A really nice Kansas trophy whitetail.

When the subject of trophy whitetails comes up, my mind usually roams to Kansas. Sure, the far northern reaches of the United States and Canada are home to some thumper whitetails, but who in their right mind likes to battle the weather conditions of this godforsaken cold country. Of North America’s greatest big whitetail adventures, Kansas is quickly becoming known as a mecca for their monster whitetail bucks. Trophy whitetail hunters know a good thing when they see it and with each passing hunting season are eagerly embracing Kansas with intense enthusiasm.

During the past several years, I have been fortunate enough to be in a position to study Kansas whitetails first-hand. When it comes down to the rut...when things really heat up and get serious...I can’t think of a better place to be than "The Sunflower State". Even though Kansas deer numbers may not be as high as other midwestern states, when you combine the superior genetics along with an incredible nutritional base, the top-end trophy potential is phenomenal.

Kansas’ best whitetail country seems to be predominantly located in the eastern half of the state. Terrain varies from rich open farm land, to river bottoms, to ranch land, to small wooded lots. It’s the type of terrain a lot of nonresident hunters wouldn’t give a second glance at. The lay of the land seems checkerboarded with these different types of terrain making natural funnels predominate throughout this region. I am totally convinced that hunting these "funnel" areas assures you the best odds for taking one of Kansas’ monster whitetails.

Mature bucks from this region of the midwest are just downright impressive. Body sizes are phenomenal, usually ranging from 180 to 250 pounds field dressed! Racks from these bruisers will have exceptional mass and usually sport kicker points. Buck to doe ratio is remarkable and during the rut, it is absolutely insane to watch these mature bucks loose virtually all of their senses and reveal themselves from their secluded hideaways.

In this midwestern farm and ranch country, you must concentrate your efforts on the narrow, vein-like timbered fingers that abound. Look for the "funnel" that ties food supply to good bedding areas. My choice is usually the funnels that bottleneck down as opposed to those that stay consistent across their entire length. By hunting within the tapered area of a bottleneck funnel, you will stand an excellent chance at harvesting a cunning, mature buck before they dash out the sides and into open countryside. Fencerows also produce a major funnel effect across this region. Many, many times we see good bucks traveling or standing next to fencerows, especially during the rut. Good stand trees are generally limited along these fence lines, so ground blinds are a tremendous asset in this situation.

Kansas offers a very liberal archery season, extending from the first of October through December. The rifle season is a short one, usually only about 12 days during the first part of December. Tags are only obtainable through a lottery draw system. Bow tags are on a state-wide draw, while the rifle tags are issued on a unit by unit allocation. Naturally draw odds are going to vary depending on the unit you are interested in hunting and the weapon of your choice. Nonresident deer tag cost is $205.50 along with an annual general hunting license cost of $65.50.

Public land hunting in Kansas is available on many state owned areas. A hunting proclamation is provided by the Parks and Wildlife department detailing all of these public areas and the regulations involved. Also available to sportsman is a new program called Walk-In Hunting Areas (WIHA). This program was introduced just a couple of years ago and has become increasingly popular and is expanding each year. Much of the land enrolled by participating landowners is Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage. This project is an excellent option for both landowners and sportsmen alike. The drawback with these "public" areas, of course, is that they’re nobody’s secret. If you’re going to hunt them, especially during the peak season, you’ll have to contend with other hunters. Do your homework in selecting an area that you are comfortable with. Officers with the Parks and Wildlife will be glad to offer you some assistance, so don’t hesitate to give them a call.

Since the popularity of hunting Kansas has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, outfitters providing full-service, exclusive private land whitetail hunting has accelerated. The competition for prime whitetail habitat is growing fierce leaving the out-of-state hunters not many options for private land hunting. This is not to say that there are no landowners left that you could deal with, but the truth is they are few and far between. When pursuing private land to hunt on your own, please remember that Kansas does have in effect strict trespassing laws. You must have the landowner’s permission to enter private land, posted or not, no exceptions!!

If you want to HUNT BIG DEER...you must hunt where the BIG DEER LIVE!! Kansas has certainly registered some impressive record book bucks in recent years. With restricted hunting and the sound management programs in place by the Parks and Wildlife department, Kansas should continue to be one of the hotspots for trophy whitetail deer.

To obtain additional information on Kansas hunting, contact Ultimate Xpeditions, Inc. at 1-800-2GO-HUNT or visit their website at www.ultimatexpeditions.com

www.outdoorscentral.com