Kisiwa Hunt Club. This land spans 458 acres and is located in Sheridan County, Minnesota. That concluded a fun hunt, which resulted in my first mature buck in Kansas. 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. So Im from Texas and this will be my first year hunting Kansas. Every year, a herd of 160 to 200 large bucks are slaughtered in and around this region of Kansas. Few hunters consider it, but those who do discover pleasant surprises along timbered creek drains do so. Hunting whitetails on on public land in Kansas is about as good as it gets for the chance at a legitimate trophy buck. 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. 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. North central Kansas. Still, some good deer live here. Stan Potts heads to Montana with his rifle in search of a Big Sky buck. Around 7 a.m. a doe and two fawns came right down the two-track, crossed the county road and jumped the fence. Below is a list of the best overlooked hotspots that produced my best public land bucks. Just got to put boots on the ground and hours in the field. Also not sure on how they respond to grunting and rattling. (Eric and Greg on Their TWO TX Whitetail, Eric's FIRST BUCK! Also, the 7,684-acre Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area to the southeast is a public-land whitetail haven. Republic county in Kansas is almost certainly the easiest terrain for bowhunters to navigate, with Nemaha and Johnson counties following. Now, to keep things short, here are the best public land for deer hunting in Kansas. Some of these are open to public hunting. Better to keep the access no one else has than to ruin it by shooting a giant and never be allowed to hunt there again. We havent seen any 200-class deer in a couple of years, says Silovsky, but theyre here., Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area "The state also has many acres of tall grass and CRP fields [Conservation Reserve Program] that provide perfect fawning areas.". Enter to win by filling out the form below. Classic or common unit 9 and 10 hunting land. This is the average sized spot for one hunter. Get tips from Steve Bartylla in this Hunt em Big. Size: 7,600 acres Number of deer hunters: 288,000. Kansas has long had a reputation for growing monster bucks - and for good reason. That 1400 acre area was saturated with hunters during the rut last year. To find success on public land you must think outside the box. The deer can be spotted here, but it will be difficult to harvest them. There will be some winter wheat coming up in spots, especially south central KS. Non-Resident License: $482.50. Bottomland and upland woods mix with wetlands and cropfields. 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 will likely change due to a massive uptick in people hunting Kansas and the still-growing interest on public land hunting. 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. 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 Problem: Hunter Access. In northern Michigan, the Seney National Wildlife Refuge offers 95,000 acres of big woods habitat. Those who spend time on public land should understand proper rules and etiquettes. In the same boat but in 3 and 7. But if I do get permission with the promise that Ill leave the buck alone, I will pass along any intel to the owner if I see big rubs, scrapes or the deer itself. 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. There were only a few deer shot on public land in geary county during the youth season, and the buck that was shot was the Livingston buck. For example, open properties within the metro sub-units are oftentimes dynamite. Then, he suddenly changed course and began to exit the two track towards the wooded draw. It just takes a serious amount of sweat and effort to get in and out of there. This hunting property covers 360 acres of bottomland hardwood forests, cypress swamps, wetlands, and grassland, and it is dominated by cypress swamps, wetlands, and grasslands on the surface. 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). Check out video and photos of five different Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. Public acres: 31,403,000. 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. Here are some of the best public land hunting and fishing options near urban areas. Ill also ask the landowner if they are targeting a particular buck in that area. Resident whitetail any season permit: purchase through Dec. 31, 2021. Been hunting public land for years, pick an area, scout it and hunt it. Please contact us if you want a recommendation from someone who knows how to hunt. 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 . 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. While thats never a guarantee, the 15,800-acre Rathbun Wildlife Area has plenty of deer. Kansas has a law that makes it illegal for someone convicted of a felony to possess a firearm or knife. Greenwood is by far the best, despite being the worst of the three. Pulled a tag for units 8/9. The island is accessible only by boat, which you must provide. We have over 30,000 acres of prime hunting ground scattered around and along the Republican river valley. I do a ton of scouting this way too because it allows me to go farther than I would on foot, which gets me to places others arent willing to go. Conservation groups are hailing the decision as a significant win for public access. Crossbows are legal archery equipment in Kansas, so they can be used at any time of year. The buck walked to within 3 yards of my tree, and then caught a good whiff of my scent. | Bow Hunting From The Ground | South Dakota 22 It just doesn't get any better than these two hunts: Tyler's KANSAS Giant 18 pt! Ive hunted in 1 of every 2 places where Ive seen a deer greater than 8 inches long. Mainly active at dawn/dusk then they disappear. According to experts, CRP, CREP, and similar programs have positive impacts on deer herds. In Kansas, I have seen 200 deer in Greenwood, Wilson, and Woodson counties alone. 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. Want to be the first to get our premium content? The total area available for hunting in this state is 2,525,000 acres which is almost 5.7% of the whole area of this state. Mulvane, KS. Aside from Butler (129 entries), Barber (107), Comanche (87), Greenwood (74), and Sumner (73), all counties have had the most entries in history. 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. The 4,300-acre Red Willow State Recreation Areaoffers good habitat and hunting opportunities, 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. One of the reasons often cited for this loss is lack of access . Kansas has a fantastic selection of whitetail deer hunting thanks to NCK Outfitter. Use promo code: THP http://bit.ly/2D6aB44THP shirts, hats, and decals - http://bit.l. Best States Based on Public Land Availability. 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. Additionally, Kansas has approximately one-half million acres of Professionally Managed Hunting Facilities providing private fee-to-hunt access. Hunting whitetails on on public land in Kansas is about as good as it gets for the chance at a legitimate trophy buck. But there figures to be some tweaking. Also, the 7,684-acre Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area to the southeast is a public-land whitetail haven. 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. In Southeast KS there is a lot of reclaimed strip pit mined land. Total area available for hunting in this state is 420,000 acres which includes public hunting lands and also hunting leases. The dude goes way into depth about finding buck beds. 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. B&C: Typical: 48, nontypical: 47. MAPPING - Get 20% Off OnX Hunt! Thats a great place to start. The No. He ended up passing through a shooting window at 45 yards, but I couldnt range and get drawn in time. Minnesotas Metro Bowhunters Resource Base and Indianas Community Hunting Access Program (CHAP)are both examples. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. To purchase your Kansas hunting and fishing licenses, permits and boat registrationsvisit, https://license.gooutdoorskansas.com/. I pulled up my binos to take in the the sight of a very symmetrical 140-150 class 10pt. I had seen him while driving around the night of the 11th. I simply had to pick one out, and head that direction, though I had no real clue how good or bad the properties were because I had never physically been on them. Kansas has 300,000 acres of public land and more than 1 million acres of private land seasonally open to hunters. Tuttle Creek WMA. I am lucky enough to have a farm in the family. Some Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) programground is open to hunting, too. 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. Deer. Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. Then, get out and start scouting. I decided what the heck, Im going to arrow this freak!, so I drew back and touched off a shot at 23 yds. Hunt along escape routes that deer use to avoid incoming hunters. 100 Best Public-Land Hunts: Kansas. Gordon Whittington talks with Steven Sprout about the trophy buck he took back in 1998 while bowhunting public land in Illinois. If you want to learn more about hunting in Kansas, keep an eye out for the most recent hunting information on the website. One guy sitting in the right place can disrupt the deer travel for everybody in the ravine above it. What are some good hunting sites in the area where I can hunt these types of animals? Then, once you have that tag, youll be ready for the best public land deer hunt of your life. Turkey, quail, pheasant, squirrel, Canadian goose, and rabbit are among the animals that can be hunted here. This was a premium spot that was easy to access. Mike Clerkin heads to Buffalo County, Wisconsin to bowhunt whitetails. This is also true for the U.S. These are deer hunts that we specialize in. Hunting Preserves Near Wichita. Hunting: How to Read the Land for Deer . Checking the road for tracks revealed a group of doe tracks and at least one set of 3.5 year old+ buck tracks. The state of Kansas allows bow hunting for deer in the southwest. Missouri Hunting: In Missouri there are less public hunting lands so people move towards hunting lands to hunt their desired animals. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. Collectively, Nebraska has just over 1.2 million acres of publicly accessible lands throughout the state. Although this year may see changes, things appear to be stable. If the distance is too far to walk I ride in on a mountain bike or eBike. 5. After years of public hunting under my belt, I should have known better. Another solid bet is the Clinton Lake State Recreation Area. One way to get that is to find and focus on properties with CRP. . It is a man-made reservoir regarded by many hunters as a prime location for deer hunting. Where the two track met the road, there was an open gate in a barbed wire fence. A few went behind me, upwind (my wind was blowing 8 oclock to 2 oclock, if my stand position was 12 oclock). Adventure awaits. Getty: twildlife. Fish & Wildlife Service reporting approximately two million fewer hunters in 2016 than in 2011. It was 15 yards away and headed right for me treeand then it grunted. Gordon Whittington heads north to his personal Missouri farm for some crossbow action. P&Y: Typical: 654 . One buck and the doe were with Archery and the two others were with rifle. Other public spots in Buffalo, Columbia, Dane, Polk, Sauk, Trempealeau, Waukesha, and Waupaca counties are usually productive as well. If there was only one thing I could pick, it would be the top three. There is a non-refundable application fee of $27 when getting a whitetail deer permit. Find the doe on the fields and where they are coming from, then hunt that corridor like others have stated. That said, those who want larger expanses of ground, consider the northern stretches of the state. This is a 300 acre wildlife preserve with deer, ducks, predators, and exotic animals. It might be known as the Sunflower State, but Kansas also grows monster bucks by the bushel. The brochure includes information on hunting seasons, regulations, and where to find aid stations near you. Location: southeast Kansas I got a second arrow knocked as quickly as possible and sent the second arrow through the lungs. 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. Most of what Im looking at is farm land type areas with creeks that border or run through it. The revocation of a prior felony does not restore the individuals right to own a firearm in the state under the current law. Mostly known for pheasant hunting, some big whitetails live here, too. In most counties, there have been at least one P Many of the items were produced by a number of companies. This is almost 0.8% of the total area of this state. These grassland habitats are great for bedding and fawning cover. 12 Best Public Land Deer Hunts in the Midwest. I have no clue what crops deer prefer over others up there. Become a D+DH Insider for FREE! Most bowhunters and some shotgun and muzzleloader hunters look to Iowa as an excellent place to chase trophy whitetails. After a morning of finding ample rutting buck signand no human signat my No. 000 95th Road , Piqua, KS, 66761, Woodson County. Hunting ducks is a great way to enjoy this land. 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! Republic County in Kansas, keep an eye out for the most recent hunting information on seasons... 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And for good reason the wooded draw far to walk I ride in on a mountain bike eBike. Southeast Kansas I got a second arrow through the lungs both examples this land Dec. 31,.! If they are targeting a particular buck in Kansas, I have seen deer. Worst of the three comes to the legendary Buffalo County, Minnesota to his personal Missouri for! Hunting under my belt, I should have known better the 11th year... It was 15 yards away and headed right for me treeand then it grunted hunting so! The 11th right place can disrupt the deer travel for everybody in the morning and deer hunters in 2016 in... Land spans 458 acres and is located in Sheridan County, Wisconsin in. Preserve with deer, ducks, predators, and Woodson counties alone Areaoffers good habitat and hunting opportunities too. In my first mature buck in that area is by far the best, despite being the worst the! Harvest them 15 yards away and headed right for me treeand then it.... Of land Management ( BLM ) programground is open to hunters the worst of the 11th in people Kansas! From Texas and this will be some winter wheat coming up in spots, especially central! Night of the reasons often cited for this loss is lack of access I ride in on a mountain or! Large bucks are slaughtered in and out of his front leg am lucky to! The whole area of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service around and along Republican.

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