Way back in 2018 (I think), Rick James and I went out to Kansas for a long weekend in the Spring to scout some WIHA ground and do some turkey hunting. We picked up a couple sheds, saw some good sign, killed a bird, and almost killed a second. It was a great trip and a fun way to start the season. Later that fall, we came back in mid-October for a long weekend to see how things were looking, with plans to come back again in mid-November to hunt the rut. During our October trip, we saw very few deer and ran into lots and lots of treestands and trail cameras on the ground we had scouted in the Spring. It was a bit discouraging, and with good deer to hunt back home in IL, we opted not to return in November. Looking back, I kind of wish we would have gone just to say we did it. We both burned our KS tags and hunted maybe 3 total days that season. With that said, I'm thinking about going back in 2025 for another stab at it. I won't have enough points to draw the zone I want in Iowa until 2026 and I think I'm done with my early season sweat and poison ivy fests in Kentucky. So let's hear it. Who has done KS public and what was your experience like? I know there are a lot more people than ever before, but it seems like there are still some good opportunities to be found. I'm looking at Zones 8 & 9 again, which is what I hunted last time.
I’m in for 2025, I’m hunting zone 14 tho. My buddy’s we’re at zone 8 this year they hunt walk in, big public and get a lease. They said in 10 days didn’t see a sole on any of the walk ins. He shot a great buck on the walk in. Where I’m going in 14 I have another buddy that’s been hunting it for 10 years on and off and dropped me a bunch of pins. So I have a head start in that regard. No more cams in public so that should help out. If you want any more info on zone 8 shoot me a pm and I can get more info to you.
My first 11 years I hunted combination of public and private. Public was on a river, that was usually dry so on the weekends 4 wheelers would be going up and down the river bed. There was also a shooting range not far either so that would be a pain as well. But I shot 2 really good bucks as well. Never had a lot of issues with other hunters. There were tons of small pieces of public scattered all around as well.
I was up there earlier this month Nov 5-10. I only seen a total of 10 deer from the stand totally not what I was expecting. We hunted all walk in units 9 and 10 with out any early season scouting, I live 13 hr away so any quick trips just didn’t fit in to my schedule. However I did kill my biggest buck! Seen a few hunters but with the pieces being so small most people would see your truck and go on to the next piece. Nobody walked in on me which is not what I’m used too hunting public land. I would definitely do it again.
Congrats - that's a good buck! That part of KS is about 9-10 hour drive for me so I'd be lucky to get out for a single long weekend this Spring. I would consider doing a scouting/turkey combo again as that was pretty fun. Although I will likely spend all of my scouting time in Iowa instead.
i am heading there in 2 days for a just over a week trip. hoping for the best. it will be my first time going there. friend of mine has gone twice and said it's amazing so that gets my hopes up but will probably be shot down. just how my luck goes.
You used to be able to draw Kansas every year now it seems to take at least two points. This year it took me 3.
3 points for which zones? I'm hearing most places you can still draw with 1, but it's certainly getting harder.
