Kansas Offers Fall Hunting for a Variety of Sports

November 4, 2009, Kansas … Thanks to its central loca! tion, Kansas is home to a rich and diverse array of game habitats and species. Hunters will be in heaven upon discovering the abundant whitetail and mule deer, pheasant, waterfowl, Rio Grande and eastern turkeys, and other small game, all readily available.  

With no shortage of hunting destination options, more than 1 million acres of private property in Kansas is available to the public annually, through the state’s unique WIHA (Walk-In Hunting) Program. An additional 300,000 acres are also available for public hunting in designated state and federal wildlife areas.

Out-of-state deer hunters may apply for a deer tag in the state of Kansas.  Visit www.kdwp.state.ks.us for all applicable hunting regulations and to purchase licenses online. Kansas is frequently noted for its trophy bucks, which may be taken by archery, muzzleloader and firearms hunters. K! ansas’ healthy deer population in general makes a successful hunt likely, for both mule and whitetail deer.

Kansas consistently ranks as one of the top five pheasant hunting states in the country, and the colorful birds may be found in all parts of the state except the southeast. Bobwhite quail is another popular upland bird and the best populations are usually found in the southeast, northeast and north-central regions of the state. In the southwest, scaled quail can also be harvested. In addition, both greater and lesser prairie chickens may be hunted in Kansas.

 
Migratory waterfowl populations are abundant across Kansas from the forested wetlands of the east, such as at Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area; to the open marshes of Cheyenne Bottoms near Great Bend; to the rolling farmland-surrounded wetlands of north central Kansas, at the Jamestown Wildlife Area.  Kansas lies in the middle of the Central Flyway, and migrations of geese, duck, teal and sandhill cranes are usually spectacular.  

Fall turkey hunting in Kansas is an exciting alternative to the more traditional spring turkey season.  Healthy populations of wild turkey inhabit nearly every county in Kansas. Both the Rio Grande and Eastern subspecies may be hunted in the state.  The Rio dominates the western two-thirds of the state, hybrid Rio/eastern birds are found in the north-central region and the eastern subspecies is common in the east.  

Small game and predator hunting don’t receive the attention that deer, pheasant, waterfowl and turkey hunting do,! but offer additional days of hunting for those visiting the state.  Healthy rabbit and squirrel populations across the state, and liberal hunting seasons and bag limits make for great sport.

Visit www.kdwp.state.ks.us for more information on hunting in the state of Kansas. Visit www.TravelKS.com to receive a free copy of the Kansas Great Outdoors Guide, or to find a professional hunting guide. Visit www.HuntKansas.org to find a list of controlled shooting areas throughout the state.


For more information on traveling in Kansas, visit www.TravelKS.com.