Quick Tips
- Lots of pheasants and quail in places
- Visit Underground Kansas Underground Salt Museum near Hutchinson
- Explore Fort Larned National Historic Site in Larned
- Upland bird and waterfowl hunting at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 140"-160" | 160"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 130"-150" | 150"+ |
On The Ground
Sprawling along both sides of the Arkansas River from Ness, past Great Bend and almost to Hutchinson, this unit holds small numbers of mule deer and good numbers of whitetail deer.
This unit has good whitetail hunting and has more pockets, bands of brush and tree cover than points to the West. Muleys are uncommon here.
Terrain
Land is mostly flat to slightly rolling with brush-choked draws and pockets, many lakes and potholes, and tree-lined rivers and creeks. The Arkansas River and several tributaries, such as Pawnee River and Walnut Creek run through the unit, paralleled by bands of trees. The western half of the unit is a bit higher and drier, with most ground between 1,900 and 2,200 feet in elevation. The eastern half is slightly lower, with most land between 1,600 and 1,900 feet. The eastern half has a lot of ponds and depressions that fill with water in wet years. There are many lakes north and northeast of Great Bend. Some bodies of water here are ringed with trees. This unit is in parts of nine counties: Ness, Edwards, Rush, Barton, Rice, Reno, Stafford, Pawnee and Hodgeman.
Vegetation
Most land is covered with tall and short grasses or is planted in crops, including hay, soybeans, wheat, corn, peas and sorghum. Many fields in the central part of the unit are circular and have center-pivot irrigation. Along creeks are various species of brush and trees such as elm, willow, oak, cottonwood and hackberry.
Access
Cheyenne Bottoms Refuge northeast of Great Bend and southeast of Hoisington is open to deer hunting except for in waterfowl refuge areas. Deer numbers are fair. Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, near St. John, currently offers no deer or turkey hunting. Through the state’s walk-in hunting program, public hunters may hunt at no fee on many private parcels, listed in the Fall Hunting Atlas, which also includes details on state and federal hunting areas. Private fee hunting areas in Ness, Rush, Stafford, Pawnee and Hodgeman counties are listed here, and private fee hunting areas in Reno and Rice counties are listed here. Some private fee areas might allow deer hunting but are designed primarily for upland bird hunters.
Camping and Lodging
Camping is prohibited in walk-in hunting areas.
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