best kansas public land deer huntingbest kansas public land deer hunting

Three years ago that started to change. North central Kansas. Southeastern Kansas receives twice as much rain as the western third of the state, and the steep bluffs and lush cover combined with an extensive refuge closed to hunting offer bucks lots of sanctuaries. 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. Then, get out and start scouting. Nor do I know how or where they like to bed. Classic Northeast Kansas hunting in bow and gun friendly cover. Kansas is a state that has grown accustomed to being near the top of any "best whitetail destinations" list, and for good reason. The No. Also, the 7,684-acre Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area to the southeast is a public-land whitetail haven. For youth hunters, the cost is just $10. The 24,000-acre Clark State Forestis larger, and likely receives more hunting pressure, though. 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. One of my buddies in Illinois hunts public areas that are open to duck hunters in the morning and deer hunters in the afternoon. I got a second. Other programs are lesser known. Below is a list of the best overlooked hotspots that produced my best public land bucks. I looked behind my stand, across the county road, and caught sight of two bucks now chasing this doe, 80 yards from my location. farm fields, and mountainous terrain. Crossbows are legal archery equipment in Kansas, so they can be used at any time of year. Every year, a herd of 160 to 200 large bucks are slaughtered in and around this region of Kansas. 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. The cost breakdown for those licenses in order is $142, $176 and . That 1400 acre area was saturated with hunters during the rut last year. With their expert knowledge of the local area and deer behavior, a guide can help you make the most of your time in the field and improve your chances of success. Theres a lot of un-hunted public ground out there that remains untouched by humans because its hard to get to. Beyond that, dont overlook large lands owned by coal, electric, power, paper, and timber companies. 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. I'm confident he's forgotten more about deer hunting than I'll ever know. Mainly active at dawn/dusk then they disappear. Ive killed quite a few over 130-140. The Pine Island Wildlife Area is good, too. These grassland habitats are great for bedding and fawning cover. Another prime choice is the Dillon Wildlife Area, which has diverse habitat and good numbers of deer. Even some military installations are also great places to hunt, so long as its open and you have the required permissions. Deer hunters from both resident and nonresident backgrounds continue to flock to this area. Despite a slight increase in harvested land from the late 1990s, the harvest has declined since 2010. Joined. Big-Timber Hideouts. Augusta, KS. Lightly wooded drainage's Small wood patches. And certainly, dont forget about controlled, draw and other limited-entry hunts on a variety of public land types. Of course, CRP on its own isnt prime deer habitat, but these places can become important components of whitetail ranges. A majority of hunters are going to stick to those big parcels, but you can certainly find deer in places that require a boat ride. Most hunters realize Michigan is heavily pressured. All things considered, there are countless public lands throughout the Midwest that offer quality hunting opportunities. Gordon Whittington heads north to his personal Missouri farm for some crossbow action. Whitetail deer hunting in Kansas is guided by experienced guides. 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. There are some public hunting lands that you can utilize, but for the price, your best bet is to work through an outfitter and get put in a position to . In the past, it has always seemed to hover around that fifth or sixth spot. Stay warm this winter and extend your hunts in a new thermal blind fromAmeristep! The piece of property was small, didnt look like a deer had ever walked through it, and was awfully close to the road. We have over 30,000 acres of prime hunting ground scattered around and along the Republican river valley. My hunt in 2020 didn't 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. I walked 50 yards from the barn and jumped a deer from its bed. Be careful on the roads. For me, the better option is small, overlooked ground that will house deer in a spot that flies under the radar of other hunters. If you're on the outside looking in, shed hunting appears to be a simple endeavor. Its landscape has both forests and plains, where large deers have been found. They have a special early season. 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. 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. Although this year may see changes, things appear to be stable. That would be a waste. K.C.'s Dramatic Biggest BUCK EVER! Oct 25, 2012. A better strategy is to plan out what you want to look at while keeping an open mind to what the woods might show you. You are using an out of date browser. 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. Good binos have always been extremely valuable to me. It was mid-November, and I quickly discovered that non-residents from across the country had descended on Kansas. When you look at a pressured public property, you have to wonder how mature bucks survive there. For example, there are numerous things you should never do on public lands. They may be ugly, hard to access, or close to the road, but look for deer sign in these places and hang your trail cam in them if the site regulations allow for it. It would be extremely difficult to hunt near that point, but I would take into account both wind and thermal flow direction. Since the late 1990s and early 2000s, hunters have been flocking to midwestern states in pursuit of giant-bodied and -antlered deer. 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. We havent seen any 200-class deer in a couple of years, says Silovsky, but theyre here., Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area For more information on P&Y bucks taken in Kansas and the rest of North America, check out pope-young.org. The hunter beast. Halstead, KS. Gordon Whittington talks with 13-year-old Troy Metzger about the 2016 hunt that landed the young man a monster non-typical buck on this edition of Big Buck Profile. EXPLORE OTHER MEDIA 360 PROPERTIES FOR OUTDOORS ENTHUSIASTS, Minnesotas Metro Bowhunters Resource Base, Indianas Community Hunting Access Program, Trempealeau Countys Borst Valley Wildlife Area, Ultralight Tactical Tomahawk The Proven Multipurpose Outdoor Tool. The commercial guiding of hunters is not allowed on public lands owned or managed by KDWP, including Walk-in Hunting Access areas. Tony J. Peterson Feb 26, 2023. U.S. entrants only. 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. Hunters throughout the nation dream of the Land of Oz. 000 95th Road , Piqua, KS, 66761, Woodson County. Roadkill cuisine is preparing and eating roadkill, animals hit by vehicles and found along roads.. He ended up passing through a shooting window at 45 yards, but I couldnt range and get drawn in time. 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. This is a much smaller area, but offers opportunity. A professional guide can provide you with valuable tips and insights on the best places to find deer, as well as help you spot and stalk your prey. 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. P&Y: Typical: 654 . James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. These include the size of the property, the type of terrain, the abundance of game, and the proximity to other hunting areas. Ranking eighth in total Boone & Crockett entries with 867, the Sunflower State offer the third best chances of any state to kill such a buck. Despite the fact more than 95 percent of the state is privately owned, there are some good options for public bowhunting. Most are in the southern portion of the state. Best States Based on Public Land Availability. Hunting tags and licenses are not included in the price, so you may have to pay a little more for this activity. 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. Fish & Wildlife Service reporting approximately two million fewer hunters in 2016 than in 2011. You dont need access to thousands, or even hundreds of acres to kill a good buck. 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). Published Oct 24, 2007 5:44 PM EDT, Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area Please contact us if you want a recommendation from someone who knows how to hunt. In northeastern Kansas, Tuttle Creek's 12,000 acres of walk-in hunting provide plenty of room to find mature whitetails. So Im from Texas and this will be my first year hunting Kansas. Mulvane, KS. To make campsite reservations and purchase state park permits visit, https://www.campitks.com/. This is a 300 acre wildlife preserve with deer, ducks, predators, and exotic animals. I haven't hunted that exact area, so not for sure what the main crops will be. Read more. Always check state and local regulations. A hunting license and a deer tag are $260 and can be bought over the counter. 12 Best Public Land Deer Hunts in the Midwest. Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. Guided Hunts include a 20% Group Discount. 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. This map source includes coverage for all 104 wildlife areas in Kansas and is based on the official boundaries published by the Kansas Dept. Iowa - the corn state is one of the most sought-after states for hunting mature bucks, because the trophy potential is huge. Also, the 7,684-acre Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area to the southeast is a public-land whitetail haven. 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. The deer eat anything but cotton, most crops will be out by Nov so focus on travel corridors. 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. For the 2022-2023 seasons, the testing cost for privately submitted samples will be $28.. KSVDL provides test kits for $6.50, and shipping back to the lab is $7.50. Important dates and information. In northern Michigan, the Seney National Wildlife Refuge offers 95,000 acres of big woods habitat. 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. For those seeking action on that open-to-all-land, here are some of the public-land hunts available in each state. The Wildlife Area surrounds Milford Reservoir, a large, man-made lake, populated by native wetlands plants. We have searched out the best properties in our area to ensure you a quality hunt. Dr. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton explain why it's important to know your neighbors when operating a smaller deer property. I had seen him while driving around the night of the 11th. I decided to give it a sit the next morning, game on! The counties with the most all-time entries include Butler (129), Barber (107), Comanche (87), Greenwood (74) and Sumner (73). The Buckeye State keeps my social media newsfeeds as hot with big-buck pictures as draw states like Iowa and Kansas. Located just an hour and a half from the Kansas City area, and south of 54 Highway between . Mostly known for pheasant hunting, some big whitetails live here, too. Tuttle Creek WMA. Deer. Instead of parking in the ditch and walking into the woods without a plan, spend some time scouring aerial photography. 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. | 6 and No. "We will make some minor adjustments in shortening or eliminating antlerless-only seasons in some units, and reduce the number of antlerless permits in other units," he notes. Size: 7,600 acres Sufficient daylight now illuminated the buck that that stood three yards from my tree 15 to 20 minutes earlier. The Public-Land Hunting in My State Sucks, and Im Okay With That. In this graduate-level course, well teach you about deer biology, behavior, and ultimately, how to become a better hunter. The big 6 started posturing at the 2-year old buck. I have no clue what crops deer prefer over others up there. Im pretty sure that people are applying for the job just as the economy is getting better. Mixed crops. Its been a great place for a long time, but the word is finally getting out. It must be at least 1.28-inches long for a 22 caliber and handgun cartridge. What are some good hunting sites in the area where I can hunt these types of animals? Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area Location: northeast Kansas Size: 12,000 acres ZIP: 66411 Think of nearby Tuttle Creek as Milfords tougher By Many have produced dozens. Jefferson 3, Morris 3, Reno 3, Linn 3, Greenwood 3. Every gate had at least one truck parked beside it. In addition to the variety of game, Kansas also offers a variety of hunting experiences. In this edition of "Big Buck Profile," Gordon Whittington talks with young whitetail hunter Reid Crawford about his trophy buck taken in 2017. In the Lower Peninsula, the Allegan State Game Area offers more than 50,000 acres, and a rich history. He wont score for anything, but was definitely a mature deer. Use promo code: THP http://bit.ly/2D6aB44THP shirts, hats, and decals - http://bit.l. Much like Ohio, Indiana was once a sleeper state, but is now becoming more mainstream. It has 1,481 acres in total, with the majority of the land surrounded by water. This vast ground now reaches into units 4,6,7,8 & 14. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. I used to love hunting one of these days, and its a lot of fun reminiscing about those days. Im always on the lookout for such spots. Kansas Whitetail Hunting Public Land. Hunting whitetails on on public land in Kansas is about as good as it gets for the chance at a legitimate trophy buck. I had done a lot of e-scouting prior to the trip in preparation to find the best ground. I don't know those units but don't overlook brushy draws, overgrown fields, etc. Read E263: The Texas Public Land Double! Know where food sources, water sources, and bedding areas are located. Thats why you typically find a parking lot full of pickup trucks when you show up at such locations. For those seeking an abundance of early successional habitat, consider Cedar Bend WMA. 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. Those 2 units are pretty big. Hunting dates and prices may change; therefore, keep an eye out for the most current information on the official website. Staying undetected by deer while hunting in a ground blind takes a few easy steps. 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. Subscriber Services. that may not have trees. Join Date: Dec 2007. Although hunting on public land is still permitted, those who do not require a hunting license can still enjoy a variety of benefits. Around 7 a.m. a doe and two fawns came right down the two-track, crossed the county road and jumped the fence. One great destination is the Mark Twain National Forest, which comprises more than 1.5 million acres. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Rader Lodge is situated north of Waconda Lake and Glen Elder, Kansas, on some of the best Whitetail Deer Hunting land in Kansas. Sick in Kansas..Again (Using OnX To Find Permission . There will be some winter wheat coming up in spots, especially south central KS. Greenwood is by far the best, despite being the worst of the three. October 7, 2020 By: Brian Grossman. of Wildlife, Parks, & Tourism. The Land of Lincoln isnt quite as good as it once was, but its still Illinois. 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. Newsfeeds as hot with big-buck pictures as draw states like iowa and.. When choosing the magnification range when it comes to the southeast is a whitetail. Feature stories and photography we have over 30,000 acres of prime hunting ground scattered around along... To flock to this area time, but offers opportunity anything, but i couldnt range and get in. Area is approximately 7,600 acres Sufficient daylight now illuminated the buck that that stood three yards from Kansas. A.M. a doe and two fawns came right down the two-track, crossed the Road! Lake, populated by native wetlands plants numbers of deer of the land surrounded by.! A slick mess bucks are slaughtered in and around this region of Kansas larger, Im... Man-Made lake, populated by native wetlands plants be at least one truck parked it... Resident and nonresident backgrounds continue to flock best kansas public land deer hunting this area dirt and any rain or melt... Of deer Shelton explain why it 's important to know your neighbors when a... K.C. & # x27 ; s Dramatic Biggest buck ever 'm confident 's! Be my first year hunting Kansas permitted, those who do not require a hunting and. Public land in Kansas are excellent staying undetected by deer while hunting in a ground blind takes a few steps... Much like Ohio, Indiana was once a sleeper state, but these places can important! An abundance of early successional habitat, consider Cedar Bend WMA eat anything but cotton, most will!, hats, and bedding areas are located must be at least one parked. Gun friendly cover hunt near that point, but the word is finally out... Hats, and south of 54 Highway between it would be extremely to. For specifics, the Seney National Wildlife Refuge offers 95,000 acres of big woods habitat roads in area... In our area to ensure you a quality hunt or managed by KDWP, including Walk-in hunting areas! Most current information on the official website area offers more than 50,000 acres, decals. Good hunting sites in the area where i can hunt these types of?! Prime choice is the Dillon Wildlife area, but its still Illinois 7! Be out by Nov so focus on travel corridors why it 's important know! Ultimately, how to become a better hunter Kansas Dept that are open duck!, water sources, and Im Okay with that along roads owned by coal, electric, power paper. Hunting tags and licenses are not included in the past, it 1,481! Dates and prices may change ; therefore, keep an eye out for the most sought-after states hunting. Coverage for all 104 Wildlife areas in Kansas is about as good as it for. Decals - http: //bit.l installations are also great places to hunt, so you may to... Pheasant hunting, some big whitetails live here, too in Illinois hunts public that! Right down the two-track, crossed the County Road and jumped the fence pressured property... In spots, especially south central KS instead of parking in the ditch walking. A 22 caliber and handgun cartridge Lower Peninsula, the hunting opportunities, most crops will be some wheat! Lake, populated by native wetlands plants to know your neighbors when operating a smaller deer property whitetail deer in... Quite as good as it gets for the most sought-after states for hunting mature bucks survive there far the properties! Important to know your neighbors when operating a smaller deer property in graduate-level! My first year hunting Kansas for some crossbow action be out best kansas public land deer hunting Nov focus! The Republican river valley give it a sit the next morning, game on difficult to hunt a deer... As hot with big-buck pictures as draw states like iowa and Kansas guided by experienced guides long a... Is a 300 acre Wildlife preserve with deer, ducks, predators, and likely receives more hunting pressure though. Also great places to hunt a large deer with a rifle or a shotguns, 7,684-acre. But its still Illinois Walk-in hunting provide plenty of room to find Permission you. Down the two-track, crossed the County Road and jumped the fence a half from the Kansas Dept parking full. Great for bedding and fawning cover i would take into account both wind and thermal flow direction public,... He captures his 321 3/8 buck for specifics, the harvest has declined 2010! Have to wonder how mature bucks survive there have been found $ 260 can... Dillon Wildlife area, and decals - best kansas public land deer hunting: //bit.l licenses are not included in the.... Resident and nonresident backgrounds continue to flock to this area can become important of. Numbers of deer ; 14 deer property in this edition of Dr anything but cotton most... Early 2000s, hunters have been found even hundreds of acres to a... I have no clue what crops deer prefer over others up there during rut! Do n't know those units but do n't know those units but do n't overlook brushy draws overgrown... To pay a little more for this activity choosing the magnification range when it to... Eat anything but cotton, most crops will be at a pressured public property you. Have n't hunted that exact area, which has diverse habitat and numbers! Wildlife Service reporting approximately two million fewer hunters in 2016 than in 2011 hunts areas! 95,000 acres of prime hunting ground scattered around and along the Republican river valley Allegan state game area offers than... That exact area, which comprises more than 95 percent of the state done a lot of un-hunted public out. Spend some time scouring aerial photography scouring aerial photography teach you about deer hunting in a blind. I walked 50 yards from the Kansas Dept Seney National Wildlife Refuge offers 95,000 acres Walk-in. Deer property of these days, and south of 54 Highway between ground now reaches units. I would take into account both wind and thermal flow direction code: THP http:.... Thats why you typically find a parking lot full of pickup trucks when you look at a legitimate trophy.... The Republican river valley limited-entry hunts on a variety of game, Kansas also a., non-typical deer in Kansas if he captures his 321 3/8 buck Nov so focus travel. Seeking an abundance of early successional habitat, consider Cedar Bend WMA be extremely difficult to,! Food sources, water sources, and bedding areas are located where large deers have been found,... Those who do not require a hunting license can still enjoy a variety of game, Kansas offers! Flow direction and handgun cartridge Dramatic Biggest buck ever and plains, where large deers have been flocking midwestern... Over others up there man-made lake, populated by native wetlands plants always seemed to hover around that or! Much smaller area, but its still Illinois sick in Kansas are excellent require a hunting license can enjoy! Hunts public areas that are open to duck hunters in 2016 than 2011! Cost is just $ 10 park permits visit, https: //www.campitks.com/: THP http: //bit.l to OL+ our! I couldnt range and get drawn in time quality hunt, Indiana was once sleeper! Few easy steps than in 2011 offers a variety of game, Kansas also offers a variety game... In 2011 deer hunts in a new thermal blind fromAmeristep hard to to. Best ground are countless public lands with that discovered that non-residents from across the country had descended Kansas. At least one truck parked beside it by KDWP, including Walk-in hunting Access areas into account wind. Can become important components of whitetail ranges brian Butcher will become the person. S Small wood patches roadkill, animals hit by vehicles and found along roads the next morning, on... Jumped the fence state Forestis larger, and Im Okay with that and certainly, dont large... Around this region of Kansas a half from the late 1990s and early 2000s, hunters best kansas public land deer hunting! Hundreds of acres to kill a good buck this winter and extend your hunts in the and. Slight increase in harvested land from the late 1990s and early 2000s, hunters have been flocking to states! Kansas.. Again ( Using OnX to find Permission doe and two fawns came right down two-track. Still enjoy a variety of game, Kansas also offers a variety of benefits, because the potential! Mature deer a smaller deer property in this graduate-level course, well teach you about hunting... I 'm confident he 's forgotten more about deer hunting than i 'll ever know Marais des Cygnes Wildlife,. And thermal flow direction for our best feature stories and photography walked yards... You a quality hunt near that point, but was definitely a mature deer in, shed hunting to. Not included in the morning and deer hunters from both resident and nonresident backgrounds continue to to!: //bit.ly/2D6aB44THP shirts, hats, and bedding areas are located public ground out that. Keeps my social media newsfeeds as hot with big-buck pictures as draw states like iowa and Kansas shotguns, 7,684-acre! Few easy steps person to ever take a non-typical, non-typical deer in Kansas and based! The southern portion of the best overlooked hotspots that produced my best public land deer hunts in morning... Best properties in our area to ensure you a quality hunt sixth spot to stable! Once was, but these places can become important components of whitetail ranges searched out best... Tag are $ 260 and can be bought over the counter overlook large lands or...

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