Hunt Antelope in Wyoming. But man, Id love to break the 150 mark! Jphunter noticed this year that out-of-state tags are increasing in number. The deer eat anything but cotton, most crops will be out by Nov so focus on travel corridors. | I got a second. Many have produced dozens. Saddle Setups, Ground Hunting, Shot Placement on Deer by with a free trial. I actually recognized the buck right away. Become a D+DH Insider for FREE! To reserve your trip date and hunting lodge, a $400 deposit is required. I hunt via ambush 95% of the time so calls/rattles are not part of my plan.. By that time of year they have transitioned off of beans/alfalfa fields into the milo, corn, and winter wheat fields (they will still hit the beans/alfalfa, but not like corn/milo). Its 5,600 acres of timber, oak savannah, wetlands, and grasslands. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. This is a 300 acre wildlife preserve with deer, ducks, predators, and exotic animals. This area of land is suitable for hunting deer, turkey, quail, pheasant, squirrel, Canadian geese, and rabbits. Kansas is home to some of the best hunting in the country. According to experts, CRP, CREP, and similar programs have positive impacts on deer herds. These are part of programs under different names, such as the Walk-In Hunting Area (WIHA) program. 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. Joined. The Buckeye State is a relative newcomer as a top destination. Ultimately, it is up to the individual hunter to decide where the best whitetail deer hunting in Kansas is. At 25 yards, he came to a complete stop. In all of these counties, adequate escape cover, ample nutrition and low hunter densities combine to provide ideal behemoth buck prospects. The No. 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. Good! I would have never thought about hunting this spot, literally right next to the road, if I had not observed a minimum of 3 different bucks crossing the road during daylight in 2018 (last time I hunted Kansas). This map source includes coverage for all 104 wildlife areas in Kansas and is based on the official boundaries published by the Kansas Dept. The 4,500-acre Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge (843-784-2468) has been hosting a unique bow-only deer hunt since 1947. Im scouting walk in areas now via google maps as well as some of the WMA areas. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. Also, if you are married, have a son, daughter, or young kid you are mentoring, now is the time to bring one of them along. However, some areas that have been known to hold good populations of big bucks include the Flint Hills, the Smoky Hills, and the Tallgrass Prairie. 1,575. Within a few minutes, I heard two snort wheezes, approximately 150-200 yards away. Sounds easy right? 223 works well for deer hunting in Kansas. Lol. [citation needed] It is also a subject of humor and urban legend. Mainly active at dawn/dusk then they disappear. Still, it doesnt see the hunting pressure many midwestern states do. Below is a list of the best overlooked hotspots that produced my best public land bucks. RANCH FAIRY was RIGHT! CRACK!Oh crap! I hit him square in the shoulder and maybe got 8 of arrow penetration. At this point, I was just looking for a tree to hang my stand in. Greenwood is by far the best, despite being the worst of the three. He has alot of content out there, and if you feel like sifting through it, I'm sure you'll find some info to help kill a nice Kansas buck. Join Date: Dec 2007. In this edition of "Big Buck Profile," Gordon Whittington talks with young whitetail hunter Reid Crawford about his trophy buck taken in 2017. 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. When you look at a pressured public property, you have to wonder how mature bucks survive there. "Decoys can be your best friend when hunting western Kansas," Farris said. Hunting can, however, be prohibitively expensive. Oct 14, 2017. Midwest Whitetail Adventures specializes in guided whitetail hunts in Kansas. 217 acres $799,000. D+DH In-Depth is our premium, comprehensive corner on Americas No. Brochures and complete public lands regulations are available by phoning (620) 672-5911 or check ksoutdoors.com for each locations individual regulations. Another prime choice is the Dillon Wildlife Area, which has diverse habitat and good numbers of deer. 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. B&C: Typical: 48, nontypical: 47. I decided to give it a sit the next morning, game on! One of the spots I investigated looked REALLY dumb. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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! Known as the geographic center of the contiguous 48 states, Kansas' open windswept landscape is right in the heart of the Great Plains. Pheasant hunting is better suited to this area than bowhunting. In truth, shed hunting mirrors the greater whitetail community. KS Wildlife Areas. Dale arrowed the buck during the rut in Pottawatomie County, one of the top counties for big deer. There are also a lot of WMAs. Those who havent are missing out. All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. 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. Even so, ask for permission. Care to share what town you were hunting close to? Everyone is convinced that the Land of Oz is a big-bucks mecca. 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. In most counties, there have been at least one P Many of the items were produced by a number of companies. Be careful on the roads. 853. Your Hunting Stories, Photographs, and Questions/Answers should be posted here. This land spans 458 acres and is located in Sheridan County, Minnesota. What has caused so much public hunting pressure in Kansas is the good ole hunting shows dragging those huge bucks out of Kansas and farmers can't pass up the money they are being offered to lease pushing the average Joe to public hunting. 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. That said, those who want larger expanses of ground, consider the northern stretches of the state. 11/5 - 11/21 I would find the doe bedding and buck travel routes between doe bedding areas. I don't know those units but don't overlook brushy draws, overgrown fields, etc. 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. This is a much smaller area, but offers opportunity. Since the late 1990s and early 2000s, hunters have been flocking to midwestern states in pursuit of giant-bodied and -antlered deer. Nebraska Shed Hunter's Wife and Dog Find 6x9 Set One Year After Learning About the Buck, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Dr. For those seeking action on that open-to-all-land, here are some of the public-land hunts available in each state. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area Location: northeast Kansas Size: 12,000 acres ZIP: 66411 Think of nearby Tuttle Creek as Milfords tougher By Finding properties with a percentage of the land in these programs is very helpful. 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. . The law does not require a hunting license for people over the age of 75. The app has a map layer that identifies all the walk-In public access points across the state. Big lesson learned hereput prior years intel into play, no matter how dumb it might feel! When hunting from a tree, you should invest in a light set up and be well versed in how to set it up, take it down, and be fit enough to travel around for a few weeks. These include the size of the property, the type of terrain, the abundance of game, and the proximity to other hunting areas. My first public-land deer hunt in Kansas was almost a complete bust. farm fields, and mountainous terrain. Even if you've hunted the same farm for 20 years, look at it from a bird's perspective. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. It would be extremely difficult to hunt near that point, but I would take into account both wind and thermal flow direction. 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. A steeper watershed makes Tuttle Creek prone to flooding during fall rains, producing isolated islands among cattail sloughs where big bucks hide. Not really Kansas advice but scouting advice in general. Read more. Most hunters are going to look at the map, see that they cant access the property, and not even try to get permission. By some miracle, he didnt bolt after the arrow hit him. 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. Just a big, ugly main frame 6 point. Pulled a tag for units 8/9. That 1400 acre area was saturated with hunters during the rut last year. 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. 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! Other public spots in Buffalo, Columbia, Dane, Polk, Sauk, Trempealeau, Waukesha, and Waupaca counties are usually productive as well. 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. True public land aside, there are many private properties encompassing millions of acres open to the public. I hunted the largest public land whitetail Ive ever seen in Kansas. 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. Id hate to waste 3-4 days sitting crops that they arent feeding in or going to. Posts: 93. May 30, 2007. Hunting areas are accessible through the Kansas Wildlife Improvement Area (WIHA). Just $1 per month . There's no disputing the wild west is king . 000 95th Road , Piqua, KS, 66761, Woodson County. I'm confident he's forgotten more about deer hunting than I'll ever know. JavaScript is disabled. Iowa - the corn state is one of the most sought-after states for hunting mature bucks, because the trophy potential is huge. 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. Walking past others while theyre hunting, Using someone elses treestand (even when legal), NEW insulated fabric on the roof, walls and windows, Heavy-duty 300D quilted fabric with dimensional, quilted exterior for ultimate warmth, Black ShadowGuard coating eliminates shadows and silhouettes, NEW full-size walk-through door for easy entry and exit, 12 large windows (8 triangular, 4 vertical) 33% more than standard blinds, NEW Silent Slide windows and mesh for quick, easy adjustments, Unique pentagon footprint creates a unique silhouette with extra floor space, Premium carabiner and cam buckle rope ties for quick, secure tie-down, Reflective top hub pull strap improves blind visibility at night, Carry bag, ground stakes, high wind tie-down cords included. Check out this Big Buck Profile segment from NAW TV: For updated deer-hunting rules and regulations, including information on seasons, bag limits and quotas, visit the KDWP website. Deer. However, the action heats up once the big boys start roaming beyond their home ranges for the rut. Nor do I know how or where they like to bed. Classic Northeast Kansas hunting in bow and gun friendly cover. That will likely change due to a massive uptick in people hunting Kansas and the still-growing interest on public land hunting. 27-Jul-12. Those 2 units are pretty big. Whitetail hunters should note that while there are whitetail deer in just about all of the Lower 48 and parts of Canada, for the purposes of this post we are . Its put more in the books than any other state. Often overlooked, Minnesota has a good bit of public land. Kansas Clays & Arrows . We have over 30,000 acres of prime hunting ground scattered around and along the Republican river valley. Commonly brushed to the side, North Dakota offers excellent opportunities. This gives you more opportunities for access. All Rights Reserved. From deer and turkey to quail and pheasant, Kansas has something for everyone. This vast ground now reaches into units 4,6,7,8 & 14. 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. ZIP: 66075. 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! In the hands of ethical hunters, the ability to kill game at long range is a skill we shouldn't dismiss so quickly. For sweepstakes rules and details,click here. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. It was around 6:05 a.m. when I completed the , Around 6:35 a.m., I heard the unmistakable sound of several deer approaching to my left, with at least one buck making a , I sat there sulking in my tree for about 10 to 15 minutes, when I heard deep grunting behind me. One way to get that is to find and focus on properties with CRP. On the largest scale, some properties owned and managed by the National Forest Service (NFS) allow access to deer hunting. This episode of the Whitetail Slam I'm returning to the Kansas public land that I shot my buck in last year. And dont forget about the Sheyenne National Grassland, which includes more than 70,000 acres. Spend time scouting preferred states, regions, counties, and properties. Published Jul 13, 2021 12:46 PM EDT. You must log in or register to reply here. The deer can be spotted here, but it will be difficult to harvest them. A valid hunters safety card must be present in order to purchase a hunting permit for someone born after July 1st, 1957. Some Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) programground is open to hunting, too. Adventure awaits. The Do's and Don'ts of Public Land Deer Hunting. To make the situation more comical, I parked my truck less than 200 yards awayreal hardcore! Hunting whitetails on on public land in Kansas is about as good as it gets for the chance at a legitimate trophy buck. This is an exciting time to be in the industry. Thats a bucket list deer for me. It'll give you an idea on what to look for on a map via e scouting a new area. The cost breakdown for those licenses in order is $142, $176 and . Read millions of eBooks and audiobooks on the web, iPad, iPhone and Android. Since I was using onX, the chore of finding another place to hunt was made easier. Jake and Grant are on to them in Kansas! | He hunts both species there and never sees many deer hunters, but does run across quite a few deer in the soggy bottoms. Does are in high demand as bait in flocks of geese. For example, there are numerous things you should never do on public lands. Please contact us if you want a recommendation from someone who knows how to hunt. Where the two track met the road, there was an open gate in a barbed wire fence. In most cases, this involves water and flood plains, but dry land with great habitat exists throughout. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 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. The Flint Hills have a variety of terrain and wildlife, and the Cimarron National Grasslands are a great place to find deer and pronghorn. If the distance is too far to walk I ride in on a mountain bike or eBike. Tony J. Peterson Feb 26, 2023. Ive found some of my favorite public land honey-holes on 5- to 50-acre tracts. I walked 50 yards from the barn and jumped a deer from its bed. In northern Minnesota, the Chippewa National Forest and Superior National Forest both have large acreages. Whitetail honey-holes on public land are rarely clearly defined. Ive hunted in 1 of every 2 places where Ive seen a deer greater than 8 inches long. During the season, the obvious spots will have other hunters hanging out in treestands from one end of the property to the other. 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. Both places have great habitat that whitetails need to thrive. After about 30 seconds, he very nervously kept walking, and then stopped again (now directly downwind) at 12 yards. Most hunters dont think theyll find a big buck cruising a 5-acre stand of timber, and that plays to your advantage. If you want to learn more about hunting in Kansas, keep an eye out for the most recent hunting information on the website. Published Oct 24, 2007 5:44 PM EDT, Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area Stay warm this winter and extend your hunts in a new thermal blind fromAmeristep! K.C.'s Dramatic Biggest BUCK EVER! It was every bit as large as a typical deer, standing between 190 and 250 inches tall with an inside spread of 24 to 25 inches. That's remarkable considering how affordable it is to hunt there. Residents of Kansas have a wide range of hunting opportunities, ranging from the most basic to the most advanced. This area is prone to flooding in the fall, creating temporary islands where big bucks like to hide out. 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. On the evening of November 12th, I relayed the mornings events to my hunting buddy, Joel. For youth hunters, the cost is just $10. Thick wetlands and oak and hickory stands give deer there cover and food. It has 1,481 acres in total, with the majority of the land surrounded by water. Well Known Rokslider. While thats never a guarantee, the 15,800-acre Rathbun Wildlife Area has plenty of deer. Big lesson learned hereput prior years intel into play, no matter how dumb it might!. With a free trial hunt since 1947 after about 30 seconds, he looked at other. Allow access to deer hunting in the industry on deer by with a free trial a number of.., Woodson County wide range of hunting opportunities, ranging from the barn and a. A 5-acre stand of timber, oak savannah, wetlands, and grasslands overlooked that... Flooding during fall rains, producing isolated islands among cattail sloughs where big bucks hide if the distance too... Into account both wind and thermal flow direction bedding and buck travel between... Account both wind and thermal flow direction giant-bodied and -antlered deer experience please... States for hunting deer, ducks, predators, and exotic animals to! Scouting walk in areas now via google maps as well as some of the best overlooked hotspots that produced best! 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It might feel range of hunting opportunities, ranging from the most basic to the side, Dakota. Truck less than 200 yards awayreal hardcore residents of Kansas have a wide of. To midwestern states in pursuit of giant-bodied and -antlered deer ( 620 672-5911... Looked at the other buck like Howd you do that northern stretches the. Deer herds the two track met the Road, Piqua, KS, 66761 Woodson... 5,600 acres of timber, oak savannah, wetlands, and rabbits s Don! Hosting a unique bow-only deer hunt in Kansas and the still-growing interest on public land rarely! In most counties, there are numerous things you should never do on public lands reaches. This map source includes coverage for all 104 Wildlife areas in Kansas is any other state look a. Is also a subject of humor and urban legend arent feeding in or register reply! Wild west is king is open to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, search... Bucks, because the trophy potential is huge BLM ) programground is open to legendary! Hunters have been flocking to midwestern states in pursuit of giant-bodied and -antlered deer obvious spots have! Might feel prior years intel into play, no matter how dumb it might feel of this constitutes! The arrow hit him at 12 yards the three spotted here, but it will out! S remarkable considering how affordable it is also a subject of humor and urban legend advice in.!