Kansas

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 tags, though nonresidents can only purchase over-the-counter licenses for archery antelope. Elk and antelope hunting opportunities are very limited with most applicants generally focusing on mule deer and whitetail. Whitetail are found nearly state-wide 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.

License Costs

Species Costs

Important Dates

Draw Result Dates

Draw System

Resident Draw System

Residents are allowed to hunt whitetail deer over-the-counter (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, 16.

Nonresident Draw System

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.

The Points System

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 draw. In order to apply for a mule deer tag in Kansas, you must first draw a whitetail tag. No preference point weighing occurs in the mule deer draw.

If you are choosing to apply as a group, remember that any points that any group member has will be irrelevant and the application will be considered with the lowest point total for any member of the group.

Party applications

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.

Even if you decide to apply as a group, each person must apply individually; however, there will be a question on the application about groups. The first applicant in the group to apply would choose the create group option on this question. This will create a group under this applicant's Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) number. Each applicant applying after the group has been set up would choose the join group option and they would fill in the group leader's KDWP number at that time.

Credit cards

Credit cards are accepted online. (Visa, Mastercard & Discover)

Getting a Tag

Youth opportunities

Nonresident youth hunters ages 15 and under must draw tags along with adult nonresident applicants. Youths do not receive any priority over other applicants. Youth permits and applications are available at a reduced price. If successful in the draw, youth applicants will have access to their chosen permit as well as a special youth-only any legal weapon season that coincides with the disabled hunters season in early September.

Hunting opportunities for military members

Disabled veteran hunting and fishing licenses

The Kansas Legislature annually appropriates limited funding to pay for hunting and fishing licenses to be issued for free to qualifying disabled veterans. Any Kansas resident who is an honorably discharged military veteran with certified service-related disabilities of 30% or more qualifies and must apply each year for the license. Licenses are issued on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is exhausted. Additionally, anyone who buys a hunting or fishing license online can check a box during checkout and add a donation to their purchase to help fund additional DAV licenses beyond the legislature-appropriated funding amounts.

Nonresidents stationed in Kansas

Active duty nonresident military personnel stationed in Kansas may hunt or fur harvest with a resident hunting or fur harvesting license if they carry evidence identifying them as active duty military personnel.

Kansas residents stationed outside of the state

Active duty members who were Kansas residents immediately prior to enlistment – and their immediate family members living with them – may purchase a resident license, regardless of duty station.

Returning tags

Kansas will only return tags under very specific and extreme circumstances.

Hunting Rules

Weapons restrictions

Kansas is a choose-your-weapon state meaning that applicants will apply for a specific season and weapon choice. Hunters need to pay very special attention to the hunting regulations when applying and when in the field.