What you need to know about the Kansas draw system for big game hunts to help you prepare to apply. If you're considering applying in Kansas, this article is for you
Kansas is home to four big game species: mule deer, whitetail deer, elk, and antelope. Residents have opportunities to hunt all four of these species with over-the-counter (OTC) tags, though nonresidents can only purchase OTC licenses for archery antelope. Elk and antelope hunting opportunities are very limited with most applicants generally focusing on mule deer and whitetail deer. Whitetail deer are found nearly statewide with great trophy potentials present in nearly every unit. Mule deer are found in the western two-thirds of the state with the highest densities on the western side.
The general nonresident deer tag for each season will be valid only for whitetail, but applicants can apply for mule deer stamps in applicable areas. The mule deer stamps will modify the already drawn whitetail permit and allow the hunter to take deer of either species and sex. Nonresidents cannot rifle hunt mule deer. Every unit within the state features an extremely high distribution of private land making public access very tough and crowded.
Be sure to check out our Application Strategy articles to learn in-depth research and application tips when it comes time to apply in Kansas.
The Kansas system is a true preference point system, and applicants with the most points automatically receive a tag.
The Kansas preference point system only applies to the whitetail deer draw. In order to apply for a mule deer tag in Kansas, you must first draw a whitetail deer tag. No preference point weighing occurs in the mule deer draw and these are drawn randomly.
Residents are allowed to hunt whitetail deer OTC each year. The permits they purchase are good for anywhere they have access whether it's public land, walk-in or private. They can hunt during the archery, muzzleloader and rifle seasons with these permits. Residents can also choose to purchase an either-sex species permit if they want to hunt with archery equipment or with a muzzleloader. These permits are good for both eastern and western deer zones.
If a resident would like to hunt mule deer with a rifle, they must apply for the draw. If successful, the permit they draw will allow them to hunt either West Zone Mule Deer, which includes Units 1, 2, 17, and 18, or the East Zone, which includes Units 3, 4, 5, 7, and 16.
The first phase of the nonresident deer draw is exclusively for whitetail deer. Nonresidents are required to purchase a nonrefundable $97.50 hunting license prior to applying for a deer permit and, in order to apply, they are required to submit the $27.50 application fee as well as the entire cost of the deer permit, which is $442.50. There is also a $14.53 service fee added to the transaction in order to proceed. If you are unsuccessful in drawing your whitetail permit, you will be refunded the cost of the whitetail permit; however, the state will retain all other fees during the application process.
If you choose to apply for archery or muzzleloader in Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 17 or 18, then you will be eligible to try and draw a mule deer stamp during the application process. This will add an additional $152.50 to your total during the checkout process. This portion of the draw takes place after all of the whitetail permits have been issued. If you were successful in drawing a whitetail permit, which happens on a preference point system, you will now have a chance to draw the mule deer stamp. This happens on a random draw and the odds vary by unit. There is no way to increase your odds of drawing the mule deer stamp and, if this is the only goal, expect it to take years.
If you are successful in drawing a whitetail permit, but not successful in drawing a mule deer stamp, then you will be refunded only the amount of the mule deer stamp. If you are unsuccessful in drawing either your whitetail permit or the mule deer stamp, then you will be refunded the cost of the whitetail permit as well as the cost of the mule deer stamp; however, the state will retain all other fees due at the time you apply.
All successful deer applicants will also receive a doe permit for whitetail deer.
Kansas allocates a percentage of its tags each year to a specific nonresident pool. Because of this, nonresidents are not competing against residents in the draw.
Applicants in Kansas can opt to apply as a party though group sizes are limited to five total applicants. All applicants within a party must apply for the same unit and weapon choice.
Kansas does not average your points for a group application. The application will be entered into the draw with the lowest point total of any applicant in the group. So if you apply with anyone who has zero points, then everyone attached to that application will also enter the draw with zero points, and any accrued points by any party member will add no value to your group application.
Learn more information about hunting applications, draw systems, hunt regulations, tag allocations, and more in our State Profile sections:
