kansas

[deerhunter10]

just booked my hunt with hickory creek outfitters this coming year! so pumped all ready, we are going early ml season September 15-20 just so ready.

 

[jumpmaster21]

Good luck! Hunted KS a few years ago and had a blast.

 

[tellico4x4]

Good for you!

Hunted pretty much the entire ML season there in 2010. During that time, we had a 60 degree change in weather (95 to 35) and even a tornado! Some of the bachelor groups of bucks were still hanging together, which was pretty cool to watch. Was sorta bummed out when I first got there, as corn had not been picked. Got to watch lots of deer legs walking in corn for a few afternoons. Then some contract pickers arrived and picked like 300 acres of corn in less than 24 hrs. Don't know when those guys sleep, as they rolled all night long. Quite the operation to watch. Just a few hours after they left, the deer piled into fields to feast on spillage. On my list to do again.

Good luck & enjoy your trip!

 

[CAW]

Been to Kansas many, many times. Awesome place to deer hunt and probably my favorite state to do so. As stated above, the weather and the timing of crop harvests makes a big difference in the hunting. Hopefully that will work out for you.

Good luck with it and make sure you do a little studying on what a trophy deer is in that part of the world. There are LOTS of 2 year olds in the 130-135 range. A 150" 3 year old is not uncommon at all. My first year I shot a 2 year old 11 point that grossed 134" only to have a 10 point that was easily in the 160's walk down the same trail 10 minutes later. I learned to hold out and killed multiple deer in the 150-170 range over the next several years. Absolutely love Kansas. Have fun!

 

[deerhunter10]

i am beyond pumped. as yal said I talked to many people outfitters and they said the same with the crops and the weather. but it seemed like they all said that first week was one of their best. so that's why we picked that week. and for sure caw, I am going to be studying and talking to a lot of people about that. im so ready though its crazy already counting down the days. I appreciate the advice any and all advice is much appreciated and wanted! caw I saw on your you tube page your Kansas hunt and it got me even more pumped up!

 

[Vermin93]

Where are you staying?

 

[deerhunter10]

the stonehaven lodge

 

[Vermin93]

You won't be far from me. I stay in Parsons, which is about an hour northeast of Sedan. Did you see the antler restrictions on their site? Be careful what you shoot!

Immature Buck Fine

Due to the reoccurring problem of hunters killing immature bucks, Hickory Creek Outfitters is installing a strict 135" minimum. There will be a $800 fine imposed for bucks that don't meet that minimum. The fine will go towards the betterment of the herd (food plots, deer nutrition programs). This fine is not imposed to punish the hunter, but to encourage him to only shoot MATURE bucks. That is what you came here for anyway.

 

[deerhunter10]

yes we saw that we are pretty good at judging deer. but we agreed to that and have talked to him about it. hopefully we don't have that problem though. the one thing I am worried a little about is the deer will still be in there summer coats and all of that and it can be tougher to judge them then. are you hunting with an outfitter a lease or public land?

 

[Vermin93]

Public land. I hunt WIHA land near Parsons and I also hunt the Mined Land Wildlife Area, which is southeast of Parsons. I am committed to getting a big Kansas deer on public land. 2014 will be my 4th year getting after it and I'm afraid it's become an obsession. I spent most of the first 2 years just figuring the place out. I almost got a shot at one this past season, but he just wouldn't come into bow range. Three years of drought and a big EHD outbreak in 2012 has set the deer herd back quite a bit in parts of the state, but I got a few big boys and a lot of young bucks with good potential on camera. I am looking forward to this season.

This thread might get you excited. These are KS bucks taken this past season.

2013 TBH Kansas bucks

 

[deerhunter10]

holy cow some real studs on that thread. I am very ready. I hope all goes good. one reason I choose the ml season is so I don't get skirted trying to equal out the playing field the best I can. hopefully itll work out but I know its hunting. the dudes guide service has outstanding reviews. if all goes good us and two other buddies I know that hunt with another guide may look into leasing up there in a few years. but I am just looking forward to hunting something new. have you ever hunted the early ml season? if so in the past how has it gone. same with you caw have you ever hunted it up there?

 

[CAW]

Here is a video of one of my hunts in Kansas (the one deerhunter10 was referring to)

It's not the best footage, but it will give you an idea of what it's like out there...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyiru7ectAw

 

[Vermin93]

have you ever hunted the early ml season? if so in the past how has it gone.

I have not hunted it. My first two years hunting KS I purchased the nonresident muzzleloader tag. Unfortunately, both of those years my job got in the way of me making it up there for the early muzzleloader season. I ended up hunting the gun season with my muzzleloader, which you are allowed to do. That is a big reason why I decided to buy a bow and get into archery hunting. Bowhunters get Kansas to themselves for all of Oct and Nov. As a nonresident you only get one choice - archery, muzzleloader or gun. If you end up getting a lease there, then you will almost certainly want to go with the nonresident archery permit.

I can tell you the early muzzleloader season in SE Kansas is usually hot and buggy. Bring your Thermacell and plenty of refill cartridges and spray your camo down good with Permethrin. There are a lot of windy days in Kansas, but the deer are used to it. There's a chance there will be some acorns on the ground.