Main thing is be mobile, Ive sat an area on one side of a creek on public and not seen more than a few doe pairs in a few days and decided to cross the creek at noon and had 3 bucks dogging a hot doe. After 100-plus miles of searching for a public-land spot all to myself, I finally pulled over to an access point devoid of hunters. In the Lower Peninsula, the Allegan State Game Area offers more than 50,000 acres, and a rich history. While thats never a guarantee, the 15,800-acre Rathbun Wildlife Area has plenty of deer. (Eric and Greg on Their TWO TX Whitetail, Eric's FIRST BUCK! So Im from Texas and this will be my first year hunting Kansas. Hunting can, however, be prohibitively expensive. Check out video and photos of five different Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. This is a 300 acre wildlife preserve with deer, ducks, predators, and exotic animals. Big-Timber Hideouts. Nemaha 3 (the largest) is the third largest in the state. The cost breakdown for those licenses in order is $142, $176 and . I'm confident he's forgotten more about deer hunting than I'll ever know. These are deer hunts that we specialize in. Collectively, Nebraska has just over 1.2 million acres of publicly accessible lands throughout the state. So, of course it was going to attract gobs of hunters. Brochures and complete public lands regulations are available by phoning (620) 672-5911 or check ksoutdoors.com for each locations individual regulations. I walked 50 yards from the barn and jumped a deer from its bed. Scott Bestul Then, get out and start scouting. It can cost as much as $2,600 to hunt during the peak season. 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 . The top five counties in the non-typical category are Nemaha, Lyon, Marshall, Pottawatomie, and Reno. The floodplain of the winding Marais des Cygnes River features some of the most extensive timber stands in this predominantly prairie state. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. For the third stop of The Hunting Public's Deer Tour, Ted Zangerle set out for Kansas to chase whitetails on public land with his bow. The dude goes way into depth about finding buck beds. With some areas having experienced herd decline as a result of drought and/or epizootic hemorrhagic disease several years ago, it shouldn't have much overall effect on 2015 prospects, according to Lloyd Fox. Awesome advice so far! And certainly, dont forget about controlled, draw and other limited-entry hunts on a variety of public land types. If you want to learn more about hunting in Kansas, keep an eye out for the most recent hunting information on the website. Some people hunt with outfitters, own or lease land, knock on doors, and even hunt public lands. The Buckeye State keeps my social media newsfeeds as hot with big-buck pictures as draw states like Iowa and Kansas. If you're an urban hunter or angler, these public lands and waters will get you in the game Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. I decided what the heck, Im going to arrow this freak!, so I drew back and touched off a shot at 23 yds. Nonetheless, the fact remains that a crossbow is very different from a firearm, so it should not be confused for one. Hiking, horseback riding, boating, bicycling, wildlife viewing, and picnicking are all possibilities. Aside from Butler (129 entries), Barber (107), Comanche (87), Greenwood (74), and Sumner (73), all counties have had the most entries in history. 5. In all of these counties, adequate escape cover, ample nutrition and low hunter densities combine to provide ideal behemoth buck prospects. I have a small amount of private land to hunt but like to explore the WIHA (walk in hunt areas). Other programs are lesser known. E243:Hunting Q & A (Deer Hunting Questions, DIY Elk Answers, Best Pack, Broadhead Discussion, Property Management, Public . Big, attractive pieces of public land are easy to find. The Kansas Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) is but one of many examples. Publicly accessible lands are displayed in the Public Access Atlas This is the average sized spot for one hunter. Kansas Whitetail Hunting Public Land. There are also a lot of WMAs. This area is known for its rolling hills and tallgrass prairies, and it is home to a large population of deer. Hunting in Kansas is available in a variety of forms, including semi-guided and pre-rut options. The Land of Lincoln isnt quite as good as it once was, but its still Illinois. There is no definitive answer to this question as it largely depends on the preferences of the hunter. This map source includes coverage for all 104 wildlife areas in Kansas and is based on the official boundaries published by the Kansas Dept. 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. Around 7 a.m. a doe and two fawns came right down the two-track, crossed the county road and jumped the fence. 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. Its put more in the books than any other state. When compared to what Ive seen in the past, some areas have low deer populations, which means you must remain mentally engaged. . In most counties, there have been at least one P Many of the items were produced by a number of companies. farm fields, and mountainous terrain. The state boasts tons of record-book whitetails, and the deer herd is pretty good, apart from some localized break-outs of EHD lately. I don't know those units but don't overlook brushy draws, overgrown fields, etc. The counties with the most all-time entries include Butler (129), Barber (107), Comanche (87), Greenwood (74) and Sumner (73). Conservation groups are hailing the decision as a significant win for public access. Greenwood is by far the best, despite being the worst of the three. Staying undetected by deer while hunting in a ground blind takes a few easy steps. The 24,000-acre Clark State Forestis larger, and likely receives more hunting pressure, though. Northeast Kansas hunting management units 9 and 10. Sandy beaches separate palmettos and oaks from the Atlantic. Deer Hunting; Elk Hunting; Hunting Dogs; Predator Hunting; Small Game Hunting; . Kisiwa Hunt Club. 12 Best Public Land Deer Hunts in the Midwest. P&Y: Typical: 654 . This area of land is suitable for hunting deer, turkey, quail, pheasant, squirrel, Canadian geese, and rabbits. 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. The commercial guiding of hunters is not allowed on public lands owned or managed by KDWP, including Walk-in Hunting Access areas. During the season, the obvious spots will have other hunters hanging out in treestands from one end of the property to the other. Its full of quality habitat. In some cases, it even increases browse availability. Toss in 60,000 acres of Walk-in Hunting Access (private land leased for public hunting by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks) in four adjacent counties, and youve got a whitetail wonderland. Gordon Whittington talks with Steven Sprout about the trophy buck he took back in 1998 while bowhunting public land in Illinois. He sold his first story to Field & Stream a few years later and has been contributing to the brand ever since. Hunt along escape routes that deer use to avoid incoming hunters. Often overlooked, Minnesota has a good bit of public land. Use promo code: THP http://bit.ly/2D6aB44THP shirts, hats, and decals - http://bit.l. Ohio. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. Adventure awaits. 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). 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. 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. Theres a lot of un-hunted public ground out there that remains untouched by humans because its hard to get to. Pulled a tag for units 8/9. Those who havent are missing out. Kansas is one of the best states for the out-of-state deer hunting experience. Hunt Whitetail Deer in Kansas. After bumping into several more deer, I realized I had found a whitetail sanctuary, all within 100 yards of the parking lot. Finally, I could make out a deer in the small draw to my left. With a variety of game species to choose from, Kansas offers hunters a unique hunting experience. Still, it doesnt see the hunting pressure many midwestern states do. Thick wetlands and oak and hickory stands give deer there cover and food. Joined. 6 and No. 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. Also not sure on how they respond to grunting and rattling. This giant, widely known as "Dagger," has 31 points, an impressive 24 2/8-inch inside spread, and a long, spiraling drop tine. One solid pick is the Sugar Ridge Fish and Wildlife Area. Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area Location: northeast Kansas Size: 12,000 acres ZIP . You can unsubscribe from those newsletters at any time using links in the newsletters themselves. The buck walked to within 3 yards of my tree, and then caught a good whiff of my scent. Checking the road for tracks revealed a group of doe tracks and at least one set of 3.5 year old+ buck tracks. Sounds easy right? 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. 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, the use of a 22-250 for deer hunting is legal, as long as the hunter follows the state's regulations. D+DH In-Depth is our premium, comprehensive corner on Americas No. 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. 223 works well for deer hunting in Kansas. If you are an archery hunter, you will feel at home at KFO. Location: southeast Kansas That's remarkable considering how affordable it is to hunt there. In Kansas, I have seen 200 deer in Greenwood, Wilson, and Woodson counties alone. This area of land is suitable for hunting deer, turkey, quail, pheasant, squirrel, Canadian geese, and . Since the late 1990s and early 2000s, hunters have been flocking to midwestern states in pursuit of giant-bodied and -antlered deer. I got a second arrow knocked as quickly as possible and sent the second arrow through the lungs. This episode of the Whitetail Slam I'm returning to the Kansas public land that I shot my buck in last year. 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. 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. The crop info is going to be a solid help. 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. 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. Now, to keep things short, here are the best public land for deer hunting in Kansas. 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. Obviously, some of its public land is well-known. You must log in or register to reply here. . Halstead, KS. If you want to share your experience as a hunter, please do so. Hunts are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Its landscape has both forests and plains, where large deers have been found. Entries made from 2010 until now reveal bowhunters in the eastern and south-central parts of Kansas are taking the most P&Ys. The morning of the November 12th, I setup just off the county road adjacent a small wooded draw (20-30yds across) and the two track that provide access for farm equipment. Regardless of the exact ownership, dig up as many of these locally-owned public lands as possible. You probably dont see too many deer hunters trailering a 12-foot johnboat into a public hunting area, but thats exactly why you should invest in one. 217 acres $799,000. That will likely change due to a massive uptick in people hunting Kansas and the still-growing interest on public land hunting. Kansas has long had a reputation for growing monster bucks - and for good reason. Deer densities are lower, but its easier to get away from other hunters. My first public-land deer hunt in Kansas was almost a complete bust. I looked behind my stand, across the county road, and caught sight of two bucks now chasing this doe, 80 yards from my location. Regardless, everyone wants to hunt the Midwest. I have no clue what crops deer prefer over others up there. Thick, early successional habitat is important, too. Riley 3. By some miracle, he didnt bolt after the arrow hit him. You will find an abundance of hunting options in Kansas from September through May and . Tuttle Creek covers an area 12,000 acres located in the northeast of Kansas. You've probably heard all the talk recently about the decline in hunter numbers, with the U.S. Here are things you should remember for your next public land deer hunt. Trained as a high school English teacher and coach, Scott Bestul left that lucrative field to pursue anotheras a full-time freelance writer in 1990. 1 Pope and Young Bucks Before They Were Beat, Best Gear of 2022 for Whitetail Property Managers, A Whitetail Hunter's Guide to Ballistic Reticles, Two Brothers' Shed Hunting Strategy Yields Non-Typical Match Set in Missouri. In the same boat but in 3 and 7. Know where food sources, water sources, and bedding areas are located. By some miracle, he didnt bolt after the arrow hit him. 3 bucks and one doe. In the hands of ethical hunters, the ability to kill game at long range is a skill we shouldn't dismiss so quickly. 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