Welcome to Kansas, known for its beautiful landscape and deer hunting opportunities. In Kansas wilderness, the dominant deer species are the white-tailed deer and the mule deer. The new Kansas deer seasons will start soon and let’s get ready for the hunt together!
Learn everything about the deer hunting season with our guide on dates, rules, and licensing details, and make your hunting plan in advance.
When Does Deer Season Start In Kansas?
The deer season in Kansas starts in early September and ends in late January of the next year. Each of the seasons may have limits in specific dates and zones. Please check the following chart for clear information on when to plan your deer hunting in your locations.
Seasons Zones Dates Deer Season – Regular Firearm Statewide Sep. 7 – 15, 2024 Deer Season – Youth and Disability Statewide Sep. 7 – 15, 2024 Deer Season – Archery Statewide Dec. 4 – 15, 2024 Deer Season – Muzzleloader Statewide Sep. 16 – 29, 2024 Deer Season – Pre-rut Whitetail Anterless-only Statewide – except for Fort Riley Oct. 12 – 14, 2024 Extended Pre-rut Firearm Whitetail Antlerless Unit 12 Oct. 15 – 20, 2024 Deer Extended Season – Firearms Whitetail Antlerless Only Units 6, 8, 9, 10, and 17 Jan. 1 – 5, 2025 Units 10A, 12, 13, 15 and 19 only Jan. 1 – 19, 2025 Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 14, 16 Jan. 1 – 12, 2025 Deer Extended Season – Archery Whitetail Antlerless Only DMU 19, 10A (Fort Leavenworth) Jan. 20 – 31, 2025 Deer – Archery Deer Season, Extended (Antlerless only) Fort Leavenworth Jan. 20 – 31, 2025 Deer – Firearm Deer Season Ft. Leavenworth(1st Segment) Nov. 16 – 17, 2024 Ft. Leavenworth(2nd Segment) Nov. 23 – 24, 2024 Ft. Leavenworth(3rd Segment) Nov. 28 – Dec. 1, 2024 Ft. Leavenworth(4th Segment) Dec. 7 – Dec. 8, 2024 Ft. Leavenworth(5th Segment) Dec. 14 – Dec. 15, 2024 Deer – Firearm Deer Season, Extended (Antlerless only) Fort Leavenworth Jan. 1 – 19, 2025 Deer – Fort Riley – Firearm Fort Riley Dec. 14 – Dec. 22, 2024 Deer – Fort Riley – Whitetail Antlerless-only Fort Riley Nov. 29 – Dec. 1, 2024 Deer – Smoky Hill – Firearm Smoky Hill Dec. 4 – Dec. 15, 2024
How to Apply to Hunt In Kansas?
To hunt deer in Kansas, in addition to a hunting license, hunters will need to have a permit, too. Resident or Nonresident hunters will need to apply for certain deer hunting permits.
Kansas Resident Deer Draw 2024
In previous years, Resident permits can be directly purchased. But in 2024, there are some differences. There is one specific permit that resident hunters need to apply in the drawing. Here is the detail:
The following permits for Residents can be directly purchased over the counter, online at www.gooutdoorskansas.com, or by phone(1-833-587-2164), available on Aug. 1 – Dec. 31.
The permit lists are:
- Any-Season White-tailed Deer permit
- Archery Either-species/Either-sex Deer permit
- Muzzleloader Either-species/Either-sex Deer permit
- Hunt-Own-Land Deer Permit
- Resident Antlerless White-tailed Deer permit
Here are their costs:
- $42.50 General residents
- $22.50 Resident Landowner/Resident Tenant
- $87.50 NR Tenant
- $12.50 Resident Youth (15 and Younger)
Kansas Non-resident Deer Draw 2024
For non-residents, there is also a lottery system(deer draw) that is used to allocate deer permits.
The results will be announced on May 23. You can check your draw status on the application page on the official website.
Once you get selected, you can buy a deer hunting permit and it will be mailed to the address that you have submitted in the application.
What if hunters don’t get selected? If you are not chosen, you will receive a preference point for a future drawing instead.
You can also buy preference points that will be applied toward a deer permit in a future drawing. The more preference points you have, the higher chance you are being selected.
🔔Notes:
Preference points are kept for 5 years from the last issue or purchase date. If no application or point is purchased within 5 consecutive years, all earned points will be reset to zero.
Kansas Hunting License And Permits
There are various hunting licenses for residents and nonresidents who want to hunt in Kansas. Note that most licenses expire 365 days from the date of purchase, except for multi-year and lifetime licenses.
Residents Hunting License Fees
License Fee Lifetime Senior Resident Hunt/Fish Combination $42.50 Senior Resident Hunt $15.00 Senior Resident Combination Hunt/Fish $25.00 Resident Hunt $27.50 Residents under No license required Resident Combination Hunt & Fish $47.50 Resident Apprentice $27.50 5 Year Resident Combo Hunt & Fish $182.50 5 Year Resident Hunt License $102.50 Multi-Year Resident Youth Hunt (ages 16-20) $42.50 Multi-Year Resident Youth Combination Hunt & Fish (ages 16-20) $72.50 KS Disabled Veterans Free Kansas Kids Lifetime Combination Hunting and Fishing License $302.50 (age 5 or younger) $502.50 (age 6 – 7) Resident Lifetime Hunting License $502.50 Lifetime Hunting & Fishing Combination License $962.50 Lifetime Furharvester License $502.50
Nonresidents Hunting Licenses Fees
License Fee Nonresident $127.50 Nonresident under 16 $42.50 Nonresident Apprentice $127.50 Nonresident Combination Hunt & Fish $192.50 Permit Fee Nonresident Youth White-tailed Deer Permit $117.50 Nonresident White-tailed Deer Permit $477.50 Nonresident Antlerless White-tailed Deer permit $52.50 Nonresident Hunt-Own-Land Deer Permit $87.50 Nonresident Tenant Hunt-Own-Land Deer Permit $87.50
How to Buy a Kansas Hunting License?
There are 3 ways to buy all valid hunting licenses. Check the following:
- Buy on the official website: Visit the Kansas licensing system and create an account, then you will be able to purchase any license and permits.
- Buy with license agents: Here are all the agents that you can buy licenses from: Locate An Agent.
- By phone: You can call 1-833-587-2164 to purchase the licenses on the office.
Where To Hunt Deer In Kansas
There are 18 deer management units that offer hunting opportunities in Kansas. You can check the following map and find a unit that is near you.
Kansas Deer Hunting Regulations
Legal Firearm
Acceptable firearms include centerfire rifles and handguns that are not fully automatic, utilizing various types of ammunition such as hard-cast solid lead, soft point, hollow point, tumble-on-impact, or other expanding bullets; shotguns of any gauge are also permitted if using only slugs.
Legal Archery
Permitted archery such as longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, and crossbows. No electronic device that controls the flight of the arrow can be attached to any arrows and bows.
Hunter Orange
During an open firearm or muzzleloader season, all deer hunters must wear orange. An orange hat and a minimum of 200 square inches of orange are necessary, with 100 square inches visible from the front and 100 square inches visible from the back on the upper body. Camouflage orange is acceptable as long as it meets the required visibility.
Accessory Requirements
Hunting blind and stands are allowed. Only range-finding devices and optical scopes or sights that project no visible light are allowed.
Additional Kansas Hunting Seasons
Except for deer hunting, other hunting activities are also popular in Kansas. If you are planning to hunt more games, click the tabs to check out the dates for each season:
Conclusion
Kansas is known as the “land of the giants” and is one of the top 3 States for Pheasant & Quail hunting. It also provides abundant opportunities for hunting white-tailed deer, upland game, waterfowl, and more.
We’ve summarized the details of the upcoming Kansas Deer Hunting Season and many other seasons. Hope this guide will prepare you for your journey. Get ready with your gear, go out, and create lasting memories.
