Then, once you have that tag, youll be ready for the best public land deer hunt of your life. I have a small amount of private land to hunt but like to explore the WIHA (walk in hunt areas). Big lesson learned hereput prior years intel into play, no matter how dumb it might feel! There is no definitive answer to this question as it largely depends on the preferences of the hunter. Location: northeast Kansas 853. Check out these options from across the region. In northeastern Kansas, Tuttle Creek's 12,000 acres of walk-in hunting provide plenty of room to find mature whitetails. The locals had the deer were surrounded. 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. 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. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. For non-residents, you will need a standard hunting license. If you get away from larger cities/college towns, its better to live on public land. Hunts are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. If the first says no, move onto the next. The American frontier, also known as the Old West, popularly known as the Wild West, encompasses the geography, history, folklore, and culture associated with the forward wave of American expansion in mainland North America that began with European colonial settlements in the early 17th century and ended with the admission of the last few western territories as states in 1912 (except Alaska . Id hate to waste 3-4 days sitting crops that they arent feeding in or going to. Archery, muzzleloading shotguns, shotguns, and rifles are all permitted during hunting. | It also has approximately 1,300 WMAs. YouTube Dan Infalt farm country. I let my bow down and looked behind me and saw a huge bodied buck with the goofiest rack. If they are, its likely I wont be getting access. Those looking for smaller properties might think about the Baltimore Bend Conservation Area, which is about 1,200 acres. Ill also ask the landowner if they are targeting a particular buck in that area. As for specifics, the Marais Des Cygnes Wildlife Area is approximately 7,600 acres of prime ground. We have over 30,000 acres of prime hunting ground scattered around and along the Republican river valley. I had done a lot of e-scouting prior to the trip in preparation to find the best ground. 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. Crossbows are legal archery equipment in Kansas, so they can be used at any time of year. A few went behind me, upwind (my wind was blowing 8 oclock to 2 oclock, if my stand position was 12 oclock). I could tell the deer were very close (inside of 50 yards), but I couldnt yet make any of them out. Kansas has a fantastic selection of whitetail deer hunting thanks to NCK Outfitter. 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. Mixed crops. For those seeking action on that open-to-all-land, here are some of the public-land hunts available in each state. One of the spots I investigated looked REALLY dumb. Even so, ask for permission. Anderson, Bourbon, Butler, Chautauqua, Cowley, Crawford, Doniphan, Greenwood, Jefferson, Linn, Lyon, Marion, Republic, Riley, Pottawatomie, and Shawnee are some of the counties in Oklahoma. The hardest part of finding a public land honey-hole often comes down to being able to access it. In the eastern half of Kansas, the number of Booners is constant. 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. I walked 50 yards from the barn and jumped a deer from its bed. Hunt in between bedding areas on travel routes mid day, hunt just off doe bedding early to late morning and hunt between doe bedding and food for last call. When most hunters think of Kansas, they picture unending flatlands. Another prime choice is the Dillon Wildlife Area, which has diverse habitat and good numbers of deer. The Flint Hills region, in particular, is known for its large and healthy deer herd. 223 works well for deer hunting in Kansas. In some cases, it even increases browse availability. Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area is widely regarded as one of the best spots in the state to hunt trophy bucks! My first public-land deer hunt in Kansas was almost a complete bust. Sufficient daylight now illuminated the buck that that stood three yards from my tree 15 to 20 minutes earlier. Discuss deer hunting methods, how to catch them, and how to behave. There is a good amount of public land, but most hunters think of the Black Hill National Forest, which includes more than 1.2 million acres. Published Jul 13, 2021 12:46 PM EDT. After a day of drying, I decided to drive some roads looking for fresh tracks. To find success on public land you must think outside the box. He looked up at me in the tree, and thats when I made out the frame Definitely a shooter! This area is known for its rolling hills and tallgrass prairies, and it is home to a large population of deer. Fish & Wildlife Service reporting approximately two million fewer hunters in 2016 than in 2011. There are approximately 300 to 400 acres of this property. WEST Wyoming. Finally, I could make out a deer in the small draw to my left. The permit itself is $442,50 for the adult and $117,50. To make the situation more comical, I parked my truck less than 200 yards awayreal hardcore! Good luck. It just takes a serious amount of sweat and effort to get in and out of there. Hunting food sources on public land.so, November is the rut as we all know. In these regions, there are a variety of habitats that support a healthy deer population. Hunting areas are accessible through the Kansas Wildlife Improvement Area (WIHA). I had done a lot of e-scouting prior to the trip in preparation to find the best ground. "The deer can see a decoy for a long, long way in . My first public-land deer hunt in Kansas was almost a complete bust. In this edition of "Big Buck Profile," Gordon Whittington talks with young whitetail hunter Reid Crawford about his trophy buck taken in 2017. This was a premium spot that was easy to access. A hunting license and a deer tag are $260 and can be bought over the counter. Since the late 1990s and early 2000s, hunters have been flocking to midwestern states in pursuit of giant-bodied and -antlered deer. In northern Minnesota, the Chippewa National Forest and Superior National Forest both have large acreages. Hunt Antelope in Wyoming. So, of course it was going to attract gobs of hunters. Two 3-day hunts usually happen here in October and December. It would be extremely difficult to hunt near that point, but I would take into account both wind and thermal flow direction. 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 . To purchase your Kansas hunting and fishing licenses, permits and boat registrations visit, . Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. Staying undetected by deer while hunting in a ground blind takes a few easy steps. The 4,500-acre Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge (843-784-2468) has been hosting a unique bow-only deer hunt since 1947. Deer-nado Public Land Chronicles: Texas Rut-Fest Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of our public land adventures and watch our intense product reviews! Thanks to everyone for the info. The weather of this state is cold throughout the year. Brodie Swisher Hunting can, however, be prohibitively expensive. Also, the 7,684-acre Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area to the southeast is a public-land whitetail haven. 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. Nearly half the states in the country have some version of this. For sweepstakes rules and details,click here. Private Lands. Hunting ducks is a great way to enjoy this land. Best States Based on Public Land Availability. Mostly known for pheasant hunting, some big whitetails live here, too. So Im from Texas and this will be my first year hunting Kansas. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. I also use a kayak or boat to slip into hard-to-reach places (and sometimes throw the bike in the boat if I need to go in further once Im ashore). 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. 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. 1 necessity for a good public-land deer hunt is minimal pressure. 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. "There are fertile soils and a good mix of natural vegetation and croplands that provide deer with ample nutrition," explains Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism deer biologist Lloyd Fox. That concluded a fun hunt, which resulted in my first mature buck in Kansas. This area is prone to flooding in the fall, creating temporary islands where big bucks like to hide out. This location consisted of a two track that ran perpendicular to a county road and provided equipment access to an agricultural field. Greenwood is by far the best, despite being the worst of the three. 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best kansas public land deer hunting