Deer Hunting in Kansas? Here's What to Know.

Growing up in Kansas you realize that deer hunting in this state is part of the local tradition, and whether or not you’re a deer hunter yourself doesn’t matter, you are gonna hear about it either way. 

Every Autumn right around, mid October, you begin to hear the talk, whether it’s at work with fellow employees, with relatives at family holidays, or most often it seems among the church body every fall Sunday after service ends.

Wherever you are, the talk is inescapable in Kansas, but what makes this area so great for deer hunting, and how can you be better equipped to hunt this beautiful state yourself? We will dive into all of this in the rest of this article.

What Makes Deer Hunting Unique in Kansas?

One of best things about deer hunting in Kansas is the landscape of what you're hunting in, and the variations in that landscape depending on where you are at.

If you go to eastern Kansas there are dense hardwood forests to hunt, drive an hour or two west and suddenly you're in the rolling Flint Hills, few more hours west you’re in the wide open cropland where you may have the opportunity at not only whitetail deer, but also mule deer as well.

With such a wide variety of different environments to hunt as well as two different species to chase, not to mention some of the largest scoring deer in the United States coming from this state, it offers everything a passionate deer hunter could ever want.

What Gear Does Every Kansas Deer Hunter Need?

Besides the obvious weapon for taking the animal, what other tools and gear do you need to efficiently hunt in Kansas?

The most important gear I would say as a public land hunter would be a good saddle stand — and here's one I recommend. These lightweight and easy to set up harness will give you an extreme advantage in the woods, with the ability to easily set up and switch spots they allow you as a hunter to have the best possible opportunity at that target buck.

Another piece of gear that most hunters, especially archery hunter, will consider a must have is a reliable range finder. After all, there is nothing worse than having that big buck come in and having to guess the yardage to him from where you are sitting, with a reliable range finder you can be dialed in for that perfect shot every single time.

Best Locations For Deer Hunting

With such a broad area to hunt I figure it is best to break down some of the best areas in order to go fill that freezer.

I personally grew up in the hardwoods and agricultural fields of northeast Kansas. It has definitely produced some big deer, and with lots of public land around to hunt it can be the perfect place to dip your toes in the water if you are not from around and trying to find a place to hunt.

I would recommend public land access around Perry Lake or Clinton lake, both offering hundreds of acres of public land teeming with wildlife. If you are a more experienced hunter who doesn’t mind a bit of a challenge then head out to the flint hills I mentioned earlier.

There is tons of hunting access around there as well, some good places to start your search would be Tuttle Creek Lake, or Wilson lake, with rolling hills and deep draws offering cover to hunt in, you’ll find the perfect environment to test your hunting prowess.

If you want a true challenge then you’ll find no better place than western Kansas, with wide flat lands it can be challenging to get in close on your quarry, but if you manage to pull it off you could have the Mule Deer or Whitetail of a lifetime.

The Bottom Line

Overall, Kansas is a deer hunter's dream. It sports an amazing amount of opportunities for anyone willing to take the challenge and hunt its beautiful landscape.

Whether you are looking for a weekend hunting getaway, or a week long deer camp with you and your buddies, Kansas is the place to be. Remember it is quite important to bring the right gear to be successful, trust me, hunting deer on the forest floor is a painful challenge so do not forget to refer back to the gear section of this article.

Now you have everything you need to know to get out there and give it a go. Stay safe, have fun, and go get that deer of a lifetime.