Just $1 per month , Buy a boat and focus on small properties if you want to have more success deer hunting public land, By Kansas greeted me with a half-inch of rain, which made many of the section roads nearly impassable. May 30, 2007. Jefferson 3, Morris 3, Reno 3, Linn 3, Greenwood 3. The 4,500-acre Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge (843-784-2468) has been hosting a unique bow-only deer hunt since 1947. The state boasts tons of record-book whitetails, and the deer herd is pretty good, apart from some localized break-outs of EHD lately. 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. The Fall River area used to be an awesome area to deer hunt. Guided Hunts include a 20% Group Discount. In some cases, it even increases browse availability. The outfitter on the south border of it has 5 stands within spitting distance of the fence. As if. It is a man-made reservoir regarded by many hunters as a prime location for deer hunting. The big 6 started posturing at the 2-year old buck. Instead of parking in the ditch and walking into the woods without a plan, spend some time scouring aerial photography. Brad was hunting in Wabaunsee County when the largest deer he'd ever laid eyes on walking within bow range. Some people hunt with outfitters, own or lease land, knock on doors, and even hunt public lands. The Buckeye State is a relative newcomer as a top destination. In Kansas, the use of a 22-250 for deer hunting is legal, as long as the hunter follows the state's regulations. I let my bow down and looked behind me and saw a huge bodied buck with the goofiest rack. 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. Ohio. Subscriber Services. In this edition of "Big Buck Profile," Gordon Whittington talks with young whitetail hunter Reid Crawford about his trophy buck taken in 2017. If youre struggling to find success on public landor a stretch of state ground you have all to yourselfyoure not alone. FORLOH AllClima Softshell and AllClima Stretch Woven Pant Review. As for specifics, check out Florida's Apalachicola WMA, Louisiana's Maurepas Swamp and more. Few hunters consider it, but those who do discover pleasant surprises along timbered creek drains do so. farm fields, and mountainous terrain. But man, Id love to break the 150 mark! Nonresident deer permit draw: application period April 1 to 30, 2021. A permit, map, and brochure are required for residents, which cost $15 each. Good binos have always been extremely valuable to me. It doesnt look like deer country? 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. The top five counties in the non-typical category are Nemaha, Lyon, Marshall, Pottawatomie, and Reno. Checking the road for tracks revealed a group of doe tracks and at least one set of 3.5 year old+ buck tracks. A moment later, the buck and doe disappeared forever into a cedar thicket. The commercial guiding of hunters is not allowed on public lands owned or managed by KDWP, including Walk-in Hunting Access areas. Heaven is just an hour away from Kansas City. To reserve your trip date and hunting lodge, a $400 deposit is required. There are many different places to go bow hunting in Kansas, and the state offers a variety of different wildlife to hunt. It is illegal in Kansas to keep a crossbow during an archery hunting season, but it is a legal hunting tool that can be used correctly. Ill also ask the landowner if they are targeting a particular buck in that area. More than 50,000 archers hunted deer there in 2014, harvesting nearly 27,000 whitetails. They are more often found in the places other hunters avoid. The law does not require a hunting license for people over the age of 75. So, of course it was going to attract gobs of hunters. I haven't hunted that exact area, so not for sure what the main crops will be. However, there are a few factors that can be considered when making a decision. The buck is currently No. 223 works well for deer hunting in Kansas. 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. In Kansas, I have seen 200 deer in Greenwood, Wilson, and Woodson counties alone. Hunt Antelope in Wyoming. Beyond that, dont overlook large lands owned by coal, electric, power, paper, and timber companies. Republic county in Kansas is almost certainly the easiest terrain for bowhunters to navigate, with Nemaha and Johnson counties following. 8 non-typicals in Pope & Young both came from here. Thats why we now have trail cameras, intuitive apps, and much more. Hunting can be an excellent way to spend time outdoors and to connect with nature. Ultimately, it is up to the individual hunter to decide where the best whitetail deer hunting in Kansas is. Most of the land in Kansas is privately owned. 3. For example, there are numerous things you should never do on public lands. Known as the geographic center of the contiguous 48 states, Kansas' open windswept landscape is right in the heart of the Great Plains. Its landscape has both forests and plains, where large deers have been found. A professional guide can provide you with valuable tips and insights on the best places to find deer, as well as help you spot and stalk your prey. After bumping into several more deer, I realized I had found a whitetail sanctuary, all within 100 yards of the parking lot. After a morning of finding ample rutting buck signand no human signat my No. Sufficient daylight now illuminated the buck that that stood three yards from my tree 15 to 20 minutes earlier. Its full of quality habitat. While those are more rural based, others are more urban and suburban. If you are an archery hunter, you will feel at home at KFO. This area of land is suitable for hunting deer, turkey, quail, pheasant, squirrel, Canadian geese, and . Thanks to everyone for the info. One great destination is the Mark Twain National Forest, which comprises more than 1.5 million acres. JavaScript is disabled. Check out these options from across the region. Hunting, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, and camping are all examples of activities that can be done on this land. Even if you've hunted the same farm for 20 years, look at it from a bird's perspective. In northeastern Kansas, Tuttle Creek's 12,000 acres of walk-in hunting provide plenty of room to find mature whitetails. 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. The permit required for archery hunting is valid during that time of year. 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. Thats a bucket list deer for me. Anderson, Bourbon, Butler, Chautauqua, Cowley, Crawford, Doniphan, Greenwood, Jefferson, Linn, Lyon, Marion, Republic, Riley, Pottawatomie, and Shawnee are some of the counties in Oklahoma. Big, attractive pieces of public land are easy to find. Deer. Whitetail Mule Deer [DVD] 2002 at the best online prices at eBay! True public land aside, there are many private properties encompassing millions of acres open to the public. 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. The clinton lake area is in what is called Deer Management Unit 19, (somewhat suburban) asare a lotpublic lake areas from the east state line to Topeka area. You are using an out of date browser. I looked behind my stand, across the county road, and caught sight of two bucks now chasing this doe, 80 yards from my location. Hoping to get some help from someone that hunts the area or has hunted the general area as to methods and tactics that will increase my odds of success. During these 12 days, hunters who have a Firearms or Any-Season Deer Permit may pursue deer with any legal firearm, including any centerfire rifle and handgun, a gauge shotgun with slugs, muzzleloading rifles, or pistols. Midwest Whitetail Adventures specializes in guided whitetail hunts in Kansas. The Hunting Public. There is no definitive answer to the question of what the best public hunting land in Kansas is. Pheasant, quail, prairie chickens, whitetail deer, turkey, and waterfowl are among the many species of game that hunters will be able to catch. In this graduate-level course, well teach you about deer biology, behavior, and ultimately, how to become a better hunter. I hunted the largest public land whitetail Ive ever seen in Kansas. They have a special early season. However, the action heats up once the big boys start roaming beyond their home ranges for the rut. CRACK!Oh crap! I hit him square in the shoulder and maybe got 8 of arrow penetration. Entries made from 2010 until now reveal bowhunters in the eastern and south-central parts of Kansas are taking the most P&Ys. A steeper watershed makes Tuttle Creek prone to flooding during fall rains, producing isolated islands among cattail sloughs where big bucks hide. The state of Kansas allows bow hunting for deer in the southwest. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Thats when you pounce. Of these, roughly 15,000 were bucks. Published Oct 24, 2007 5:44 PM EDT, Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area In the past, it has always seemed to hover around that fifth or sixth spot. Regardless of the exact ownership, dig up as many of these locally-owned public lands as possible. For the last few years, Kansas has consistently ranked near the bottom of the rankings for deer hunting. E243:Hunting Q & A (Deer Hunting Questions, DIY Elk Answers, Best Pack, Broadhead Discussion, Property Management, Public . I am a deer hunting guide. Stan Potts heads to Montana with his rifle in search of a Big Sky buck. That said, those who want larger expanses of ground, consider the northern stretches of the state. U.S. entrants only. 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. The Kansas River Bottoms are a great place to hunt waterfowl and other wetland animals. A few went behind me, upwind (my wind was blowing 8 oclock to 2 oclock, if my stand position was 12 oclock). Riley 3 is Riley 3. Resident any deer firearms permit draw: application period May 11 to June 11, 2021. Mature bucks have an uncanny ability to find these isolated hotspots and to hide and live out there lives there. Archery, muzzleloading shotguns, shotguns, and rifles are all permitted during hunting. The counties with the most all-time entries include Butler (129), Barber (107), Comanche (87), Greenwood (74) and Sumner (73). Spend time scouting preferred states, regions, counties, and properties. The Pine Island Wildlife Area is good, too. One of my buddies in Illinois hunts public areas that are open to duck hunters in the morning and deer hunters in the afternoon. 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. KS Wildlife Areas. Sounds easy right? A buck shot by Butcher will shatter the state record by 57 inches. This hunting land in Mitchell County totals 13,200 acres. Sick in Kansas..Again (Using OnX To Find Permission . He wont score for anything, but was definitely a mature deer. Ive found some of my favorite public land honey-holes on 5- to 50-acre tracts. 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. Often overlooked, Minnesota has a good bit of public land. 13 in P&Y. Look for WIHA with tree lines near crops. He bounded off and crashed 40 yards away in the draw. You've probably heard all the talk recently about the decline in hunter numbers, with the U.S. Hunting dates and prices may change; therefore, keep an eye out for the most current information on the official website. My first public-land deer hunt in Kansas was almost a complete bust. Enter to win by filling out the form below. Estimated deer population: 1.75 million. Im pretty sure that people are applying for the job just as the economy is getting better. Read E263: The Texas Public Land Double! I'm confident he's forgotten more about deer hunting than I'll ever know. On the largest scale, some properties owned and managed by the National Forest Service (NFS) allow access to deer hunting. Read more. 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. Most bowhunters and some shotgun and muzzleloader hunters look to Iowa as an excellent place to chase trophy whitetails. I decided what the heck, Im going to arrow this freak!, so I drew back and touched off a shot at 23 yds. 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. Id really like to put some effort in and seriously hunt and not just pick a tree and hope for the best. Ive hunted in 1 of every 2 places where Ive seen a deer greater than 8 inches long. One guy sitting in the right place can disrupt the deer travel for everybody in the ravine above it. Most are in the southern portion of the state. 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. The Buckeye State keeps my social media newsfeeds as hot with big-buck pictures as draw states like Iowa and Kansas. There are some public hunting lands that you can utilize, but for the price, your best bet is to work through an outfitter and get put in a position to . Bottomland and upland woods mix with wetlands and cropfields. This area is prone to flooding in the fall, creating temporary islands where big bucks like to hide out. Hunt five full days and depart after breakfast on your sixth day. 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. Been hunting public land for years, pick an area, scout it and hunt it. As a Ks resident I am able to get an either species tag about every other year so I will hunt Whitetail in SE Kansas one year and then Mule deer in NW Kansas the next. Thats why you typically find a parking lot full of pickup trucks when you show up at such locations. Obviously, some of its public land is well-known. Most of what Im looking at is farm land type areas with creeks that border or run through it. The crop info is going to be a solid help. Bethel Prairie Conservation Areais only 260 acres, but its archery and muzzleloader only. Now, it can be hard to get access from a landowner, so look at onX or a plat map and see how many different private owners have the public land surrounded. The Kansas Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) is but one of many examples. Get tips from Steve Bartylla in this Hunt em Big. Just about every county in the state has produced at least one P&Y buck. Roadside Hotspots. Applicants began failing to draw and leftover tags dwindled. Cruising further down the road, I found another truck on the north end of the property, as well as two more trucks on the east side. 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. Im scouting walk in areas now via google maps as well as some of the WMA areas. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. Those whove been to the Cornhusker State realize how good it is. Kansas. Getting a nonresident hunting license will set you back $97,50 for the adult and for 15 and younger $42,50. Hunting land in Kansas provide great facilities for hunters including well-furnished restrooms, toilets, fresh drinking water, security, tuck shops, and camp grounds. Kansas is a state that has grown accustomed to being near the top of any "best whitetail destinations" list, and for good reason. 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. 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. After about 30 seconds, he very nervously kept walking, and then stopped again (now directly downwind) at 12 yards. Many hunters pass those by, but at least where I've hunted in Kansas the deer sure don't. 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. Here are 5 public land deer hunting states for you to consider. The Do's and Don'ts of Public Land Deer Hunting. Want to be the first to get our premium content? At 25 yards, he came to a complete stop. 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. It was around 6:05 a.m. when I completed the hang part of my hang and hunt. This is almost 0.8% of the total area of this state. This gives you more opportunities for access. Going to take a . ZIP: 66075. One of the reasons often cited for this loss is lack of access . I held full draw for 1.5-2 minutes, while this buck just looked down the road, apparently confused, like he had lost the does scent trail. 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