Kansas Archery Deer Hunting
Kansas archery deer hunting regulations and how Mid-America Hunting Association fits in.
While much of Kansas is bow hunter friendly not all of it is where we would recommend archery hunters hunt. We will get the Association hunter where he needs to be in terms of trophy regions of the state and those leases with bow huntable ground. That tree in the picture above is the only tree capable of a deer stand in the entire 1 mile square section.
Kansas archery deer hunting attraction is that deer season is during the peak of the rut and before the Kansas gun deer season with much of the NC, NE and SE Kansas is well suited for turkey and deer bow hunting. having said that we do have a sizable population of deer hunters who have found much bow hunting success during October. Looking at the back ground foliage in may of the archery deer pictures in the gallery will show well many October harvests.
Archery deer season starts in late September and runs through the end of December. No rack point restrictions required by Kansas State law, however anyone that brings a 130 or less to the meat locker will suffer the overt or covert ridicule of anyone present. This is trophy whitetail deer country and that is what is expected of every adult during any season.
Having hit that trophy deer subject let us be clear on the deer bow hunting that we offer. It is that, just deer hunting on a do it yourself basis and every well seasoned archery hunter we have ever met is looking to harvest a deer for the wall as his trophy. For those hunters traveling from trophy whitetail poor states and find that a 120 would be their personal best we offer that is the deer they should harvest and work there way up over subsequent seasons. Let any critics be ignored as life is short and any time we can do better at the activity that brings us the most fun that should be emphasized in every safe, legal, moral and ethical manner. This should be acceptable to all whitetail hunters as that trophy hunters are not made at birth but rather grow into being a trophy whitetail hunter. That growth is an inch at a time.
In short good deer hunting to all and enjoy the hunt for the quality of fun to be gained.
John and Jon,
This year has started out successful for me. I was able to harvest the best bow kill of my life, although in bowhunting they could probably be all classified as the best as I believe any harvest with a bow is special. The best part about this deer was seeing my preparation and 
number of hours spent in the field pay off. I have spent countless hours and $$ on gas over the summer and into the hunting season to pattern each of the properties I have been hunting. On this particular deer I had a trail pegged that deer were using to go to the feeding area and back to the bedding area. I waited for the right wind and proceeded to hang the stand that evening. Around 6:15pm this buck came in straight at me and directly to my tree stand. I have a had a superb early season and am ecstatic to get a deer like this in mid-Oct. Hopefully I can harvest some does now to help out the buck to doe ratio and overall numbers. Thanks for everything that your hunting association is. I am proud to be a member.
Andrew
Kansas non-resident archery deer tags are through a draw system with May being the application month. The deer tag application is available on the Kansas State Wildlife and Parks web site or by snail mail after a telephone request. The archery hunting tag application is on the same form as the rifle, muzzleloader, firearms (combined modern and muzzleloader rifle) as well as the Mule Deer tag. A cumbersome application form that we assist our members at completing.
Grady, with his personal best whitetail.
Non-resident bow hunting deer tag draw success rates are variable as the number of overall Kansas deer tags available has steadily increased, the changes deer management units make any predictor of future success based on past performance inherently inaccurate. The best advice is to apply for the Kansas deer tag most desired and continue to do so as it does appear that even the blind dog does find a bone or a Kansas bow hunting deer tag in this case once in a while.
Kansas whitetail deer bow hunting brings to the deer hunter another chance to see new ground without the costs of having to seek out, find, secure and then deer hunt as MAHA does the work and the hunter simply goes bow hunting
Depending on the region of the state, the Kansas archery hunter can have up to 4 over the counter purchase fall turkey tags with the Kansas archery deer and fall turkey seasons overlapping. Our large populations of the eastern and Kansas Rio Grande Turkey make harvesting an early fall bird (either sex is legal) for thanksgiving dinner a very likely prospect.
What this turkey hunting option provides the Kansas deer hunter is diversion from the hours that must be put on deer stand to get that one chance to see a true trophy. We will never say that deer hunters will tag out or even have shot opportunities on any hunt, however most will tell you they have seen a trophy Kansas deer. Breaking the hours down between seeing a trophy whitetail deer with a fall turkey may be all the little extra motivation event required to stand in the tree for another day longer.
The Kansas archery deer season does overlap with Iowa and Missouri season and with Missouri’s bow hunting tags available for over the counter purchase at any time. Missouri's deer tags system allows a successful Kansas archery deer bow hunter the option of crossing state lines and continue his deer hunting. And, Missouri with its 2 whitetail deer either sex per archery tag and 4 point one side restriction zone may give the deer hunter another set of options for those years he does not draw a Kansas or Iowa archery deer tag.
Kansas in October. Panaramic shot stiched together covering about 1/4 mile drainage.
Archery season runs during the firearms season in late November/early December and for those that want to archery hunt during this period hunter orange is required.
Kansas has no minimum age requirement to archery deer hunt. There are safety card restrictions and pending legislation for bow hunter safety card in addition to the general safety education requirement.
When planning an archery deer trip the early October season has sufficient foliage to force stands lower than desired and the increasing cooler fall temperature warm compared to most northern states. By November the woods are wide open and the best bow hunting shooting conditions exist. December hunts are largely successful for the northern whitetail hunter as they have the clothing to remain in the stand. Our southern hunters frequently find the cold and damp discomforting and simply move about too much.
Kansas is one more bow hunting option available to the MAHA self guided deer hunter and with our one cost for all approach to paid land access this leaves the hunter with too many options. If selecting to concentrate on archery deer season alone we offer archery hunts in three states and seasons starting September 15 through January 15. Far more season days than most will be able to hunt.
While this Kansas deer hunting web page covered general bow hunting information further review of the pages below of the links at the upper left provide greater detail specific to our organization.