Kansas fall hunting seasons are underway. Here's what's different this year.
After drought and high heat swept across the state this summer, those hunting in Kansas are going to experience some new challenges in the fields this fall.
In particular, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has observed lower populations of pheasant and greater prairie chickens.
Drought impacts these upland game birds most, said Nadia Marji, chief of public affairs for the KDWP.
“Upland game birds are where we will see the biggest shift due to drought,” Marji said. “They seem to be most impacted with weather changes and habitat changes.”
High heat and drought impacts habitat quality for these birds, meaning there might not be as much cover and food sources for chicks.
What to expect in Kansas fields when hunting this fall
Kansas is, of course, known nationwide for its upland birds population. Marji said there has been enough impact on these populations to present hunters with a challenge, but not enough to be concerning.
“We still have one of the best populations in the nation for pheasant,” Marji said. “Hunters are just going to have to work harder this year to locate those birds.”
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When it comes to quail, Kansas is actually expected to have a higher population this season. Above average numbers of quail will provide hunters with plenty of opportunity for birds in the Flint Hills and Smoky Hills regions of Kansas this fall.
Another piece of good news for hunters, Marji said, is the growing amount of land available for hunts. The department records ample acreage for public hunting — 1.7 million acres of Conservation Reserve Program fields statewide and 1.09 million acres just open to the walk-in hunting access program.
Current and approaching seasons
Some hunting seasons are already open, while others are quickly approaching. Next month, of course, marks the pinnacle of Kansas hunts with the upland birds seasons all underway.
Here is a list of some current and approaching seasons in and around central and northern Kansas:
Fall Turkey
Oct. 1 to Nov. 10Location: Units 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 (Unit 4 closed)
Deer – Pre-rut Whitetail (antlerless only)
Oct. 8-10Location: Statewide
Any permit that allows the harvest of a white-tailed antlerless deer is valid during this season. Equipment and unit restrictions on permit imposed. Hunter orange clothing is required.
Fort Riley is closed for Pre-Rut Season.
Dove
Sept. 1 to Nov. 29Location: Statewide
Greater Prairie Chicken
Sept. 15 to Jan. 31, 2023Location: Greater Prairie Chicken Unit
Deer: Archery
Sept. 12 to Dec. 31Location: statewide, Fort Riley
Other fall seasons
Select duck and goose seasons start Oct. 29.
For a full list of hunting seasons including locations, people can visit www.ksoutdoors.com/hunting.
A new way to get licensed
In May, the KDWP launched Go Outdoors Kansas — a new licensing and boat registration system designed to provide people with an improved customer service experience.
People can access the new system at GoOutdoorsKansas.com and download a mobile app for IOS and Android devices. The HuntFishKS mobile app is no longer operational, and KDWP said customers should delete the app. Customer information will not be deleted when they do.
Go Outdoors Kansas allows users to quickly view all purchased licenses, regulations, sunrise and sunset times in the field and report harvests immediately after hunting. Customers can also register and renew water vessels through the new system.
“The mobile app will be a fanatic resource,” Marji said. “Hunters will have everything they need to (hunt) safely and legally right in the app.”
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Hunters, anglers and boaters will also have the option to purchase collectible traditional hard cards that show customer’s current license information. The new hard cards come with artwork from a Kansas artist on the front.
Along with the new app, a big focus of the KDWP this year is the success of dedicated youth seasons.
Staring Nov. 5, youth season for pheasant and quail will be underway. Marji said the department always hears great stories from people who participate in this season, as it provides youth time to avoid adult competition during the regular season.
“We’ve tried to focus on dedicated seasons just for youth so they can go out, have fun, even with a mentor and avoid the typical crowds you see during these popular seasons,” Marji said.
To find out more about hunting this season, people can visit GoOutdoorsKansas.com or ksoutdoors.com.
One hunting location near Salina
Located just outside Salina, C & W Ranch provides group hunts for pheasant, turkey and deer.
Joel Wimer has been owner and operator of the ranch for 38 years. They have outfitted for pheasant and quail the whole time, and deer for 25 years.
The ranch only does one turkey hunt a year now, on opening weekend.
For the last few years, Wimer has welcomed the same groups of people back for hunts; about 95% of his clientele are returns. But his wide variety of land, Wimer said, provides people a lot of opportunities.
“We either lease or own ground from six miles south of here to 60 miles north,” Wimer said.
Anywhere from 6-10 people usually take advantage of the ranch during deer rifle season.
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During this time, Wimer and his team sets up stands at different stations with cameras on the terrain. The night before opening day, the ranch puts on a big slideshow showing every station and what kind of wildlife has been going into those areas.
Wimer considers himself an outfitter with help on the ranch. He has people who can help with all the bird cleaning and packing, and people who field dress the deer and take to a taxidermist or slaughter plant.
Beyond hunts, the ranch also provides bed and breakfast services, options to reserve space for reunions, retreats, birthday parties and other gatherings. They also sell cattle and provide transient horse layover and boarding services.
“It’s a lot of work and we give up a lot of personal time, however we also cultivated a lot of life-long friendships along the way and that makes it all completely worthwhile,” Wimer said.
C & W Ranch is located at 4000 South Halstead Road, Smolan. People can reach the ranch by calling Joel at 785-452-0343 or emailing him at jwimer@cwranch.com.
This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Kansas pheasant numbers take slight dip after summer drought
