Editor Note: News that Kansas has 4,600 leftover whitetail permits was widely circulated through cyberspace early this month, but no one seemed to address a very important question about this opportunity. That question would be: How do you take advantage of this boon? What unit should you target? Are there any outfitters with openings this late in the year? And are those outfitters any good? Here at The Hunting Report, we did some digging to help you take advantage of this situation. And since these tags go on sale well before our August issue hits your e-mail box, I decided to send you this early bird report so you can do your planning and get the right tag before everyone else figures it out. Enjoy! - Barbara Crown, Editor More than 4,600 leftover Kansas deer permits will go on sale first-come/first-served July 20 on the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks web site (
www.kdwp.state.ks.us). But before you put down any money for one of these permits there are a number of things you need to have figured out first. Correspondent Michael Pearce, a life-long Kansan, has covered the Kansas deer hunting situation for
The Hunting Report since the first nonresident seasons opened in the mid-90s. Here is his advice on how to take advantage of these permits.
First of all, understand that leftover permits and guaranteed good hunts are two totally different things - even in Kansas. There are permits available in all 18 units. Unit 11 in southeast Kansas has more than 800. Famed Unit 16 has more than 300. All of the permits are whitetail-only.
The second thing to note is that because Kansas has very little state or federally-owned public hunting lands do-it-yourself hunts could be tough to arrange this late in the season. Although about a million-plus acres are enrolled in a walk-in hunting area program, it's mostly upland bird habitat. Still, guys who don't mind walking thick grass from dawn to dark and taking shots at flushed whitetails might jump a good buck from the walk-in grasses.
Word is that a fair number of outfitters have some openings, though. A check with reputable booking agents might provide a few leads. After a little checking, we found two longtime outfitters looking for a few good hunters. The first is Dan Torrence, of Flint Hills Hunts, who has openings for several hunters during the state's September 21 - October 4 muzzleloader season. He hunts several thousand acres of mixed rolling prairies, wooded creek bottoms and lush crop fields. Torrence's muzzleloader hunts are semi-guided in well-scouted areas. Tree stands and ground blinds are in place. He spends a lot of time glassing hunting areas from a distance and running trail cameras to track deer patterns. Tough conditions last year led to low success and a good carry-over of mature bucks. Super-wet conditions seem to have produced good antler growth this year.
The rates for a semi-guided muzzleloader hunt are $2,000 for five days, or $2,500 to hunt the entire 14-day season. He may be able to fit a hunter or two in during the December 2-13 rifle season too. Rates for an unguided rifle hunt are $2,000 for the first five days, $2,000 for the remaining seven days or $2,800 for the entire 12-day rifle season. For information, contact Torrence at 620-221-3767, or send an e-mail to
dan@kansashunts.com. Check his web site at
www.kansashunts.com.
In extreme northeast Kansas, Jim Aller's Wolf River Outfitters has several openings. Aller said the economy has prevented some of his repeat clients from hunting with him this year, so he has openings left. Aller hunts 10,000 acres, much of it owned by his family for many years. Those who perceive Kansas as flat and boring haven't been on his properties. Located in the rugged Missouri River Valley, Aller's properties are mountain-steep, rugged and, in places, thick with brush. Farm fields and food plots grow lush where there's enough flat ground.
Most of the hunting is done from shooting towers or enclosed ground blinds. One 4,000-acre property has 47 towers to cover the scores of creases, jungles and scattered fields that riddle this area. Aller is in Unit 10, though not known as Kansas' best deer unit, it produces nice bucks every year. Last year, Wolf River hunters accounted for a 160-inch eight-pointer during the gun hunt. The best bow-kill grossed 177 inches.
To ensure quality, Aller has imposed minimum requirements of 125 inches for archers and 135 for gun hunters. Last year about 70 percent of his bowhunters scored on bucks that averaged in the upper 140s. Getting a crack at mature whitetails throughout the entire rut helps keep those numbers high. Aller says he also takes a lot of repeat clients who are in tune with how to hunt his properties. Rifle hunters had about the same success rate with an average probably in the 150-range.
This year's firearm season is December 2-13. Aller gets $3,850 for five days fully-guided, with meals and lodging. Hunters also must post a $1,000 inferior buck fee upon arrival, but it is refunded to those who shoot a buck above Aller's minimums or who don't score on a deer. For what it's worth, most of the rut should be finished by opening day of firearm season. That's also when the full moon starts. Check out
www.wolfriveroutfitters.com, or call 785-741-3000.
It will be interesting to see if all 4,600-plus leftover permits sell this year. There's some growing concern about how the ever-increasing number of hunters will impact that status of the state's trophy herd. Some fear the added permits and difficulty finding places to hunt could lead to increased trespassing problems. So far, past permit increases have been followed by seasons that still yielded some of the best trophy whitetails taken in the world. Only time will tell if that will continue. If you go on one of these hunts, do send us a Hunt Report. Good luck!
