Kansas Deer Season and Hunting Information and Regulations
*All information listed below is disclosed based on research we have conducted. We do our best to ensure that all information is up to date and accurate. However, rules and regulations are changing every day. Please make sure to verify your state-specific regulations prior to your hunt.
Kansas has a wide variety of game for hunting, as well as a number of programs that are designed to accommodate hunters in the state. Kansas hunting seasons include the standards like deer and turkey, as well as small game, elk and even antelope.
Kansas has great hunter education resources, a wide variety of special hunts and one of the most successful Walk-In Hunting Access Programs in the country, that gives hunters access to participating private lands.
And finally, deer hunters specifically may be interested in the Hunter Referral Program which helps match landowners with too many deer on their property the opportunity to be matched with hunters looking to harvest.
Kansas is a great state for hunting, so be sure to check out all the information available to make your trip a success!
If you’re looking for more information on Kansas hunting laws and regulations, visit the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks website.
Kansas Deer Seasons
| Extended Season – Firearms Whitetail Antlerless Only (6, 8, 9, 10, and 17) | Jan 1 – Jan 8, 2023 |
| January Season – Extended Firearms Whitetail Antlerless Only | Jan 1 – Jan 22, 2023 |
| Extended Season – Firearms Whitetail Antlerless Only (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 14, and 16) | Jan 1 – Jan 15, 2023 |
| Archery | Sep 12 – Dec 31, 2023 |
| Muzzleloader | Sep 12 – Sep 25, 2023 |
| Pre-rut Whitetail Antlerless-only | Oct 8 – Oct 10, 2023 |
| Regular Firearm | Nov 30 – Dec 11, 2023 |
| Youth and Disability | Sep 3 – Sep 11, 2023 |
| Firearm – Smoky Hill | Nov 30 – Dec 11, 2023 |
| Fort Leavenworth Archery Deer Season, Extended | Jan 23 – Jan 31, 2024 |
| Fort Leavenworth Firearm Deer Season (1st Segment) | Nov 12 – Nov 13, 2023 |
| Fort Leavenworth Firearm Deer Season (2nd Segment) | Nov 19 – Nov 20, 2023 |
| Fort Leavenworth Firearm Deer Season (3rd Segment) | Nov 24 – Nov 27, 2023 |
| Fort Leavenworth Firearm Deer Season (4th Segment) | Dec 3 – Dec 4, 2023 |
| Fort Leavenworth Firearm Deer Season (5th Segment) | Dec 10 – Dec 11, 2023 |
| Fort Leavenworth Firearm Deer Season, Extended | Jan 1 – Jan 22, 2024 |
| Archery – Fort Riley | Sep 12 – Dec 31, 2023 |
| Archery by Special Authorization, Fort Riley (1st Segment) | Sep 1 – Sep 11, 2023 |
| Archery by Special Authorization, Fort Riley (2nd Segment) | Jan 1 – Jan 31, 2024 |
| Firearms – Fort Riley (1st Segment) | Nov 25 – Nov 27, 2023 |
| Firearms – Fort Riley (2nd Segment) | Feb 17 – Dec 23, 2023 |
| Firearms – Fort Riley (3rd Segment) | Dec 26 – Dec 27, 2023 |
| Fort Riley – Youth & Disability (1st Segment) | Sep 3 – Sep 11, 2023 |
| Fort Riley – Youth & Disability (2nd Segment) | Oct 8 – Oct 10, 2023 |
| Extended Season – Archery Whitetail Antlerless Only | Jan 23 – Jan 31, 2024 |
*Kansas has a complex system of zones called units, which each carry different seasons, requirements, and hunting parameters. Make sure to check the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks page when planning your hunt.
The state of Kansas provides some of the best trophy whitetail hunting in the United States. Kansas allows one buck per permit but a hunter can purchase permits for and harvest up to five antlerless deer.
There are a variety of special authorizations available and extended seasons in Kansas as well, so make sure to investigate if you want to try and qualify for them.
Doe Tags
As mentioned above, hunters can purchase up to five antlerless whitetail deer permits.
Kansas Antelope Seasons
| Antelope Season – Archery (Early) | Sep. 24 – Oct. 2, 2023 |
| Antelope Season – Archery (Late) | Oct. 15 – Oct. 31, 2023 |
| Antelope Season – Archery | N/A |
| Antelope Season – Muzzleloader | Oct. 3 – Oct. 10, 2023 |
| Antelope Season – Firearm | Oct. 7 – Oct. 10, 2023 |
*Kansas has a complex system of zones called units, which each carry different seasons, requirements, and hunting parameters. Make sure to check the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks page when planning your hunt.
Antelope, or Pronghorn, hunting in Kansas is limited to a few units, specifically Unit 2, Unit 17, and Unit 18. This is because pronghorn require a lot of space to reproduce and thrive. There are not a ton of antelope permits available, but if you miss one, you get a preference point. 6 preference points earn a firearms permit to hunt antelope.
Kansas Elk Seasons
| Elk Season (Outside Fort Riley) – Archery | Sep. 12 – Dec. 31, 2023 |
| Elk Season (Outside Fort Riley) – Firearms, First Segment | Aug. 1 – Aug. 31, 2023 |
| Elk Season (Outside Fort Riley) – Firearms, Second Segment | Nov. 30 – Dec. 11, 2023 |
| Elk Season (Outside Fort Riley) – Firearms, Third Segment | Jan. 1 – Mar. 15, 2024 |
| Elk Season (Outside Fort Riley) – Muzzleloader | Sep. 1 – Sep. 30, 2023 |
| Elk Season (Fort Riley) – Firearm Season for Any-Elk Permit Holders | Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, 2023 |
| Elk Season (Fort Riley) – Firearms, First Segment | Oct. 1 – Oct. 31, 2023 |
| Elk Season (Fort Riley) – Firearms, Second Segment | Nov. 1 – Nov. 30, 2023 |
| Elk Season (Fort Riley) – Firearms, Third Segment | Dec. 1 – Dec. 31, 2023 |
| Elk Season (Fort Riley) – Muzzleloader/Archery | Sep. 1 – Sep. 30, 2023 |
*Kansas has a complex system of zones called units, which each carry different seasons, requirements, and hunting parameters. Make sure to check the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks page when planning your hunt.
There are only 20 elk permits issued per year, and they are given to military personnel and Kansas residents.
Kansas Turkey Seasons
| Spring Turkey – Archery Only (Early) | Apr. 3 – Apr. 11, 2023 |
| Spring Turkey – Archery Only (Late) | Oct. 15 – Oct. 31, 2023 |
| Spring Turkey – Regular (Firearm/Archery) | Apr. 12 – May 31, 2023 |
| Spring Turkey – Youth/Disabled | Apr. 1 – Apr. 11, 2023 |
*Kansas has a complex system of zones called units, which each carry different seasons, requirements, and hunting parameters. Make sure to check the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks page when planning your hunt.
The reintroduction of the wild turkey to Kansas began in the 1960s and has since produced great success. The state is home to both the Rio Grande and the Hybrid Rio Grande Breeds. During the combined season, legal equipment includes archery equipment, shotguns, and muzzle-loading shotguns. During archery season, you can use long, recurve, compound, or crossbows. The bag limit is one turkey, either sex, per permit.
Kansas Migratory Game Bird Seasons
| Migratory Dove | Sep. 1 – Nov. 29 |
| Exotic Dove | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Rail | Sep. 1 – Nov. 9 |
| Snipe | Sep. 1 -Dec. 16 |
| Woodcock | Oct. 15 – Nov. 28 |
| Teal, High Plains Zone | Sep. 17 – Sep. 25 |
| Teal, Low Plains Zone | Sep. 10 – Sep. 25 |
| Ducks, High Plains Unit | Oct. 8 – Jan. 1, Jan. 20 – Jan. 29 |
| Ducks, Low Plains Early Zone | Oct. 8 – Dec. 4, Dec. 17 – Jan. 1 |
| Duck, Low Plains Late Zone | Oct. 29 – Jan. 1, Jan. 21 – Jan. 29 |
| Ducks, Low Plains Southeast Zone | Nov. 5 – Jan. 1, Jan. 14 – Jan. 29 |
| Mergansers | Follows Duck Seasons |
| Coots | Follows Duck Seasons |
| Canada Geese | Oct. 29 – Oct. 30, Nov. 2 – Feb. 12 |
| White-Fronted Geese | Oct. 29 – Jan. 1, Jan. 21 – Feb. 12 |
| Light Geese | Oct. 29 – Oct. 30, Nov. 2 – Feb. 12 |
| Light Geese under Conservation Order | Feb. 13 – Apr. 30 |
| Sandhill Crane, Central Zone | Nov. 9 – Jan. 5 |
| Sandhill Crane, West Zone | Oct. 15 – Dec. 11 |
*Kansas has a complex system of zones called units, which each carry different seasons, requirements, and hunting parameters. Make sure to check the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks page when planning your hunt.
Kansas Upland Bird Seasons
| Pheasant & Quail Regular Season | Nov. 12 – Jan. 31 |
| Pheasant & Quail Youth Season | Nov. 5 – Nov. 6 |
| Greater Prairie Chicken Regular Season | Sep. 15 – Jan. 31 |
*Kansas has a complex system of zones called units, which each carry different seasons, requirements, and hunting parameters. Make sure to check the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks page when planning your hunt.
Kansas Furbearer Seasons
| Coyote | Year Round |
| Coyote – Night Vision Season | Jan. 1 – Mar. 31 |
*Kansas has a complex system of zones called units, which each carry different seasons, requirements, and hunting parameters. Make sure to check the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks page when planning your hunt.
Kansas Small Game Seasons
| Bullfrog Season | Jul. 1 – Oct. 31 |
| Crow Season | Nov. 10 – Mar. 10 |
| Rabbit Season | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Squirrel Season | Jun. 1 – Feb. 28 |
*Kansas has a complex system of zones called units, which each carry different seasons, requirements, and hunting parameters. Make sure to check the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks page when planning your hunt.
Kansas Bear Seasons
Kansas does not offer a hunting season for bears and it is illegal to hunt, trap, stalk, or kill one without significant reason to do so.
Kansas Crossbow Regulations
Kansas definitely is not the most crossbow friendly state. In March of 2013 the Kansas Wildlife, Park, and Tourism Commission approved the use of a crossbow for hunting purposes. In years prior, using a crossbow was only legal if:
- You had a disability permit.
- You were under the age of 15.
- You were over the age of 55.
Today, a crossbow can only be used during the January Deer Archery Season.
Kansas Hunting License
Unless exempt by law, all resident hunters ages 16 through 74 must obtain a resident hunting license. Residents ages 66+ can purchase a combination hunting/fishing license at half price. All nonresident hunters, regardless of age, must obtain a nonresident hunting license.
Resident License: $27.50
Nonresident License: $97.50
If you want to check out the next state on our list, click here to see Kentucky.
Or, you can check out the last state on our list, Iowa.
