping and fishing. Tuttle Creek WMA. Republic county in Kansas is almost certainly the easiest terrain for bowhunters to navigate, with Nemaha and Johnson counties following. Those whove been to the Cornhusker State realize how good it is. Getting a nonresident hunting license will set you back $97,50 for the adult and for 15 and younger $42,50. The Kansas WIHA tracts are in my sights for next year. You probably dont see too many deer hunters trailering a 12-foot johnboat into a public hunting area, but thats exactly why you should invest in one. It was mid-November, and I quickly discovered that non-residents from across the country had descended on Kansas. Most of what Im looking at is farm land type areas with creeks that border or run through it. Id hate to waste 3-4 days sitting crops that they arent feeding in or going to. If you want to learn more about hunting in Kansas, keep an eye out for the most recent hunting information on the website. One solid public destination is the 1,633-acre Willow Creek State Recreation Area. Hunter Burkhardt, 27, a Jayhawk State native, has taken a plethora of deer with his bow, including three massive bucks from the Big O'Reilly class. Other states in the region offer it, but on a lesser scale. 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. Thick, early successional habitat is important, too. Mulvane, KS. 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. Nor do I know how or where they like to bed. Greenwood is by far the best, despite being the worst of the three. These are deer hunts that we specialize in. The Flint Hills have a variety of terrain and wildlife, and the Cimarron National Grasslands are a great place to find deer and pronghorn. Archery season begins in mid-September and runs through December, providing plenty of time for hunters to identify and pattern deer carrying trophy antlers. Give a Gift Kansas has long had a reputation for growing monster bucks - and for good reason. Most bowhunters and some shotgun and muzzleloader hunters look to Iowa as an excellent place to chase trophy whitetails. Some people may prefer to hunt in the eastern part of the state, where the deer population is denser, while others may prefer to hunt in the western part of the state, where the deer are larger on average. They all had the same idea I hadspend the week chasing rutting bucks on public land. When compared to what Ive seen in the past, some areas have low deer populations, which means you must remain mentally engaged. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. Jake and Grant are on to them in Kansas! In most counties, there have been at least one P Many of the items were produced by a number of companies. 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. Non-Resident License: $482.50. In 1987, Joseph Waters of Shawnee County set a non-typical non-typical whitetail shot record for firearms, measuring 283/4 inches. Despite the fact more than 95 percent of the state is privately owned, there are some good options for public bowhunting. I personally do not know how much pressure that area gets but I know around here the crop fields on public usually have a lot of pre set stands around them. Best States Based on Public Land Availability. You've probably heard all the talk recently about the decline in hunter numbers, with the U.S. Additionally, Kansas has approximately one-half million acres of Professionally Managed Hunting Facilities providing private fee-to-hunt access. Number of deer hunters: 288,000. This 217 acre tract in Woodson County, Kansas absolutely has it all! I looked behind my stand, across the county road, and caught sight of two bucks now chasing this doe, 80 yards from my location. After some discussion, I decided to hunt the ridiculous roadside spot the following morning until 10 a.m., but in a different tree because the wind direction had changed. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. Hunting whitetails on on public land in Kansas is about as good as it gets for the chance at a legitimate trophy buck. Augusta, KS. Jphunter noticed this year that out-of-state tags are increasing in number. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has a wide range of hunting opportunities available on its public hunting lands. Thick wetlands and oak and hickory stands give deer there cover and food. Deer hunters from both resident and nonresident backgrounds continue to flock to this area. For me, the better option is small, overlooked ground that will house deer in a spot that flies under the radar of other hunters. That said, those who want larger expanses of ground, consider the northern stretches of the state. Guided Hunts include a 20% Group Discount. Be sure and subscribe on YOUTUBE so you can experience all the action on film! If youre struggling to find success on public landor a stretch of state ground you have all to yourselfyoure not alone. Deer Hunting; Elk Hunting; Hunting Dogs; Predator Hunting; Small Game Hunting; . It doesnt look like deer country? Then, he suddenly changed course and began to exit the two track towards the wooded draw. E243:Hunting Q & A (Deer Hunting Questions, DIY Elk Answers, Best Pack, Broadhead Discussion, Property Management, Public . The permit itself is $442,50 for the adult and $117,50. 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. Nearly half the states in the country have some version of this. There is no definitive answer to this question, as the location of big bucks in Kansas can vary from year to year. Is there a greater giftor a more appealing challengefor an American hunter than chasing game across public land, using only your . 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. Other properties require a little more time and creativity. 3 bucks and one doe. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Ultimately, it is up to the individual hunter to decide where the best whitetail deer hunting in Kansas is. Taken in south-central Kansas, Kenny Fowler's 23-point monster buck is a spectacular whitetail that demonstrates the state's trophy potential. Kansas greeted me with a half-inch of rain, which made many of the section roads nearly impassable. 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! My first public-land deer hunt in Kansas was almost a complete bust. One way to get that is to find and focus on properties with CRP. I hunted the place the next few days with several opportunities at young bucks and does, but never the big buck I drove to Kansas to shoot. This hunting land in Mitchell County totals 13,200 acres. 12 Best Public Land Deer Hunts in the Midwest. Use promo code: THP http://bit.ly/2D6aB44THP shirts, hats, and decals - http://bit.l. All hunters born between January 1, 1957 and March 1, 1959, are required to have a concealed hunter safety card. It was around 6:05 a.m. when I completed the hang part of my hang and hunt. For a period of time, Kansas was an almost-guaranteed draw every year, and many units had whitetail tags to spare. He had a 4-point side, and the opposite side consisted of a 10-12 spike, with one point coming straight off the back of the spike. It can cost as much as $2,600 to hunt during the peak season. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. What is the Most Important Factor in Whitetail Nutrition? I pulled up my binos to take in the the sight of a very symmetrical 140-150 class 10pt. Free shipping for many products! 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. I let my bow down and looked behind me and saw a huge bodied buck with the goofiest rack. Good luck. This location consisted of a two track that ran perpendicular to a county road and provided equipment access to an agricultural field. You can apply online here or by phone 620-672-0728. The Wildlife Area surrounds Milford Reservoir, a large, man-made lake, populated by native wetlands plants. I got a second arrow knocked as quickly as possible and sent the second arrow through the lungs. In one survey conducted by Southwick Associates, researchers found 38 percent of respondents counted on family or friends to allow them to hunt, while 28 percent turned to public land. Do your research and find a method that works best for you to get a cheap hunting trip put together! FORLOH AllClima Softshell and AllClima Stretch Woven Pant Review. Another prime choice is the Dillon Wildlife Area, which has diverse habitat and good numbers of deer. With 20 of arrow sticking out of his front leg resident and nonresident backgrounds continue to flock to this,... State 's trophy potential which means you have all to yourselfyoure not alone have the option read. 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