Looking to score a big Buck in Kansas

[pittsy]

Hey guys. Hope everyone had a good Deer season so far. Im a huge archery hunter here in upstate NY. Looking at hunting Kansas for the first time next year. I keep hearing stories from guys out here about hunting Kansas. Anybody have any good advice as to where to hunt out there? Hopefully a nice public spot that holds big Bucks? How do you go about getting a tag and license for the area?

Thanks,
pittsy

[Bowhunters]

In Kansas a big buck can pop up literaly anywhere in the state, there is no magical "trophy county" like you hear about 'Pike County' in Illinois, etc. but I would say about the only place I wouldn't go to is far Northwest Kansas and along the Colorado state line, I haven't heard of a lot of big monster bucks coming from that area, its more of a mixed Whitetail/Mule deer territory in Northwest and along the Colorado state line counties far to the west.

Here in Kansas besides regular public hunting land around Lakes and Reservoirs we also have what is called 'Walk in Hunting Land', the state pays some farmers to lease land to 'open hunting' so its 'private land' that is open to the public.

To get a non-resident Whitetail tag you must fill out the application and mail it in by a set deadline - for 2008 the deadline was June 02. and the 2009 deadline will likely be the same. If you don't get a tag your money will be refunded.

Here are some links to hunting info in Kansas.

2008 Kansas walk in hunting areas map - all the yellow areas are free walk in hunting, you can click on the zones to expand them. I would note that not all are open to deer hunting, some are bow only and some are firearms only and some are only open to pheasant/quail/dove. When you expand a map you can find out which ones are for deer hunting.

I would also note that next fall on Sept 1st the new Walk in Hunting map will be on posted on the site.

http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/ ... ting-Atlas

State Parks at Lakes and Resiviours that allow hunting - http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/ ... tate-Parks


Kansas Big Game Info (2008) but you can look at the 2008 application to get an idea of what 2009's will be like. - http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/Huntin ... -Fees/Deer


Kansas Deer Hunting Units - http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/Hunting/Hu ... ement-Maps


Kansas Fish and Wildlife website - http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/


If you have any questions feel free to post them.

[pittsy]

In Kansas a big buck can pop up literaly anywhere in the state, there is no magical "trophy county" like you hear about 'Pike County' in Illinois, etc. but I would say about the only place I wouldn't go to is far Northwest Kansas and along the Colorado state line, I haven't heard of a lot of big monster bucks coming from that area, its more of a mixed Whitetail/Mule deer territory in Northwest and along the Colorado state line counties far to the west.

Here in Kansas besides regular public hunting land around Lakes and Reservoirs we also have what is called 'Walk in Hunting Land', the state pays some farmers to lease land to 'open hunting' so its 'private land' that is open to the public.

To get a non-resident Whitetail tag you must fill out the application and mail it in by a set deadline - for 2008 the deadline was June 02. and the 2009 deadline will likely be the same. If you don't get a tag your money will be refunded.

Here are some links to hunting info in Kansas.

2008 Kansas walk in hunting areas map - all the yellow areas are free walk in hunting, you can click on the zones to expand them. I would note that not all are open to deer hunting, some are bow only and some are firearms only and some are only open to pheasant/quail/dove. When you expand a map you can find out which ones are for deer hunting.

I would also note that next fall on Sept 1st the new Walk in Hunting map will be on posted on the site.

http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/ ... ting-Atlas

State Parks at Lakes and Resiviours that allow hunting - http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/ ... tate-Parks


Kansas Big Game Info (2008) but you can look at the 2008 application to get an idea of what 2009's will be like. - http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/Huntin ... -Fees/Deer


Kansas Deer Hunting Units - http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/Hunting/Hu ... ement-Maps


Kansas Fish and Wildlife website - http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/


If you have any questions feel free to post them.

Thanks for the info bud. Me and about four of my buddies are looking to take a trip out there next year hopefully. Strictly Bow hunting. It is a lottery to get your license correct? So each of us need to submit seperatly? The odds would be pretty slim that all of us get licenses then right? How did you make out this year so far?

[Bowhunters]

Thanks for the info bud. Me and about four of my buddies are looking to take a trip out there next year hopefully. Strictly Bow hunting. It is a lottery to get your license correct? So each of us need to submit seperatly? The odds would be pretty slim that all of us get licenses then right? How did you make out this year so far?

Yeah its kind of a lottery but I believe they have had a small number of out of state liscenses still left over un-sold the last two deer seasons in a row.

Your odds of getting tags is very good if you do the nonresident app. correctly.

You can all apply together on one nonresident app, just check the 'Buddy' application box and show how many (Up to 5 people) to hunt together and the application shows how many nonresident tags are available for each unit before the drawing and if your application is there on time for the beginning you have an excellent shot of all getting tags.

The application shows how many nonresident tags are available (by deer unit) and you can select (4) units from the list of units that you are interested in hunting.

You need to pick those optional choices of units (pick up to 4 units), the reason is because if you have 4-5 people in your group it may not be possible in the draw to place you in your first pick of deer unit to hunt in but they will try to get you on the earliest unit you show as a priority as they can do to fit your entire group in one unit so you can hunt and stay together.

So by picking optional units your chances of being turned down is very low.

Since you want to bow hunt you need to check 'Archery' on your 4 units that you select to apply for so they can date your tags for the apropriate hunting season.

Take a look at the non-resident application linked on this page and you'll see what I am referring to. http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/Huntin ... -Fees/Deer

I got a buck and a doe, good body size on both but not a real big rack 'for here' on the buck, i'll take a nice one if it comes along but i'm not a die hard trophy hunter that has to sit there the entire season passing up bucks waiting to get one that is P&Y or B&C to be happy.