Stan Potts heads to Montana with his rifle in search of a Big Sky buck. 6 and No. What are some good hunting sites in the area where I can hunt these types of animals? To purchase your Kansas hunting and fishing licenses, permits and boat registrationsvisit, https://license.gooutdoorskansas.com/. 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. Free shipping for many products! When you look at a pressured public property, you have to wonder how mature bucks survive there. Kansas greeted me with a half-inch of rain, which made many of the section roads nearly impassable. Finally, I could make out a deer in the small draw to my left. Few hunters consider it, but those who do discover pleasant surprises along timbered creek drains do so. Only show this user. Camping is allowed in designated areas only. The No. 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. of Wildlife, Parks, & Tourism. Kansas Whitetail Hunting Public Land. In 1987, Joseph Waters of Shawnee County set a non-typical non-typical whitetail shot record for firearms, measuring 283/4 inches. 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. Nemaha 3 (the largest) is the third largest in the state. 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. 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. To my surprise, the big 10-point ran the doe back onto my side of the road, but I hadnt had time to range anything in all of the excitement and despair of the early morning. Been hunting public land for years, pick an area, scout it and hunt it. 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. Conservation groups are hailing the decision as a significant win for public access. Kisiwa Hunt Club. 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. The buck walked to within 3 yards of my tree, and then caught a good whiff of my scent. Just to get an idea of what the pressure is like near that area. Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area is widely regarded as one of the best spots in the state to hunt trophy bucks! Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Kansas has 300,000 acres of public land and more than 1 million acres of private land seasonally open to hunters. In this graduate-level course, well teach you about deer biology, behavior, and ultimately, how to become a better hunter. That would be a waste. Public Land Check-in/Check-out; Game Species, Records & Scoring; Bowhunting; Hunter Education; Furharvesting; Special Hunt Information; Hunting Programs; Donate Your Deer; Report Violators; Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Hunting Regulations; . Its 8,100 acres of solid hunting. Around 6:35 a.m., I heard the unmistakable sound of several deer approaching to my left, with at least one buck making a clicking grunt. D+DH In-Depth is our premium, comprehensive corner on Americas No. If there was only one thing I could pick, it would be the top three. Best States Based on Public Land Availability. The outfitter on the south border of it has 5 stands within spitting distance of the fence. Doniphan, Kansas, is home to 1,116 acres of hunting land. The top five counties in the non-typical category are Nemaha, Lyon, Marshall, Pottawatomie, and Reno. We have searched out the best properties in our area to ensure you a quality hunt. Still, some good deer live here. 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. Mike Clerkin heads to Buffalo County, Wisconsin to bowhunt whitetails. Despite being located in the Midwest, it is still one of the best places in the country to hunt whitetails. Look for WIHA with tree lines near crops. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The counties with the most all-time entries include Butler (129), Barber (107), Comanche (87), Greenwood (74) and Sumner (73). 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. There are different hunting days, and each days prices differ slightly, but all include a hunting tag and a hunting license. (Eric and Greg on Their TWO TX Whitetail, Eric's FIRST BUCK! I don't know those units but don't overlook brushy draws, overgrown fields, etc. | Turkey, quail, pheasant, squirrel, Canadian goose, and rabbit are among the animals that can be hunted here. Id hate to waste 3-4 days sitting crops that they arent feeding in or going to. Kansas is one of the best states for the out-of-state deer hunting experience. For non-residents, you will need a standard hunting license. These are part of programs under different names, such as the Walk-In Hunting Area (WIHA) program. There are a lot of public venues that are a mix of lakes and islands and large tracts of land. "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. farm fields, and mountainous terrain. Thats a bucket list deer for me. Good! 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. Most hunters are going to look at the map, see that they cant access the property, and not even try to get permission. Another midwestern favorite is Missouri. Then, get out and start scouting. The best part of Kansas for deer hunting is the Flint Hills region in the east-central part of the state. Stay warm this winter and extend your hunts in a new thermal blind fromAmeristep! Id really like to put some effort in and seriously hunt and not just pick a tree and hope for the best. For sweepstakes rules and details,click here. 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. Focus on thick, early successional habitat. Republic county in Kansas is almost certainly the easiest terrain for bowhunters to navigate, with Nemaha and Johnson counties following. I headed back to camp feeling confident the next morning would be a good one. This program has tall wheat or milo stubble and adjacent habitat. Thats why you typically find a parking lot full of pickup trucks when you show up at such locations. Its 5,600 acres of timber, oak savannah, wetlands, and grasslands. Most are in the southern portion of the state. Use promo code: THP http://bit.ly/2D6aB44THP shirts, hats, and decals - http://bit.l. One solid pick is the Sugar Ridge Fish and Wildlife Area. If youre struggling to find success on public landor a stretch of state ground you have all to yourselfyoure not alone. This vast ground now reaches into units 4,6,7,8 & 14. 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. In northeastern Kansas, Tuttle Creek's 12,000 acres of walk-in hunting provide plenty of room to find mature whitetails. And certainly, dont forget about controlled, draw and other limited-entry hunts on a variety of public land types. Always check state and local regulations. Scout and hunt some of the many smaller acreages throughout the area. When most hunters think of Kansas, they picture unending flatlands. This hunting land in Mitchell County totals 13,200 acres. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS). With public and private land options, as well as a variety of seasons and regulations, hunters can find the perfect hunting opportunity in Kansas. Most hunters realize Michigan is heavily pressured. | Eighteen percent hunted land they owned, and only 11 percent . Other properties require a little more time and creativity. What is the Most Important Factor in Whitetail Nutrition? Know where food sources, water sources, and bedding areas are located. I could tell the deer were very close (inside of 50 yards), but I couldnt yet make any of them out. Want to be the first to get our premium content? Within a few minutes, I heard two snort wheezes, approximately 150-200 yards away. For youth hunters, the cost is just $10. In some cases, it even increases browse availability. The 24,000-acre Clark State Forestis larger, and likely receives more hunting pressure, though. 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. After years of public hunting under my belt, I should have known better. Does are in high demand as bait in flocks of geese. Legal shooting light began at 6:40 a.m. Theyre too close, I thought. The 4,300-acre Red Willow State Recreation Areaoffers good habitat and hunting opportunities, too. He bounded off and crashed 40 yards away in the draw. This area is prone to flooding in the fall, creating temporary islands where big bucks like to hide out. 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. Big lesson learned hereput prior years intel into play, no matter how dumb it might feel! It doesnt permit gun hunting, which translates to less pressure. 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. Even so, ask for permission. Become a D+DH Insider for FREE! Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Use the map below to pick a region you would like to hunt and view the public land locations in that region where you can visit. Even if you've hunted the same farm for 20 years, look at it from a bird's perspective. 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. Where the two track met the road, there was an open gate in a barbed wire fence. A moment later, the buck and doe disappeared forever into a cedar thicket. Since I was using onX, the chore of finding another place to hunt was made easier. You must log in or register to reply here. 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