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Hunt Kansas whitetails or muleys on your own |
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This buck, a landowner's family member, grosses more than 200 B&C and nets more than 192. One of the best places to kill a bragging-size mule deer or whitetail is in Kansas. If you don't draw a tag in the state's yearly drawing, you can buy a landowner permit. The first year I hunted Kansas on a tag I drew through the annual computer lottery, and the next three times I bought landowner tags. Each year I've seen trophy whitetails, and my hunting companions have mostly taken nice bucks, but I've been holding out for something extra special, particularly for a big muley, so three times I've hunted with a blackpowder rifle. The only way a non-resident can hunt mule deer in Kansas is with a muzzleloader. On my first trip I passed on a nine-pointer that would have scored 150 to 160 along with at least a dozen other eight-point or bigger bucks. Another hunter got a 170 typical on that trip. The next year I passed on Randy Zundel's whitetail below at 40 yards, and then when it started running I changed my mind and missed a tough shot before Randy rolled him with his rifle. I also passed on a 26-inch heavy-horned muley and saw several other good whitetails. The next year I passed on a non-typical whitetail because I was holding out for a B&C class muley I had seen the day before the season. I ended up missing a 28-incher at long range and passing on many whitetails. In 2004 I had a misfire at a 30-inch muley buck and concentrated on that buck until he was shot by a local rancher when my friend and I pushed him onto an adjoining field. I didn't hunt in 2005, but Chuck and I are lining up some leases for ourselves in 2006 and should have extra room.
Randy Zundel of Utah with his 161-class 10-point, which he shot in December 2001 with his .338 immediately after Rich LaRocco of Hunts.Net missed it with a muzzleloader. Hunts.Net Customers Tom Paluso and Tim Pilling have killed nice whitetails on do-it-yourself hunts in Kansas. Tom's buck scored 162 B&C. Several of our customers have taken nice whitetails in Kansas on hunts we lined up for them. Dave Asleson of Minnesota got the biggest mule deer shot by an Hunts.Net customer in Kansas. His 220-class muley ranked No. 13 in the national muzzleloader record book.
Hunts.Net customer Dave Asleson with the mule deer buck he shot on a hunt we lined up for him.
28-inch whitetail shot in 2000 by one of the ranchers who sold Tim permits. Self-guided hunters can buy a landowner permit and then hunt either on a private farm or on walk-in areas, which are private farms leased by the state for public hunters. There are thousands of acres tied up each year in walk-in areas, and they yield some of the finest bucks killed in Kansas. We can line up guided hunts with licensed outfitters. To hunt deer in Kansas you must draw a tag or buy a landowner permit. If you want to try a do-it-yourself hunt, be advised that to be successful you'll need a bit of luck, a lot of hard work, and some good shooting. You also need to be proficient in reading maps, picking out tree stand locations, glassing, etc. Depending on weather conditions, you might need to alter your hunting technique or maybe scout around and get permission to hunt a new area. As for shooting, practice shooting at jackrabbits or other moving targets before the trip. If you are up for a challenge and can afford the time to drive to Kansas for a do-it-yourself hunt, we think this is one of the best opportunities anywhere to take a big whitetail or mule deer at a price most guys can afford.
Bucks taken by a local rancher, who also does some guiding. |
In 2002 I hunted for 5 1/2 days with my cousin CJ Park, his employee Jared Gordon and my friend Chuck Johnson. I concentrated on mule deer and missed a 28-incher, while the others shot whitetails. Chuck saw a buck he thought would go into Boone and Crockett and hunted that deer until the last day, when he shot a heavy-horned nine-pointer. When he shot, a really big buck jumped into view. That was the 30th whitetail buck he had seen. Ours was a do-it-yourself hunt on landowner tags, and we hunted on public land, walk-in hunting areas and private leases where you can hunt for a fee. Jared got an average 4x4 (second morning) after passing on a bigger buck that was standing in front of a ranch house the first day, and CJ got a small 6x7 (first morning). Chuck Johnson and I saw a truly big mule deer the day before the season, so I held out for that buck and never had a chance at him though I saw 28 whitetail bucks and 30 mule deer bucks. Most of the bucks were small, but several would have looked good on almost any wall. One of the ranchers on the first day shot the heavy-antlered 7x7 muley below.
A local rancher with the 7x7 rack of the mule deer he shot on his ranch in December 2002. Rich and Chuck saw a bigger buck the previous day. I think this area would be ideal for an archery whitetail hunt in October or November or a muzzleloader mule deer hunt in September. I also saw 200 or more wild turkeys and would not hesitate to hunt the birds on a couple of the ranches. Self-guided turkey hunts are $500. Prices for the deer hunts in 2003 have not been set, but archery whitetail hunts should be very reasonable. It's difficult to get a mule deer tag (muzzleloader only). These are strictly unguided hunts, so you must be prepared to do provide your own transportation, lodging and meals, and you need to be adept at locating deer sign, reading maps, glassing, and so forth.
Curt Argyle of Utah with his eight-point that had been a 6x4. Taken December 2001.
Buck shot in 2000 in the area that Tom hunted. |
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