Few Changes:

1. Your CC wont be charged unless you draw. You will only be charged for your license and service fee up front.

2. Unit selection looks different. You’ll see a 19 by every selection. This threw me off. That’s unit 19 that is an urban unit that everyone can hunt. The original units are listed after that. My outfitter told me Saturday he had received a lot of calls about that.

#1 had me confused at first. Hopefully, this will be my year now that I went in with one point.

Still debating on whether or not to put in. Last two years have been an absolute cluster with the amount of people and pressure on the public land.

What part of the state?

If you're on the fence about applying, now is the time to do it.

I'm told that non-resident fee increases are being considered, possibly for 2024.

Not a for-sure thing but given all the interest in Kansas and how hunters continue to pay insanely stupid prices for licenses and permits, it shouldn't be a surprise. It's supply and demand, though, just like any other business.

I guess everyone knows they outlawed the use of game camera's on public land including WIHA.

It's not 100% final yet but will be once it's published in the Kansas Register, the official publication of the state's new laws/regs.

It will apply to the WIHA areas on private lands - which as a WHIA designated tract is thus public.

I'm told that other possible changes include a ban on baiting on public lands. Don't know if that would include WIHA but if the cameras are banned, I'd guess that baiting would be as well.

If so, unless landowners are copacetic with the government telling them more things they can do on their own property, we might see a loss of WIHA lands.

It’s my understanding that it’s a done deal Clem.

The camera ban is, other than the final required legal steps. I'm sure the others will be done, too.

I’d go ahead and apply for a point even if you don’t want to put in this year. With one point you are guaranteed to draw a tag. (As of now anyway)

SE Area. Unit 14 and all surrounding.

It’s changed a lot the last 10-12 years.

I’ve heard that Kansas is going to a one point draw for tags, but have no clue if that’s true. I’m curious to see if that happens. I’ve drawn tags 2 out of 3 years

I applied this weekend for the busy units mentioned. Are the big crowds more of a problem opening week and early season or is it pressured the whole season? I have heard similar things about other popular state's public lands like Illinois. Kansas was a bucket list for me. Guess I will get it out of my system before it gets any worse.

I've drawn a tag each year since 2009 except for 2021. In my part of the state, we used to have 275 or so left over tags up until 2019. Then we flipped and we had 275 or so folks that didn't draw in 2020. In 2021 we had over 1000 people that didn't draw.

We will see how this year goes.

i put in for my point this year with the intentions of going next season. Timing of work and personal obligations just isn't going to allow me to do multiple out of state hunts this year.

So, assuming I did it correctly, the NR point fee is $25 + taxes. So, what area(s) should we be looking at for next year?

Kansas has been a known hotspot for a long time. Why the recent difficulties in drawing a tag? My friend up there says this has only become a problem in the last several years.

Covid shut down the Canadian border and it stayed closed for a few years. The folks that hunted Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, etc. each year still had vacation time, money set aside, etc. for hunting trips. Those guys started applying in the midwestern states and hunting in OTC states. Lots of midwestern outfitters that were accustomed to having openings were booked full.

At least that's my professional opinion.

2nd time Ive heard this in as many days

I believe it is going to go back to normal this season or next because lots fo the outfitters that I work with in the lower 48 have openings again due to their "Canadian" hunters going back to Canada this fall.

Time will tell.

I have been hunting in Kansas since 2009 and trying to find a few guys to go with me every year. It seems to me when our economy is strong there will be more hunters than licenses. But when the dollars are getting tight there will always be left over tags. So far I have found it hard to find hunters for this years muzzleloader / bow opener Thanks Brandon

Question, since we already applied and whether we draw or not, is our license in effect for this year or we wont actually be charged for the license until we draw? I didnt check the bank to see what had cleared. We planned to go out the last few days of Turkey season to scout but I heard they dont confirm the draw until the last week of May or even early June.

I’m going turkey hunting/scouting whether I draw or not. Just hoping for the best.

Negative. It now states on the website that any license purchase is non-refundable. If you don't draw, you are stuck with a useless KS license. Dirty trick.

They have always charged you for the license fee upfront but if you didn’t draw you could ask for a refund. Most folks didn’t know that.

Now once you apply they won’t refund it.

Checked with the bank and confirmed the charge was there. Got the app downloaded and have printed license in hand now. Thanks for understanding the question and response. Looks like my only chance will be the last 4 days of Turkey season. Mainly going to scout for deer locations and shed hunt but I will have a tag and scattergun in case.

Better cross our fingers today. Draw ends tomorrow. Im with you M brock we are gonna try to hunt the last 4-5 days of the season for a bird. Do yall got any places to stay recommendations for units 14 or 11?

I’m literally winging it. I’ve hunted out there on WIHA land before and didn’t see a lot of pressure. Heard it’s been changing the last few years. We’re leaving tomorrow and going into NE and WY as well if we have time. We’ll be hunting up in the north central part of the state near NE. Right now I’ve got hotel reservations in Marysville through the 3rd, and after that it’s going to be a drive and sleep wherever is available excursion. I plan on doing a lot of deer scouting the first few days in hopes I draw a tag. Turkeys will be an added bonus.

I may do KS next year. My buddy does every other year there and invited myself and another Satsuma boy. He took a 160 class buck last year.
I'll know if I'm going after my Idaho hunt this year. If I enjoy it, I'll stick to Id, Wa, and Or tags.

Was invited on a trip to SE Kansas at the last minute so I'm going back again this year. Ate tag soup last year so hopefully this year will be better.

What Im doing is winging it Matt, Ive never even been to the state. Thinking hard about an air mattress and Tent just to be more mobile. All those lakes look to have campgrounds. A couple have showers. I think I would enjoy camping more anyway as long as the weather dont get stormy.

The state parks have very nice cabins. They’re reasonable too. Likely where I’ll stay if I draw a deer tag.

The cabins are great if you can find one that hasn’t been reserved. I’ve noticed they get reserved 12 months in advance. The campgrounds at the lakes are nice!

We put in for Units 1/2/3 area this year. We’ll see how it goes if we draw. Heard deer numbers are down out there.

They’ve had very bad droughts in the northwest part of the state now for a few years. Turkey, upland birds and deer numbers have all suffered.

Hey Matt. We stayed at a place called Trailhead Suites in Marysville last year. It was much better than any hotel in the area. Two bedroom with a living room and kitchen and the price was good.