This unit is right in the center of the state. Most of the land drains into Smoky Hill River and supports some mule deer as well as whitetail deer. Most are on private farms and range land, but there are some public areas.

This unit occupies land in parts of Trego, Ellis, Russell, Ellsworth, Saline, McPherson, Barton, Rush and Ness counties. The Smoky Hill River and Big Creek run west to east. Land is mostly flat to slightly rolling, but there are some hills and big hollows with sloped ground. Many convoluted drainages feed the Smoky Hill River. Elevations are mostly between 1,500 and 2,000 feet with some slightly higher land in the west.

Roughly half the land is in pastures and rangeland with introduced and native grasses, including bluestem, gramma and buffalo grass. The bulk of the remainder of the land is planted in crops such as wheat, barley, milo, alfalfa, corn, sorghum, soybeans and peas. Providing cover for deer are woodlands, marshes and brushy areas along creeks and rivers and brushy thickets in pockets and folds. Common trees include oaks, redbud, elm, red cedar, box elder, willow and cottonwood.

Kanopolis State Park has full-hookup and primitive campsites in the south part of Ellsworth County. Camping areas that are usually open during hunting seasons include Langley Point Area (south side of Kanopolis Reservoir), Cottonwood Shower and Restroom Facility, Sumac Campground (full hook-ups), Cottonwood Campground (electricity), Horsethief Area (north side of lake), Rockin’ K (electric/water and electric only sites) and Eagle Point (electric). In the late season no reservations are required and openings are available on a first-come first-serve basis. Camping is prohibited in the Smoky Hill Wildlife Area.

Most hunting is on federal land, but this unit contains several public hunting areas as well. Smoky Hill Wildlife Area, which is southeast of Ellsworth, has 4,179 acres of land. It is open to hunting except for a refuge area, which is closed from the beginning of September to the end of January. Hunting pressure is usually high during the first part of deer rifle season and during weekends. Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range southwest of Salina is open to military personnel and retired military service personnel only. They must attend a training class and get a statewide or Unit 4 deer permit before they may hunt. Through the state’s walk-in hunting program, public hunters may hunt at no fee on several private parcels listed in the Fall Hunting Atlas, which also includes details on state and federal hunting areas. See attached links for private fee hunting areas in Trego, Russell, Ellis and Saline counties (here), Ness and Rush counties (here), and McPherson County (here). Some private fee areas might allow deer hunting but are designed primarily for upland bird hunters.