The 2024 Kansas non-resident deer and antelope permit applicant information is now available You can go online and download the information at www.ksoutdoors.com/hunting or call 620-672-5911. For Kansas, we mainly cover deer and briefly touch on antelope. The application period for deer in 2024 is April 1-28.
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Kansas Hunting Applications
Non-residents may apply online at www.ksoutdoors.com. Non-resident antlered permits are available through online application only. The application includes a $27.50 non-refundable application fee for non-residents. Unsuccessful applicants will earn a preference point for the following year’s draw. The application deadline for non-residents antlered permits is April 28, 2024.
A non-resident must apply for the Mule Deer Stamp during the April application period. A non-resident who successfully draws an archery or muzzleloader whitetail deer permit in units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 17, or 18 and has applied for the Mule Deer Stamp will be entered into a draw for one of a limited number of Mule Deer Stamps. If drawn, the applicant’s whitetail deer archery or muzzleloader permit converts to an either-species/either-sex archery or muzzleloader permit. Preference points do not count toward the Mule Deer Stamp draw.
Kansas Deer Season Dates
- Archery | Sept. 11-Dec. 31
- General Youth and Disabled Hunt | Sept.2-10
- Muzzleloader | Sept. 11-24
- General Firearms | Nov. 29-Dec. 31
Details of the Kansas Draw
All four application choices will be considered before the next applicant is drawn. Applicants are able to apply for two adjacent units on each hunt choice. There is no waiting period in Kansas. Applicants who fail to apply for five consecutive years will lose all accumulated preference points. The odds printed in this section are simple odds based on the amount of first choice applicants and the number of tags available.
Kansas Hunting Fees
All fees listed below will have an internet convenience fee added at the time of applying online for a permit or preference point. You will also need to purchase a non-resident hunting license, which is $97.50 for hunters 16 and over or a junior hunt license, which is $42.50 for hunters 15 and younger.
2024 Kansas Non-Resident Fees Up-Front Fees Adult Hunting License $97.50 Junior Hunting License (15 and Younger) $42.50 Adult Whitetail Deer Permit $442.50 Youth Whitetail Deer Permit (15 and Younger) $117.50 Archery Antelope Permit $302.50 Youth Archery Antelope Permit (15 and Younger) $102.50 Mule Deer Stamp (Optional, Must Be Drawn) $152.50 Preference Point Only (Whitetail Deer) $27.50
Refunds
Permit refunds can be issued for the following reasons: (1) death of the applicant prior to the season of use; (2) unknowing duplication of specific issue (does not include duplication contrary to law or regulation); (3) permit issued in error by the Department; (4) armed forces personnel experiencing a change of duty station prior to the first day of season, preventing use of the permit; and (5) by direction of a court order or at the direction of a prosecuting attorney. Permit refunds will not be granted once the legal season for that permit has opened.
Kansas Youth Permits
Reduced price youth permits are valid for the seasons specified on the permit. In addition, they are valid during the September youth/disabled season. During the youth season, hunters 17 and younger may hunt under adult supervision. However, hunters who are 16 and older are not eligible for the youth-priced permits.
Kansas Point Structure
Kansas is a true preference point state. Hunters with the most points will be awarded the permits. Preference points are only awarded for whitetail deer. There is no point system for mule deer. Points will be purged if an application is not submitted for five consecutive years.
Kansas Draw Odds
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In 2024, no units in Kansas were 100% drawn for a whitetail tag. A point is valuable if you are hoping to draw your first choice for a non-resident whitetail permit. Resident whitetail tags are over-the-counter.
Kansas Weapon Restrictions
Firearm permit holders may hunt with any legal equipment during the firearm season. Muzzleloader permit holders may only hunt with muzzleloading or archery equipment during the muzzleloader and firearm seasons. Archery permit holders may only use archery equipment during the archery season, even during days that overlap the muzzleloader or regular firearm season. Legal firearms include centerfire rifles and handguns that are not fully automatic, using only hard-cast solid lead, soft point, hollow point, tumble-on-impact, or other expanding bullets and any gauge shotgun using only slugs.
Legal muzzleloaders include rifles, pistols, or muskets that can be loaded with bullets only through the front of the firing chamber and that fire a bullet of .40 inches in diameter or larger using hardcast solid lead, conical lead, saboted, or tumble-on-impact bullets.
Legal archery equipment includes longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, and crossbows. No bow, crossbow, or arrow may have any electronic device attached that controls the flight of the arrow. Devices that may be attached to a bow or arrow shall include lighted pin, dot, or holographic sights; illuminated nocks; rangefinders; film or video cameras; radiofrequency location devices; and drawlock devices. Arrows used for hunting big game must be equipped with broadhead points that when fully expanded cannot pass through a ring 3/4-inch in diameter. Non-broadhead arrows may be possessed while hunting but may not be used to take big game. Devices capable of dispensing chemicals may not be used.
Lures, decoys, and non-electric calls may be used while hunting big game. Hunters may use blinds and stands. Rangefinding devices and optical scopes or sights that project no visible light toward the target and do not electronically amplify visible or infrared light may be used. Horses and mules shall not be used for herding or driving big game. Firearm report-suppression devices may be used with proper permits. Handguns may be possessed during all big game seasons. However, only handguns specified as legal equipment for firearms or muzzleloader seasons may be used for big game hunting. Ethical hunters select equipment most effective for their capabilities, the game they hunt and the style of hunting they prefer. Hunters should consider muzzle velocity, kinetic energy, bullet type, recoil, and accuracy when selecting equipment that is adequate for the game hunted.
Public Land Hunting in Kansas
Kansas is known for its private land hunting, but it also has some great public land and WIHA land to hunt. You can find the complete online map for all WIHA hunting land in Kansas at https://ksoutdoors.com/KDWP-Info/Locations/Hunting-Fishing-Atlas/Hunting-Atlas.
Kansas Harvest Reporting
There is no mandatory harvest reporting in Kansas.
Hunt Planning in Kansas
Go to www.ksoutdoors.com/hunting/whereto-hunt to find different hunting atlases for walk-in areas, deer management hunt zones, etc.
Access
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism publishes a booklet of walk-in areas. The booklet is updated every year with the current areas in the program and will be available in August/September.
Locating Big game Animals With Dogs in Kansas
Dogs may be used to locate dead or wounded big game animals with the following restrictions: each dog shall be maintained on a handheld leash at all times, an individual tracking big game animals outside of legal shooting hours shall not carry equipment capable of harvesting the big game animal, and each individual harvesting a big game animal shall be limited to the equipment type for the permit and season that is authorized. Each individual participating in the tracking of a big game animal shall have a hunting licence, unless the individual is exempt by law. To find individuals with trained blood tracking dogs, go to www.unitedbloodtrackers.org.
Blinds and Stands on Public Lands and WIHA
Blinds and stands may be used on Department lands, subject to posted requirements and under the following conditions: (1) stands may not be placed more than 14 days prior to the season and shall be removed within 14 days of the close of the season; (2) ladders, screw-in metal steps, and steps attached by ropes, cables, or chains may be used to access stands and must be removed with the stand; (3) natural blinds may be used and shall be constructed of natural herbaceous materials or woody debris present on site; (4) any person may use these stands if not occupied; (5) only two portable blinds or stands per department owned or managed area are allowed per hunter; (6) portable blinds and stands must be marked with the owner’s name and address or KDWP number; (7) portable blinds may not be left unattached overnight; and (8) any stand not conforming to the requirements may be removed or destroyed by Department staff.
Non-Resident Landowner
A non-resident landowner is any nonresident who owns 80 acres or more of Kansas farm or ranch land. To qualify as a non-resident landowner, a person must own farm or ranch land in simple ownership with their name on the deed. Property held in a trust, LLC, partnership, or other legal entity is owned by that legal entity. Permits on properties owned by a legal entity are available only to tenants who either farm at least 80 acres or manage an 80-acre or larger farm that produces an agricultural commodity such as crops or cattle. Serving as a board member, trustee, non-managing partner, or other such position does not qualify a person for a Kansas landowner deer permit. For details, call 620- 672-5911 and ask for Law Enforcement.
Kansas Deer Management
Harvesting female deer is the most effective way to control deer where deer numbers exceed people’s tolerance due to damages or disturbances they may cause. Hunting may also be used to control deer problems and maintain a population that habitat supports. Deer adapt to hunting pressure and find areas where they can evade hunters. In some cases, those areas are created because a particular landowner desires to restrict or prohibit hunter access. Protected areas serve as refuges and may result in future herd increases and higher deer damage on adjacent or other properties where protected deer spend time when hunting season is closed. Landowners have several options for controlling deer on their property: allow or increase hunting, encourage hunters to harvest antlerless deer, contact KDWP at 620-672-5911 for the hunter referral list, or apply for deer control permits that may be used when damage occurs while normal hunting seasons are closed.
Comments
Kansas is a great state to be looking at if you want to hunt big whitetail. Tags are easy to draw for whitetail, and it’s a state that is producing giant bucks every year. Deer numbers have remained fairly steady over the last few years. The key to big whitetail bucks is well-managed private land. Hunters who secure a spot with an outfitter have a great chance at a 150″+ buck. Kansas is also known to produce some great mule deer. Mule deer tags are more difficult to draw and are conducted in a random draw. The highest density of whitetail deer is found on the eastern side of the state along the Missouri border.
Applicants who want to hunt mule deer will need to draw an archery or muzzleloader whitetail permit and then be entered into a drawing for the Mule Deer Stamp within the zone the applicant has drawn the whitetail permit for. There are no points associated with the mule deer draw. If you are lucky enough to draw a Mule Deer Stamp, you could be in for a great hunt. All of the zones that have mule deer are located along the western side of the state. Units 1-5, 7, and 17-18 all have mule deer, with units 1, 2, 17, and 18 along the Colorado border having the highest populations. Most of the mature mule deer bucks are coming in around 160-170″ with a few 200″+ giants taken every year.
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A trick to successfully draw a tag in Kansas every year is the way they let successful applicants of one zone hunt an adjacent zone with their permit. For example, if you were to apply for the best units for trophy whitetail, you would choose unit 16 and unit 15 as your first choice as they are the two best units and they are adjacent to each other. Your second choice could be unit 15 and unit 16 or any other combination of two adjacent units of your choice. If the unit 16 tags are all gone but unit 15 still has some, you will draw a permit in unit 15, which will be valid for unit 16 as well. All four choices will be considered prior to the next applicant being drawn. Nonresidents may choose any weapon on all four choices. Successful muzzleloader applicants will be able to hunt during the muzzleloader season as well as with a muzzleloader during the rifle season.
The only downside to Kansas is the amount of private land within its borders. It is nearly 100% private land with almost all of the public land coming in the form of State Wildlife Areas (SWA) and state parks; however, hunting is not permitted on state parks. Kansas Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism also has a program set up that allows public access to private land for hunting, Walk-In Hunter Access (WIHA). Most of the WIHA areas consist of Crop Reduction Program (CRP) acreage in the central and western parts of the state. These areas offer hunters a chance to hunt Kansas without paying a guide or trespass fees. Kansas has a great map system set up for viewing these areas on their website at www.ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Where-to-Hunt. For non-residents, Kansas offers overthe-counter archery antelope permits at a cost of $302.50. Units 2, 17, and 18 have antelope hunting available, with the highest population in unit 2. Typically, harvest success on this hunt is 10%-12% with mostly small to average bucks being harvested. Archery season dates are September 24-October 2 and October 15-31, 2022. Non-residents are not eligible to apply for rifle or muzzleloader antelope permits.
If you are looking for a good opportunity to harvest a mature whitetail every year, you need to be applying in Kansas. The best time to harvest a big buck is during the rut in November. Archery hunters can hunt though the entire rut, which gives them the best chance at tagging a bigger buck. Although big deer can be found on public land, a majority of the big bucks being harvested are coming from private land. We work with dozens of great outfitters that offer quality hunts throughout the state. If you’re planning on hiring an outfitter in Kansas, contact them before you apply as they often book a year in advance. If you don’t have access to private land, take a look at SWA or WIHA programs. These properties are scattered across the state, with the majority of them being on the western side. Hunters who are looking into this option should make sure they know all the rules, which can be found at http://ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Where-to-Hunt.
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Application Dates for Antelope & Deer in Kansas
The Kansas non-resident deer application deadline is April 28, 2024.
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