Kansas is home to broad plains and diverse ecosystems, making it a hotspot for hunters in pursuit of different types of game. The Kansas Department of Animal, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT) attentively determines hunting seasons each year. This is to make sure animal numbers remain stable, and hunters have a satisfying adventure. Knowing the regulations and cut-off dates for the 2025 calendar is key to a thrilling, enjoyable outing.
This guide gives a thorough rundown of important dates, rules, and permits to handle the latest Kansas outdoor season like a pro. We’re going to touch on exact guidelines for large animals such as deer and turkey, and even migratory birds and small game critters.
Detailed Hunting Timeline for Kansas
🦌 Deer Hunting
Archery
- Sept 15 – Dec 31, 2025
- Bow/crossbow only
- Statewide
Muzzleloader
- Sept 15–28, 2025
- Hunter orange required
Regular Firearm
- Dec 3–14, 2025
- Rifles/shotguns allowed
Youth & Disability
- Sept 6–14, 2025
- For hunters 17 or younger
Extended Antlerless
- Oct 11–13, 2025 (Statewide)
- Jan 1–18, 2026 (Select units)
- Unit 12: Oct 14–19, 2025
🦬 Elk Hunting
Outside Fort Riley
- Archery: Sept 15 – Dec 31, 2025
- Muzzleloader: Sept 1–30, 2025
- Firearm:
- Aug 1–31, 2025
- Dec 3–14, 2025
- Jan 1 – Mar 15, 2026
Fort Riley Elk
- Muzzleloader/Archery: Sept 1–30, 2025
- Firearm: Oct 1, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026
🦌 Antelope
- Archery: Sept 20–28, 2025 (Units 2, 17, 18)
- Muzzleloader: Sept 29 – Oct 6, 2025
- Firearm: Oct 3–6, 2025
- Permit drawing required
🦃 Turkey (Spring 2026)
Youth/Disabled
- Apr 1–14, 2026
- One bearded bird limit
Archery-Only
- Apr 6–14, 2026
Regular Season
- Apr 15 – May 31, 2026
- Units 1–3, 5–6 (Residents)
- Unit 4: Lottery only
🦫 Furbearers & Predators
General Season
- Nov 12, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026
- Includes bobcat, raccoon, fox
Extended Raccoon/Opossum
- Mar 1 – Nov 11, 2025
Beaver & Otter
- Nov 12, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026
Coyote
- Year-round (No bag limits)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant & Quail
- Youth: Nov 1–2, 2025
- Regular: Nov 8, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026
- Limits: 4 pheasants, 8 quail daily
Greater Prairie Chicken
- Currently closed
🐿️ Small Game
- Cottontail Rabbit: Year-round
- Squirrel: June 1, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026
- Bullfrog: July 1 – Oct 31, 2025
🦆 Waterfowl
Teal
- High Plains: Sept 20–28, 2025
- Low Plains: Sept 13–21, 2025
Ducks (Zones)
- High Plains: Oct 11, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026
- Low Plains Early: Oct 11 – Dec 7, 2025
- Low Plains Late: Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026
Geese
- Dark Geese: Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026
- Light Geese: Nov 5, 2025 – Feb 15, 2026
Sandhill Cranes
- Central Zone: Nov 6, 2025 – Jan 6, 2026
- West Zone: Oct 19 – Dec 14, 2025
🕊️ Other Migratory Birds
- Mourning Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 29, 2025
- Woodcock: Oct 11 – Nov 24, 2025
- Snipe: Sept 1 – Dec 16, 2025
🎯 Special Opportunities
- Military Lands: Fort Riley/Leavenworth
- Running Season (Furbearers): Mar 1 – Nov 5, 2025
| Bird Species | Season Type | Daily Bag Limit |
| Pheasant | Regular | 4 cocks |
| Youth | 4 cocks | |
| Quail | Regular | 8 |
| Youth | 8 | |
| Greater Prairie Chicken | Regular | 2 |
Migratory Birds and Waterfowls
Dove (Statewide)
- Mourning and White-winged Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 29, 2024
- Eurasian Collared-Dove & Ringed Turtle Dove: Open year-round
Rail
- Sept 1, 2024 – Nov 9, 2024 (statewide)
Snipe
- Sept 1, 2024 – Dec 16, 2024 (statewide)
Duck Seasons (including Coots and Mergansers)
Offers 1st and 2nd segments: for each zones
- Early Zone:
- Youth/Military/Veteran: Oct 5-6, 2024
- 1st: Oct 12-Dec 8, 2024
- 2nd: Dec 21, 2024 – Jan 5, 2025
- Low Plains Late Zone:
- Youth/Military/Veteran: Oct 19-20, 2024
- 1st: Oct 26-Dec 29, 2024
- 2nd: Jan 11-26, 2025
- Low Plains Southeast Zone:
- Youth/Military/Veteran: Nov 2-3, 2024
- 1st: Nov 9, 2024 – Jan 5, 2025
- 2nd: Jan 11-26, 2025
- High Plains Zone:
- Youth/Military/Veteran: Oct 5-6, 2024
- 1st: Oct 12, 2024 – Jan 5, 2025
- 2nd: Jan 17-26, 2025
Teal
- High Plains: Sept 21-29, 2024 (west of Hwy U.S. 283)
- Low Plains: Sept 14-29, 2024 (east of Hwy U.S. 283)
Geese (Statewide)
Offers 1st and 2nd segments: for each zones
- Dark Geese:
- 1st: Oct 26-27, 2024
- 2nd: Nov 6, 2024 – Feb 16, 2025
- Light Geese:
- 1st: Oct 26-27, 2024
- 2nd: Nov 6, 2024 – Feb 16, 2025
- White-fronted Geese:
- 1st: Oct 26-Dec 29, 2024
- 2nd: Jan 25-Feb 16, 2025
Sandhill Crane
- Central Zone: Nov 6, 2024 – Jan 2, 2025 (Sandhill Crane Unit)
- West Zone: Oct 19, 2024 – Dec 15, 2024 (Sandhill Crane Unit)
Woodcock
- Oct 12 – Nov 25, 2024 (statewide)
Migratory Birds Bag Limits
- Ducks: Daily limit 6 (with species restrictions), possession limit varies by zone and season (up to 3 times daily limit).
- Geese: Daily limit varies (2-6), possession limit 18 (except Light Geese – unlimited).
- Doves: Mourning/white-winged doves: daily 15, possession 45. Eurasian collared/ringed turtle doves: no daily or possession limit.
- Other Birds: Daily limits range from 3 (woodcock) to 25 (rail), possession limits range from 6 (white-fronted geese) to 75 (rail).
Furbearer
Beaver, Otter Trapping
- November 15, 2023 – March 31, 2024 (Statewide)
Coyote
- January 1, 2024 – January 1, 2025 (Statewide, No Limit)
- Coyote Night Vision Permit Season
- January 1, 2024 – March 31, 2024 (Statewide, Permit Required)
Raccoon & Opossum
- Extended season Apr 3 – Sept 12
- Requires furharvester license and specific traps.
Extended Hunting and Trapping
- April 3, 2024 – September 12, 2024 (Statewide, Raccoon, Opossum)
Furbearer Hunting & Trapping
- November 13, 2024 – February 28, 2025 (Statewide)
Running Season (Bobcat, Red Fox, Gray Fox)
- March 1, 2024 – November 8, 2024 (Statewide)
State of Kansas Hunting Policies
General:
- People with lifetime licenses qualify for permits/tags no matter where they live.
- If you’re proceeding on private grounds or public roads, you need permission from landowners.
- Always remember, selling meat from the wild is against the law, even for charitable events.
- Full-time students from other places can get licenses like residents.
- Remember, hunting from boats, airplanes, or any motor vehicles is usually not allowed.
Deer:
- Land Hunt: Any season, any approved tool, for farmers and their families. This cannot be transferred and requires one license per 80 acres of farmland.
- Unique Land Hunt: Ideal for relatives like siblings, ancestors, descendants, or spouses. They must be on land controlled by the owner or renter using any approved tool.
- Whitetail Female Deers Only: Licenses needed for hunting in specific territory on private or public lands, good throughout the year with suitable gear.
- Young Hunter’s Pass: Discounted permits for young hunters (15 and under) for set times, such as the young or disabled hunt in September. Those aged 16 and under must have an adult with them.
- After the Hunt: Go with paper tags or electronic tags. Adhere to all rules about tagging and transportation and follow digital registration and tagging guidelines.
- Tick Disease: Be alert for diseases ticks can transmit. Protect yourself by using bug sprays, wearing protective clothes, frequently checking for ticks, and taking care with hunting dogs.
- Chronic Wasting Disease: Grasp the impact of CWD, a disease in deer. Heed advice on handling and testing, always stay updated on scientific studies and tests.
Migratory Birds:
- Different lawful approaches exist, but using traps, poisons, or explosives is not allowed.
- Mechanical vehicles, live lures, electronic callbacks, or shooting from sink boxes are all banned during hunting.
- However, you may hunt over altered crops, natural lushness, or flooded farmland, but areas with bait are absolutely off-limits.
- To shoot migratory birds, motorboats should be still and not running. Be sure to adhere to the rules concerning possession, transportation, and tagging – tags and non-toxic shot are necessities.
Turkeys:
- In spring, dogs aren’t allowed, but come fall turkey season, they’re permitted.
- Here’s what gear you can use: shotguns, a range of bows, and crossbows, though there are some rules around electronic devices.
- As soon as you buy your permit or tag, it’s good to go, but you can’t give it to someone else.
- You can’t shoot a turkey that’s roosting in a tree, it needs to be on the ground or in the air. You have an option between paper or e-tags for your tag-after-catch process.
- If you live here: try for Units 1, 2, 3, 5, or 6 (you can only use your permit for one turkey with a beard). For Unit 4, permits are up for grabs in a lottery.
- Not from here? Join the lottery for units 1, 2, 3, 5, or 6 (your permit will only work in your assigned unit).
- The application period? January 9 to February 9, 2024.
- Quick facts: any left-over permits are up for grabs on a first-come, first-served basis. Don’t count on extra game tags for a second turkey in 2024, there won’t be any.
- Shooting hours: A half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
- Legal Equipment:
- Archery Only: Recurve/compound bows or crossbows
- Regular Season: Shotguns (shot size 2-9), longbows, recurve/compound bows, crossbows
- Keep in mind, you can only have one tagged turkey with a visible beard per permit. And remember, no dogs in spring.
Required Permits and Licenses for Hunting in Kansas
Resident Licenses:
- Senior Hunt/Fish Combination: $42.50
- Senior Basic: $15.00
- Basic: $27.50
- Combination: $47.50
- Apprentice: $27.50
- 5 Year Combo: $182.50
- 5 Year Basic: $102.50
- Multi-Year Youth (16-20): $42.50
- Multi-Year Youth Combination (16-20): $72.50
Nonresident Licenses:
- Basic: $97.50
- Under 16: $42.50
- Apprentice: $97.50
- Combination: $137.50
Lifetime (Residents Only):
- Basic: $502.50
- Combination: $962.50
- Furharvester License: $502.50
Other Permits and Fees:
- Controlled Shooting Area: $27.50
- Duplicates: $2.50
- Commercial Dog: $22.50
- Field Trial Dog: $22.50
- Night Vision Equipment Permit: $2.50
- Prairie Chicken Permit: $2.50
Prime Hunting Spots in Kansas
Kansas, a state prized for its varied terrain, lures in folks who hunt big animals, upland birds, and ducks of all sorts. Let’s take a peek at some prime locations for certain species:
White-tailed Deer:
- Comanche National Grassland (Barber, Comanche, Kiowa Counties): This broad field environment is a favorite for white-tailed deer. You can adapt methods such as tracking, station hunting, or archery.
- Flint Hills National Scenic Byway (Chase, Marion, Riley Counties): This picturesque stretch offers a mix of fields, rolling lands, and wooded creek bases—what white-tailed deer love!
Mule Deer:
- LeRoy and Barber Counties: Take a trip to LeRoy and Barber Counties. Western Kansas’ petite prairie grasslands are a haven for mule deers. In this broad setting, the surveillance-and-chase method is common.
Pheasants:
- Republic, Cloud, and Jewell Counties: Also known as Kansas’ “pheasant capital,” you’ll find excellent pheasants. There are many open fields and good cover for birds.
- Comanche County: Is another great place with its diverse habitat in the Comanche National Grassland.
Quail:
- Southern Kansas (Chautauqua, Montgomery, Labette Counties): The prairies are a prime spot for taking scaled quail and bobwhite quail. Hunters tend to bring along dogs to help find the quail.
Waterfowl:
- Cheney Reservoir (Reno County): Is a hotspot for waterfowl like ducks, geese, and swans. The reservoir even provides public hunting blinds and designated areas.
- Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge (Chase, Marion Counties): Situated by the Missouri River, it’s a top location for duck and goose, with a variety of habitats from wetlands to fields.
Author & Chief Editor at AskHunting.com
Eric Hale, a veteran hunter with more than a decade of experience, imparts his knowledge via AskHunting.com. He offers guidance for hunting, adding strategies, and delivers in-depth guides for the novice and the old hand. He loves family camping sessions, watching Marvel films with his spouse, and going on thrilling road journeys.
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