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

Archery Deer Season	Sep. 9 – Dec. 31
Deer Season Youth and Disability	Sep. 3 – Sep. 11
Muzzleloader Deer Season	Sep. 12 – Sep. 25
Pre-rut Whitetail Antlerless Only	Oct. 8 – Oct. 10
Regular Firearm Deer Season	Nov. 30 – 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.

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

Early Archery Antelope Season	Sep. 24 – Oct. 2
Late Archery Antelope Season	Oct. 15 – Oct. 31
Muzzleloader Antelope Season	Oct. 3 – Oct. 10
Firearm Antelope Season	Oct. 7 – Oct. 10

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 earns a firearms permit to hunt antelope.

Kansas Elk Seasons

Elk Season (Outside Fort Riley) – Archery	Sep. 12 – Dec. 31
Elk Season (Outside Fort Riley) – Firearms, First Segment	Aug. 1 – Aug. 31
Elk Season (Outside Fort Riley) – Firearms, Second Segment	Nov. 30 – Dec. 11
Elk Season (Outside Fort Riley) – Firearms, Third Segment	Jan. 1 – Mar. 15
Elk Season (Outside Fort Riley) – Muzzleloader	Sep. 1 – Sep. 30
Elk Season (Fort Riley) – Firearm Season for Any-Elk Permit Holders	Oct. 1 – Dec. 31
Elk Season (Fort Riley) – Firearms, First Segment	Oct. 1 – Oct. 31
Elk Season (Fort Riley) – Firearms, Second Segment	Nov. 1 – Nov. 30
Elk Season (Fort Riley) – Firearms, Third Segment	Dec. 1 – Dec. 31
Elk Season (Fort Riley) – Muzzleloader/Archery	Sep. 1 – Sep. 30

There are only 20 elk permits issued per year, and they are given to military personnel and Kansas residents.

Kansas Turkey Seasons

Fall Turkey Season	Oct. 1 – Nov. 10
Archery Only – Spring Turkey Season	Apr. 3 – Apr. 11
Firearm or Archery – Spring Turkey Season	Apr. 12 – May 31
Youth/Disabled – Spring Turkey Season	Apr. 1 – Apr. 11

Reintroduction of the wild turkey to Kansas began in the 1960’s 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 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 Furbearer Seasons

Coyote	Year Round
Coyote – Night Vision Season	Jan. 1 – Mar. 31

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 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.