DIY Kansas Hunt season pressure Muzzy/Archery Rut

[TonySkyline]

As the deadline approaches for Kansas tags, I think I've decided I'll be giving it a go this year. I've got more than enough pref points with 4 or 5 stacked up (I thought the group hunt averages but it does not in Kansas) but not sure if I'm going all in on bow or if I should try early season with the muzzy. The current stigma on Kansas is that public is overloaded with people during archery rut season. I understand public is public and anyone can go there but that is exactly what I am attempting to avoid, pressure. I'm not even decided on a unit yet but likely the south east/south central area. For those that have done this, what is the pressure like during early muzzleloader vs archery season? For muzzy I'd be staying the entire season or until I tag out (I've got realistic expectations). For archery I'd be going first 2 weeks of November unless a massive cold front hits in mid-late October (i am my own boss now so vacation is whatever). I am more than likely flying in and renting a truck. Not sure where to stay yet as I want to keep costs reasonable due to it being a solo dolo trip but any tips on that is very much appreciated (campgrounds with small cabins, motels, etc). If hunting pressure is much lower in early season, does the odds of seeing a 3 1/2YO+ buck increase or is it typically after they switch from their summer feeding patterns and most go nocturnal? I've done years of research on this but I was always focused on rut bow hunting however I recently started muzzy hunting and I gotta say, as annoying as it can be with cleaning and accuracy, i love it. I will likely be limited on what I can bring so it'll probably just be a LWCG .75 stand, 3 tethrd one sticks, a tripod, binos, spotter (only if muzzy season), cheap pop up bucket seat, and some camo. I've got one of those ghost blinds which would be perfect for open fields but I don't think that'll fit in the pack or luggage like a small stand & sticks. I can always bring some camo cloth and brush myself in as needed.
What have your recent experiences been like in regards to pressure in muzzy vs archery rut seasons? I feel like ever since Chris Bee killed that monster on public during the rut and alll the youtube hunters posting vids of public in KS I have seen far more negative feedback for public in Kansas and overcrowding is the main issue it sounds like. I should draw Iowa zone 5 the following season and that will for sure be an archery hunt soo I don't mind doing muzzy or archery in Kansas nor am I looking to be validated in choosing 1 or the other but dudes on here are typically pretty honest, even if it's not what I want to hear. Appreciate any feedback, tips, experiences or stories, and education on the subject.

 

[wildwilderness]

What’s the reason to go public? Just to save $ or to do it DIY?


Personally on public I’d go archery rut since you are hoping a buck wanders by, much more likely during the rut . The early Muzzy can be great on private if you run feeders and target a regular feeding buck before it disappears. Bucks can be pretty nocturnal pre-rut as well…

Personally I have seen the biggest bucks later like Thanksgiving week, and great action as well especially if the weather gets cold. Less pressure too since it’s not as popular of time. Archery is also a long season so you can always go back if you have to

 

[TonySkyline]

Thanks for the info. I did read that if I strike out with the early muzzy, I can go back during gun season as long as I'm still using a muzzleloader. Is that correct for Kansas? Obviously gun season will be the most crowded so that part would be tough but I think it is an option. The main reason why I'm going public is mostly because of funds. I just started my own business (Ten Point Roofing LLC) 8 months ago and I am budgeting hardcore & dumping profit back into the business for now. I have been to some great outfitters for elk out of state in the past but never done an out of state deer hunt. I think if I can be successful here, where it is not easy at all and they don't tend to grow mature, hopefully that will translate to success where the odds are higher of seeing a mature buck. I was just considering muzzleloader because of lower pressure and hoping to see more big bucks still possibly in bachelor groups coming out at last light to food and CRP fields. I know it's a ton of flat land so thinking it would be easier to get withing 250 yards with a muzzy rather 30 yards with a bow with little to no cover.
Looking at Units in the south central & south east this time. They seem to have plenty of land and does not seem as crowded as the units in the northeast closer to KC (at least based off of online research).
I do feel like Western Kansas would be better for lower pressure & muzzleloader but since I have so many points I'd rather shoot for a unit with a higher deer density this time and maybe in a few years go back and try one of those units and put in for mulie draw also. IDK maybe I will try for a mid November rut hunt with bow, Ive def got paralysis by analysis right now and probably overthinking it. Was up until 4am researching things last night and the peak rut daylight movement predictions are saying this year will be a more defined one and early starting around the 7th. Not sure if that will translate to Kansas but I've noticed the moon calendar is absolutely on point when combined with the right weather for daylight movement. Even if it's warm I'll typically see them in the am the week after a full moon.

 

[Pk_in_Dallas]

I did a Western Kansas muzzleloader hunt last year and they didn’t move till right before sunset or after. You better have a good bead on them if you are going all in on muzzy hunt.


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[RyanT26]

IMO the timing of muzzleloader season kinda sucks, seems like it’s always 85 with a hot south wind. There will be a lot crops still standing as well. You can kill them out of the Milo fields if you have access and can glass them. They won’t move much.
I would nudge you toward your archery plan.

 

[TonySkyline]

Thanks, I’m driving myself crazy trying to decide off of research and it seems like my choice is hunt hot muzzleloader season with little to no movement and maybe get a crack at one at last light (which seems less likely on public but I’d be putting in the mileage glassing) or deal with the overcrowding during bow season.. for those of you that do bow hunt public, is it really that bad there? I should draw any unit and looking at 14 since it’s the largest and offers more space and spots. Not to close to any big cities either. I know things got super crowded the last 3-5 years but I’ve been putting this off now for 2 years hoping the crowds might teeter off especially now that you can not use cell cams on public (I approve of this). My other thought is, put it off this year again and pay an outfitter next year but I had planned on Iowa next year zone 5 as I’ll have 5 or 6 points I think. Also what are the pay to hunt listings on the Kansas dept of wildlife page has posted? The list the WIHA & public lands then they have another section that says pay to hunt or something like that. It lists names and numbers.. I definitely won’t have the funds for a full on outfitter but if it’s pay to play for a few days and a lot less $ I’d be more inclined to give it a try


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[baz77]

I’ve been hunting Kansas pretty much every year since 2013 public used to be awesome until 2020 or so now every piece of walk in ground big or small is going to have have 2-3 guys hunting it pretty much every day from the last week of October until December. I quit hunting public out there after a miserable trip in 2023 just not worth it anymore imo. I did spring for a lease this year in the same area though….to give an example on what the pressure has become in a little 60 acre piece of walk in that I used to hunt has a creek going through it with maybe 10-15 yards of timber and brush along the creek the rest of the property is open field. This spot 5 guys setup along the creek trying to hunt deer passing through. Pre 2020 we wouldn’t see that many other hunters on all the walk in combined during last few days of October first couple of November.

 

[TonySkyline]

I’ve been hunting Kansas pretty much every year since 2013 public used to be awesome until 2020 or so now every piece of walk in ground big or small is going to have have 2-3 guys hunting it pretty much every day from the last week of October until December. I quit hunting public out there after a miserable trip in 2023 just not worth it anymore imo. I did spring for a lease this year in the same area though….to give an example on what the pressure has become in a little 60 acre piece of walk in that I used to hunt has a creek going through it with maybe 10-15 yards of timber and brush along the creek the rest of the property is open field. This spot 5 guys setup along the creek trying to hunt deer passing through. Pre 2020 we wouldn’t see that many other hunters on all the walk in combined during last few days of October first couple of November.

Kinda funny how that is right around the time Chris Bee did that video of the KS public land hunt killing that giant.. plus covid apparently got more people to start hunting similar to how inflation has people buying chickens at a rate that tractor supply can't even keep any in stock. Tried the other day because a pack of dogs or yotes got 4 of mine and the guy said every morning people wait in line and they are gone in the first 5 minutes.. Insane.

 

[Pk_in_Dallas]

Depends on where you’re going be hunting at in the state. The eastern half of the state during the rut will be busier but probably not as bad as you think. Anything close to Topeka, Wichita and moving closer to Kansas City will be crazy busy.


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[TonySkyline]

I decided to push it off 1 more year and grabbed myself and son another point (IDk why i did as I got 5 now). I got feedback from alot of people between here and AT, most did not have great thigs to say about the WIHA & public land areas so I'll now have some time to look into a lease or something off landtrust. I also thought I'd draw Iowa zone 5 with 5 points next year but point creep has made it 6 so Kansas next year, Iowa the year after. I am now considering Missouri, Kentucky, or maybe even Oklahoma this year (probably not OK after seeing the increase in NR license cost!).

 

[Long Cut]

All the YouTubers (The Hunting Public, Chris Bee, Seek One etc..) have made DIY Public Land hunting a fad…

In 2020 we were turkey hunting a local WMA on a Tuesday morning. We counted 11 trucks by 10AM on a place where we considered “busy” if we saw more than 4 other trucks.

We’re doing a DIY Kansas hunt in the future and it will not be on Public Land.

 

[Kurts86]

There is a pretty huge difference between public and private land in KS. Private land can be baiting over trail cams and public is no baiting or trail cams. That’s before you add the pressure and management side of things.

Kansas public land and Wiha is by no means high pressure by Eastern public land standards but it’s not private land good either. Lots of wiha is in CRP and has been emergency hayed due to drought in the western 2/3rds of the state the last few years eliminating public hunting bedding cover. KDWP is not a well funded department and KS is 49th/50 in % public land at 1.9%.

The better deer country is largely close to population centers in the eastern part of the state. Kansas as with Nebraska and the Dakotas has all the human population in the Eastern 1/4 of the state so the pressure feels more concentrated. Overall Kansas is very low on nonresident tag allocation so as much as people like to scapegoat nonresidents they aren’t a huge issue but there isn’t much or quality public access.

 

[TonySkyline]

Thanks for the input. That's along the lines of info that I've gathered. A lot of the WIHA is open fields with small parcels of creek beds or tiny woodlots which would make it hard for even 2-4 hunters to hunt without feeling crowded or blowing out that area rather quick. Originally I got excited when seeing these spots on Onx but the more I dove into them and got real feedback from people that have hunted there, the more I realized I should probably look into unfortunately leasing or going with an outfitter. At minimum I'll have a full year to look at it more and if things keep trending up for my business, I can actually afford to take enough time off to hunt public as much as possible to make it happen (I'd rather go public but have more time off or lease something rather than go with an outfitter). The logistics of flying in from the northeast is kind of a pain also and even worse if I did tag out so having more time might be the difference of me being able to drive at least one way.
Now, I might create a new post but has anyone hunted Missouri public? lol. I don't see nearly as much complaining on forums about it being overhunted. Looking at the North part of the state as that seems to be the ticket however also more hunted. I read that some parts have an 8 point restriction which I'm sure helps to see more mature bucks. I've also always wanted to head to Kentucky, was supposed to go back in 2018 but broke my hip a week before we were going to leave. Still hunted locally out of my climber that year which was pretty dumb in hindsight. So that's my plan B & C since A did not happen (unless I draw one of the eastern elk lotteries again).

 

[Sand Wrench]

September is miserable, lots of ticks and mosquitos. The deer are starting to put on winter coats, so daytime movement goes way down. If I was was in your shoes, I would go archery during the rut and just be a little more creative about where I hunted. There's always some overlooked spots. Good luck!

 

[Sandhills]

I never see anyone hunting black powder and while I do see people during archery I never see as many as during rifle. North Central Kansas. The deer move early and late during Black powder but I think they're easier to hunt