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. This episode of the Whitetail Slam I'm returning to the Kansas public land that I shot my buck in last year. Ill also ask the landowner if they are targeting a particular buck in that area. Subscriber Services. Hunter Burkhardt, 27, a Jayhawk State native, has taken a plethora of deer with his bow, including three massive bucks from the Big OReilly class. Both places have great habitat that whitetails need to thrive. The counties with the most all-time entries include Butler (129), Barber (107), Comanche (87), Greenwood (74) and Sumner (73). This map source includes coverage for all 104 wildlife areas in Kansas and is based on the official boundaries published by the Kansas Dept. Cruising further down the road, I found another truck on the north end of the property, as well as two more trucks on the east side. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. He bounded off and crashed 40 yards away in the draw. Obviously, some of its public land is well-known. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS). May 30, 2007. 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. Here are things you should remember for your next public land deer hunt. This hunting land in Mitchell County totals 13,200 acres. Our Kansas bow hunting deer packages are the hunt of a lifetime! Looking for someone that wouldnt mind giving a guy advice thats new to hunting the Midwest as Ive always hunted Texas for deer. The island is accessible only by boat, which you must provide. The state boasts tons of record-book whitetails, and the deer herd is pretty good, apart from some localized break-outs of EHD lately. Deer densities are lower, but its easier to get away from other hunters. 1 necessity for a good public-land deer hunt is minimal pressure. I decided what the heck, Im going to arrow this freak!, so I drew back and touched off a shot at 23 yds. Crossbows are legal archery equipment in Kansas, so they can be used at any time of year. Generalities aside, here are some lands to consider in each state. At the time of booking, hunters are responsible for a 5% deposit. 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. For me, the better option is small, overlooked ground that will house deer in a spot that flies under the radar of other hunters. Then, once you have that tag, youll be ready for the best public land deer hunt of your life. One Rifle to do it all Or a rifle for each occasion? Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. In northern Minnesota, the Chippewa National Forest and Superior National Forest both have large acreages. Classic Northeast Kansas hunting in bow and gun friendly cover. While thats never a guarantee, the 15,800-acre Rathbun Wildlife Area has plenty of deer. Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area Location: northeast Kansas Size: 12,000 acres ZIP . Throughout the nation, many different varieties of public-land hunting are available to hunters. This land spans 458 acres and is located in Sheridan County, Minnesota. By some miracle, he didnt bolt after the arrow hit him. "Anywhere in the eastern third of the state has potential for producing a buck that breaks the (state) record," says Marvin Whitehead, president of the Kansas Bowhunters Association. Still, it doesnt see the hunting pressure many midwestern states do. In addition to the variety of game, Kansas also offers a variety of hunting experiences. 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. This area of land is suitable for hunting deer, turkey, quail, pheasant, squirrel, Canadian geese, and rabbits. 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: How to Read the Land for Deer . Thick wetlands and oak and hickory stands give deer there cover and food. We have searched out the best properties in our area to ensure you a quality hunt. After years of public hunting under my belt, I should have known better. Whitetail Mule Deer [DVD] 2002 at the best online prices at eBay! I like to ground hunt deer in the swamp because hauling in a climber when youre in knee-deep mud, frankly sucks. 6 and No. "The state also has many acres of tall grass and CRP fields [Conservation Reserve Program] that provide perfect fawning areas.". A steeper watershed makes Tuttle Creek prone to flooding during fall rains, producing isolated islands among cattail sloughs where big bucks hide. 100 Best Public-Land Hunts: Kansas. 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 public hunting area covers approximately 19,000 acres. There will be some winter wheat coming up in spots, especially south central KS. After a morning of finding ample rutting buck signand no human signat my No. Resident License: $84.50. Spend time scouting preferred states, regions, counties, and properties. When Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act in 1862, settlers flocked to the state for the160 acres of free land given to those willing to claim it. The No. That concluded a fun hunt, which resulted in my first mature buck in Kansas. 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! On the largest scale, some properties owned and managed by the National Forest Service (NFS) allow access to deer hunting. JavaScript is disabled. Deer: Balancing Expectations for Small Properties, Get to Know Your Neighbors for Better Deer Herd Management, Big Buck Profile: Reid Crawford Kansas Buck, Choosing Correct Magnification for Rifle Scope, Big Buck Profile: Troy Metzger's East Illinois Giant. 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. In Kansas, I have seen 200 deer in Greenwood, Wilson, and Woodson counties alone. Join Date: Dec 2007. Nor do I know how or where they like to bed. Much like Ohio, Indiana was once a sleeper state, but is now becoming more mainstream. Hunting Preserves Near Wichita. that may not have trees. To reserve your trip date and hunting lodge, a $400 deposit is required. A nonresident needs a $180.96 (adult) annual hunting license and a $76.96 (adult) either-sex deer permit. Just got to put boots on the ground and hours in the field. As if. It would be extremely difficult to hunt near that point, but I would take into account both wind and thermal flow direction. Those whove been to the Cornhusker State realize how good it is. But there figures to be some tweaking. Is there a greater giftor a more appealing challengefor an American hunter than chasing game across public land, using only your . Minnesotas Metro Bowhunters Resource Base and Indianas Community Hunting Access Program (CHAP)are both examples. 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. Look for WIHA with tree lines near crops. Total area available for hunting in this state is 420,000 acres which includes public hunting lands and also hunting leases. I do a ton of scouting this way too because it allows me to go farther than I would on foot, which gets me to places others arent willing to go. In some cases, it even increases browse availability. Its landscape has both forests and plains, where large deers have been found. It'll give you an idea on what to look for on a map via e scouting a new area. For the last few years, Kansas has consistently ranked near the bottom of the rankings for deer hunting. Hunters throughout the nation dream of the Land of Oz. 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 . Rader Lodge is situated north of Waconda Lake and Glen Elder, Kansas, on some of the best Whitetail Deer Hunting land in Kansas. Thick, early successional habitat is important, too. I didnt have much hope of that doe attracting any bucks, since she still had her fawns. 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. 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. Just about every county in the state has produced at least one P&Y buck. Publicly accessible lands are displayed in the Public Access Atlas We havent seen any 200-class deer in a couple of years, says Silovsky, but theyre here., Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area "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. When it comes to public land, Kansas ranks near the bottom in the nation. Hunting food sources on public land.so, November is the rut as we all know. Dale arrowed the buck during the rut in Pottawatomie County, one of the top counties for big deer. In addition to the variety of sand hill plum pastures, mature hedge rows, creek bottoms, agricultural fields, and CRP, we have a diverse range of habitat types on our 12,000 acres. "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. Those 2 units are pretty big. Archery, muzzleloading shotguns, shotguns, and rifles are all permitted during hunting. Theres a lot of un-hunted public ground out there that remains untouched by humans because its hard to get to. The Flint Hills region is also relatively remote, so hunters can enjoy a more pure hunting experience without a lot of human activity in the area. Hunting, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, and camping are all examples of activities that can be done on this land. [citation needed] It is also a subject of humor and urban legend. At 25 yards, he came to a complete stop. 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. 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. Pheasant hunting is better suited to this area than bowhunting. In the past, it has always seemed to hover around that fifth or sixth spot. However, there are a few factors that can be considered when making a decision. Lightly wooded drainage's Small wood patches. Do your research and find a method that works best for you to get a cheap hunting trip put together! I have no clue what crops deer prefer over others up there. 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. Find the doe on the fields and where they are coming from, then hunt that corridor like others have stated. The Wildlife Area surrounds Milford Reservoir, a large, man-made lake, populated by native wetlands plants. The Problem: Hunter Access. Discuss deer hunting methods, how to catch them, and how to behave. These are deer hunts that we specialize in. Lol. In terms of number of units, Geary ranks fourth. Read Next: The Public-Land Hunting in My State Sucks, and Im Okay With That. 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. This vast ground now reaches into units 4,6,7,8 & 14. Please contact us if you want a recommendation from someone who knows how to hunt. The buck walked to within 3 yards of my tree, and then caught a good whiff of my scent. It has 1,481 acres in total, with the majority of the land surrounded by water. Thats why we now have trail cameras, intuitive apps, and much more. If you want to learn more about hunting in Kansas, keep an eye out for the most recent hunting information on the website. The floodplain of the winding Marais des Cygnes River features some of the most extensive timber stands in this predominantly prairie state. Saddle Setups, Ground Hunting, Shot Placement on Deer by with a free trial. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The cost breakdown for those licenses in order is $142, $176 and . To find success on public land you must think outside the box. For example, open properties within the metro sub-units are oftentimes dynamite. I am lucky enough to have a farm in the family. Kansas has 300,000 acres of public land and more than 1 million acres of private land seasonally open to hunters. A hunting license and a deer tag are $260 and can be bought over the counter. The permit itself is $442,50 for the adult and $117,50. Sick in Kansas..Again (Using OnX To Find Permission . This is also true for the U.S. Wisconsin is known for giants. Even if you've hunted the same farm for 20 years, look at it from a bird's perspective. 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. 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. Deer. RE: Kansas..public land deer. 5. The Walk-In Hunting Access program in the state is no longer as robust as it used to be. On the evening of November 12th, I relayed the mornings events to my hunting buddy, Joel. Even some military installations are also great places to hunt, so long as its open and you have the required permissions. Those looking for marshy or swampy areas might try the Helma Swamp WMA, which is broken down by the Main, North, and Supplementunits. Messages. Bow hunting in Kansas is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty of nature. Messages. To purchase your Kansas hunting and fishing licenses, permits and boat registrationsvisit, https://license.gooutdoorskansas.com/. I hunted those units last year, I was there in early nov, most all the crops were gone and usually will be that time of year, doesnt make much sense to sit them as deer aren't focused on them much that time of year, sitting creeks that run to bigger blocks of woods is a good strategy as there is not alot of big chunks of woods in those units or most of kansas for that matter lol, one thing I can tell you is have a multitude of options if your hunting walk in land only, I ran into alot of people on walk ins and was hard to find one without somebody on it, most of the time they aren't big enough for two people to hunt either anyway, look for the overlooked or somewhere you can get back in aways will help as well, good luck. I could tell the deer were very close (inside of 50 yards), but I couldnt yet make any of them out. Archery season begins in mid-September and runs through December, providing plenty of time for hunters to identify and pattern deer carrying trophy antlers. It also has approximately 1,300 WMAs. For those seeking an abundance of early successional habitat, consider Cedar Bend WMA. 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. Some people hunt with outfitters, own or lease land, knock on doors, and even hunt public lands. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. But dont forget smaller ones. North central Kansas. Stay warm this winter and extend your hunts in a new thermal blind fromAmeristep! 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. For those seeking action on that open-to-all-land, here are some of the public-land hunts available in each state. 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. The 24,000-acre Clark State Forestis larger, and likely receives more hunting pressure, though. 293406215027182 In this edition of "From The Stand," Pat Hogan explains the importance of being aware of proper clearance when using your bow or crossbow out in the field. The Do's and Don'ts of Public Land Deer Hunting. For example, there are numerous things you should never do on public lands. The state of Kansas allows bow hunting for deer in the southwest. Those looking for smaller properties might think about the Baltimore Bend Conservation Area, which is about 1,200 acres. Oct 14, 2017. Riley 3. Jake and Grant are on to them in Kansas! Here are 5 public land deer hunting states for you to consider. Also not sure on how they respond to grunting and rattling. Sandy beaches separate palmettos and oaks from the Atlantic. As for specifics, the Marais Des Cygnes Wildlife Area is approximately 7,600 acres of prime ground. 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. Just walk some cut cornfields, grid-search a few bedding areas, and then figure out where in your man-cave, or she-shed, you'll display your findings. Hunting leases keep an eye out for the U.S. Wisconsin is known giants. Is minimal pressure no longer as robust as it used to be do your research find! Cygnes Wildlife area has plenty of deer, some properties owned and managed by National... Ground out there that remains untouched by humans because its hard to a! Those looking for someone that wouldnt mind giving a guy advice thats new to hunting the Midwest as Ive hunted. Hunted Texas for deer a hunting license and a $ 400 deposit is required have that,... 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