Kansas Units

Let me start off by saying I’m not looking for your g-spot. I’ve been going on DIY public land hunts for nearly 10 years now and planning to go to Kansas for the first time late October/early November. I’ve got two points so not worried about getting a tag. I feel pretty confident I’ll get a tag.

I’m more or less looking for feedback. Which units do I need to stay away from or which part of the state would you concentrate in on? There are so many WIHA areas and seems to be lots of wildlife areas as well. One southern deer hunter to another just looking for a little direction on Kansas. Can’t afford an outfitter so strictly looking for public land options.

I’d say to start in the southeast corner.

The draw is the month of April. It normally ends April 26ish.

If you have any questions about how to actually apply feel free to ask. With two points you’re going to draw.

I’m interested in this. Would love to take my son(16) one day. What type stuff you look for scouting than you would here?

You will hate AL deer hunting if you hunt KS!!

Do not go stomping through small wooded draws in agricultural areas. You will push deer out and they will seek cover in the next draw which may be 3 miles away.

Stay on the edges.

Do most get drawed the first year they put in for Kansas?

That depends on the unit.

I have about 60 hunters apply each season. That includes rifle, archery, muzzle-loader and youth rifle. We had 3 not draw in 2020 and 4 not draw in 2021. Of those 7 that didn't draw 1 from each year didn't apply correctly.

This. I have a lease in Alabama and have gone to Kansas the last five years (As Keith said, the SE corner). The number and size of free ranging deer you will see will make you not care about hunting around home. The first year in Kansas, I killed a 10-point that green scored 174. I killed a 10 point the following year. This year, I was watching a 13-point (guessing at 170") we had pictures of at 325 yards when a 8-point walked across the bottom of bino field-of-view. It green scored 146 and some change. The point is, after hunting Kansas, I have little desire to chase deer here. It's like I come home in the middle of December ready for Turkey season. I'm not going next year for this very reason.

Thanks and will do. Hunting the west and Midwest certainly puts a damper on my Alabama season but I still enjoy hunting both. I’m still researching units and WIHA areas. Like you said with two points I’m very confident we’ll get a tag so just really trying to hone in on a unit or two currently.

Let’s just say the pinch points/funnels/travel corridors are much easier to identify in the west/Midwest vs. here LOL.

2/8 in our group (me included) didn’t draw this past year. We were the only two that didn’t put in as a group. Doing that this year. Going out there in May to kill a couple of Rios.

Like I said; it all depends on the unit and if you apply correctly. We have over 20,000 acres of land to hunt in 3 different units so that helps us a lot.

Applying as a group certainly helps. If one draws then the entire group draws.

Now that you have a point you are guaranteed a tag. (Unless they have changed that rule). If I remember correctly; if you have a point and the others in the group don’t you can’t apply with them. (They may have changed that as well)

Does anyone know if peoples preference points in your group affects the draw? Ie: 4 people apply as a group and all but one of them have some preference points, do they take in consideration the groups total points or the person with lowest amount of points?

Does that make sense?

People with points can apply in a group. However, all members of the group’s points will go to zero. This is straight from KDWPT.

I’ve been on Kansas diy hunts two out of the last three years... it’s not easy I’ll say that. The amount of hunters we ran into last year was absolutely insane. I haven’t made up my mind if I’m going back.