If you are an archery hunter, you will feel at home at KFO. 6 and No. Size: 7,600 acres 000 95th Road , Piqua, KS, 66761, Woodson County. Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. Published Jul 13, 2021 12:46 PM EDT. Kansas has long been regarded as one of the top states in the country for hunting large white-tail deer. One solid pick is the Sugar Ridge Fish and Wildlife Area. Big lesson learned hereput prior years intel into play, no matter how dumb it might feel! For non-residents, you will need a standard hunting license. It doesnt look like deer country? 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 most notable is the Land Between the Lakes recreation area which has more than 100,000 acres within the Bluegrass State. Even if you've hunted the same farm for 20 years, look at it from a bird's perspective. Those who havent are missing out. This was a premium spot that was easy to access. The Walk-In Hunting Access program in the state is no longer as robust as it used to be. 8 non-typicals in Pope & Young both came from here. One of the reasons often cited for this loss is lack of access . Iowa - the corn state is one of the most sought-after states for hunting mature bucks, because the trophy potential is huge. This program has tall wheat or milo stubble and adjacent habitat. I am lucky enough to have a farm in the family. Online applications will be accepted from April 1, 2022 to April 25, 2022. Archery season begins in mid-September and runs through December, providing plenty of time for hunters to identify and pattern deer carrying trophy antlers. Our Kansas bow hunting deer packages are the hunt of a lifetime! Northeast Kansas hunting management units 9 and 10. Regardless, everyone wants to hunt the Midwest. The top five counties in the non-typical category are Nemaha, Lyon, Marshall, Pottawatomie, and Reno. Although this year may see changes, things appear to be stable. Located just an hour and a half from the Kansas City area, and south of 54 Highway between . He hunts both species there and never sees many deer hunters, but does run across quite a few deer in the soggy bottoms. The cost breakdown for those licenses in order is $142, $176 and . We havent seen any 200-class deer in a couple of years, says Silovsky, but theyre here., Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area 5 day semi - guided bow hunt with lodging, meals and transportation- September thru December 2015. Minnesotas Metro Bowhunters Resource Base and Indianas Community Hunting Access Program (CHAP)are both examples. But there figures to be some tweaking. So I'm from Texas and this will be my first year hunting Kansas. They will bed in about any cover if it's nice out. Within a few minutes, I heard two snort wheezes, approximately 150-200 yards away. Turkey, quail, pheasant, squirrel, Canadian goose, and rabbit are among the animals that can be hunted here. After bumping into several more deer, I realized I had found a whitetail sanctuary, all within 100 yards of the parking lot. Where the two track met the road, there was an open gate in a barbed wire fence. Size: 12,000 acres Many have produced dozens. 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. Just $1 per month . Because there are numerous private leases in Kansas, hunters looking for trophy Whitetail Deer have a lot of options when it comes to hunting. Fish & Wildlife Service reporting approximately two million fewer hunters in 2016 than in 2011. 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. Scott Bestul I had done a lot of e-scouting prior to the trip in preparation to find the best ground. From deer and turkey to quail and pheasant, Kansas has something for everyone. Just $1 per month , Buy a boat and focus on small properties if you want to have more success deer hunting public land, By A hunting license and a deer tag are $260 and can be bought over the counter. Hunting, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, and camping are all examples of activities that can be done on this land. In northeastern Kansas, Tuttle Creek's 12,000 acres of walk-in hunting provide plenty of room to find mature whitetails. Hunt Antelope in Wyoming. Finding properties with a percentage of the land in these programs is very helpful. Whitetail deer hunting in Kansas is guided by experienced guides. It was around 6:05 a.m. when I completed the hang part of my hang and hunt. Lived in Kansas City for three seasons 2011-2013 and harvested 4 deer in the 3 years, all off public land, all within 10 miles of my doorstep ( NE Kansas City). Oklahoma sells an annual, fiscal-year and 5-day license, so you have a choice depending on the length of your hunt. Here are things you should remember for your next public land deer hunt. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. Anderson, Bourbon, Butler, Chautauqua, Cowley, Crawford, Doniphan, Greenwood, Jefferson, Linn, Lyon, Marion, Republic, Riley, Pottawatomie, and Shawnee are some of the counties in Oklahoma. One Rifle to do it all Or a rifle for each occasion? There are a lot of public venues that are a mix of lakes and islands and large tracts of land. There are different hunting days, and each days prices differ slightly, but all include a hunting tag and a hunting license. I got a second. It has 1,481 acres in total, with the majority of the land surrounded by water. Hunting can be an excellent way to spend time outdoors and to connect with nature. The No. Mostly known for pheasant hunting, some big whitetails live here, too. 217 acres $799,000. Even so, ask for permission. Augusta, KS. 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. It must be at least 1.28-inches long for a 22 caliber and handgun cartridge. 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. On the largest scale, some properties owned and managed by the National Forest Service (NFS) allow access to deer hunting. Heaven is just an hour away from Kansas City. . Most of what Im looking at is farm land type areas with creeks that border or run through it. You dont need access to thousands, or even hundreds of acres to kill a good buck. In the eastern half of Kansas, the number of Booners is constant. I had done a lot of e-scouting prior to the trip in preparation to find the best ground. Subscriber Services. Even some military installations are also great places to hunt, so long as its open and you have the required permissions. This land spans 458 acres and is located in Sheridan County, Minnesota. This area is known for its rolling hills and tallgrass prairies, and it is home to a large population of deer. Checking the road for tracks revealed a group of doe tracks and at least one set of 3.5 year old+ buck tracks. With its abundant wildlife, Kansas is known for some of the best trophy hunting in the country, and Upland Inn Hunts has the land to nurture them. Hunting in Kansas is available in a variety of forms, including semi-guided and pre-rut options. Tuttle Creek WMA. Of course, CRP on its own isnt prime deer habitat, but these places can become important components of whitetail ranges. Going to take a . This area is prone to flooding in the fall, creating temporary islands where big bucks like to hide out. 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. In the hands of ethical hunters, the ability to kill game at long range is a skill we shouldn't dismiss so quickly. You can unsubscribe from those newsletters at any time using links in the newsletters themselves. There are still many great spots in the east and southeast, even though the majority of WIHA is in the west. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. 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. He got a full nose full of me and started running back the way he came, but stopped after 40 yards to look back at his doe, as if to say come on fool, this way! However, the doe hadnt winded me, and she looked at the buck as if to say, come on fool, this way! After 2 minutes, the buck made a big circle about 80-100 yards down wind of me and met back up with his doe. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Gordon Whittington talks with Steven Sprout about the trophy buck he took back in 1998 while bowhunting public land in Illinois. Awesome advice so far! Obviously, some of its public land is well-known. Some Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) programground is open to hunting, too. Please contact us if you want a recommendation from someone who knows how to hunt. Around 7 a.m. a doe and two fawns came right down the two-track, crossed the county road and jumped the fence. 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. The law does not require a hunting license for people over the age of 75. Wisconsin is known for giants. "The state also has many acres of tall grass and CRP fields [Conservation Reserve Program] that provide perfect fawning areas.". 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. That will likely change due to a massive uptick in people hunting Kansas and the still-growing interest on public land hunting. Want to be the first to get our premium content? But, it reminded me of the basic rules I needed to follow to get away from the crowds by finding overlooked hunting opportunities on public land. Thats a bucket list deer for me. The more I look at it, the more I enjoy it. 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. It has 1,481 acres in total, with the majority of the land surrounded by water. 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. (Eric and Greg on Their TWO TX Whitetail, Eric's FIRST BUCK! Check out video and photos of five different Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. Location: southeast Kansas Hunters throughout the nation dream of the Land of Oz. Of these, roughly 15,000 were bucks. Its landscape has both forests and plains, where large deers have been found. Thats why we now have trail cameras, intuitive apps, and much more. The Wildlife Area surrounds Milford Reservoir, a large, man-made lake, populated by native wetlands plants. This is a 300 acre wildlife preserve with deer, ducks, predators, and exotic animals. Aside from Butler (129 entries), Barber (107), Comanche (87), Greenwood (74), and Sumner (73), all counties have had the most entries in history. Deer. Staying undetected by deer while hunting in a ground blind takes a few easy steps. Also, there are plenty of other destinations available. The state of Kansas allows bow hunting for deer in the southwest. RE: Kansas..public land deer. There will be some winter wheat coming up in spots, especially south central KS. Its put more in the books than any other state. Is there a greater giftor a more appealing challengefor an American hunter than chasing game across public land, using only your . 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. E243:Hunting Q & A (Deer Hunting Questions, DIY Elk Answers, Best Pack, Broadhead Discussion, Property Management, Public . The following morning found me perched in a new tree a whole 13 yards off the road. Mixed crops. In the past, it has always seemed to hover around that fifth or sixth spot. Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (S.C.O.R.P), Hiking, Biking, & Horseback Riding Trails, Transferring Fish and Game to Another Person, Education, Exhibition, Collecting, and Salvage Permits. Applicants began failing to draw and leftover tags dwindled. For those seeking action on that open-to-all-land, here are some of the public-land hunts available in each state. The Buckeye State is a relative newcomer as a top destination. that may not have trees. In most cases, this involves water and flood plains, but dry land with great habitat exists throughout. Most are in the southern portion of the state. I hunted the largest public land whitetail Ive ever seen in Kansas. Kansas Coveys. One way to get that is to find and focus on properties with CRP. D+DH In-Depth is our premium, comprehensive corner on Americas No. . I didnt have much hope of that doe attracting any bucks, since she still had her fawns. I've had trail cameras soaking for most of the y. To make the situation more comical, I parked my truck less than 200 yards awayreal hardcore! Oct 14, 2017. Big, attractive pieces of public land are easy to find. These are part of programs under different names, such as the Walk-In Hunting Area (WIHA) program. Focus on thick, early successional habitat. 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. On the evening of November 12th, I relayed the mornings events to my hunting buddy, Joel. By some miracle, he didnt bolt after the arrow hit him. 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. Kisiwa Hunt Club. "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. - Tuesday October 26, 2021 - Josh Honeycutt. This giant, widely known as "Dagger," has 31 points, an impressive 24 2/8-inch inside spread, and a long, spiraling drop tine. At the time of booking, hunters are responsible for a 5% deposit. 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. That's remarkable considering how affordable it is to hunt there. Resident License: $84.50. It was 15 yards away and headed right for me treeand then it grunted. They are more often found in the places other hunters avoid. You can apply online here or by phone 620-672-0728. Missouri Hunting: In Missouri there are less public hunting lands so people move towards hunting lands to hunt their desired animals. Some people hunt with outfitters, own or lease land, knock on doors, and even hunt public lands. Despite a slight increase in harvested land from the late 1990s, the harvest has declined since 2010. Hunting food sources on public land.so, November is the rut as we all know. Get tips from Steve Bartylla in this Hunt em Big. The commercial guiding of hunters is not allowed on public lands owned or managed by KDWP, including Walk-in Hunting Access areas. 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. The outfitter on the south border of it has 5 stands within spitting distance of the fence. Brochures and complete public lands regulations are available by phoning (620) 672-5911 or check ksoutdoors.com for each locations individual regulations. There will be hunters out on the public lands.deer and small game hunters. These are technically private lands, but they serve as public access. Zangerle and his two cameramen, Keith Robinson and Aaron Warbritton, arrived a few days prior to opening day to scout and find find areas to focus on for their five-day hunt. The big 6 started posturing at the 2-year old buck. Number of deer hunters: 288,000. Hunt along escape routes that deer use to avoid incoming hunters. This 217 acre tract in Woodson County, Kansas absolutely has it all! Messages. Resident whitetail any season permit: purchase through Dec. 31, 2021. The dude goes way into depth about finding buck beds. Other public spots in Buffalo, Columbia, Dane, Polk, Sauk, Trempealeau, Waukesha, and Waupaca counties are usually productive as well. 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. Throughout the nation, many different varieties of public-land hunting are available to hunters. You must also have an annual hunting license at a cost of $25. Below is a list of the best overlooked hotspots that produced my best public land bucks. As I made the long drive from Tennessee a day early to check a few potential spots I had identified through my smartphone scouting efforts I knew this trip was going to be a success. Free shipping for many products! Join Date: Dec 2007. I used to love hunting one of these days, and its a lot of fun reminiscing about those days. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Many hunters pass those by, but at least where I've hunted in Kansas the deer sure don't. The weather of this state is cold throughout the year. Three years after that buck fell, Brad Henry of Topeka bagged a typical state record scoring 193 7/8 inches. When it comes to public land, Kansas ranks near the bottom in the nation. The Open Fields and Waters Program provides financial incentives to private landowners willing to allow public, walk-in access for hunting, trapping and fishing. If you want to learn more about hunting in Kansas, keep an eye out for the most recent hunting information on the website. It would be extremely difficult to hunt near that point, but I would take into account both wind and thermal flow direction. While those are more rural based, others are more urban and suburban. Kansas has long had a reputation for growing monster bucks - and for good reason. Most hunters dont think theyll find a big buck cruising a 5-acre stand of timber, and that plays to your advantage. Every year, a herd of 160 to 200 large bucks are slaughtered in and around this region of Kansas. The Flint Hills have a variety of terrain and wildlife, and the Cimarron National Grasslands are a great place to find deer and pronghorn. WEST Wyoming. Ive hunted in 1 of every 2 places where Ive seen a deer greater than 8 inches long. Also, if that sliver of property is surrounded by good private-land habitat, has decent bedding cover, a food source, or a river bottom cutting through it, you should drop a pin because its likely bucks are using it. Looking for someone that wouldn't mind giving a guy advice that's new to hunting the Midwest as I've always hunted Texas for deer. Id hate to waste 3-4 days sitting crops that they arent feeding in or going to. I decided what the heck, Im going to arrow this freak!, so I drew back and touched off a shot at 23 yds. , some properties owned and managed by KDWP, including semi-guided and pre-rut.! 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