First trip to Kansas

U

UtGunner

New member
Hey guys..... I was trying to get some info and would really appreciate a bit of help. I have a love of Pheasant hunting that borders on crazy ! or thats according to my wife :) Anyway I have only hunted in Utah my whole life, this year I have some money together for out of state and have been thinking Kansas. Now from reading the forum on here for last while, it seems that the drought is hitting hard and its been said that it will hurt the Pheasants, but I gotta tell ya coming from a state where 5 days of hunting usually only see 3 or 4 birds (and thats in the best habitat we have left) and all those birds are hens. Even your worst season has got to be better then that. Anyway I am not looking for anyones "Spots" but I was wondering where you all think would be the best area/counties to check on. I have been reading you guys saying West Kansas is worst off right now, is that true or would it be worth looking at. Also I have looked and havent seen anything about Public area maps or anything. I would GREATLY appreciate ANY info. shoot me a PM if you dont want anything on public forum.
And thank you
 
I hunted around Grainfield Ks. and had a blast last year. I hunted both public and guided. PM Gove Count Brits he is on the site. I am allready scheculed to go back this year.

Jeff
 
Check the drought patterns somewhere on the internet. It looks to me like you should hunt north of I-70. Go to the KDWPT website and look at the WIHA (walk in) atlases to see what areas have plenty of walk-in acres to hunt. I would not hunt farther east than Phillips Co. Good luck and tell us about your hunt.
 
Look in the Colorado regional forum and Blue bijou is posting drought index updates. It'll give you a good idea of what part of the state to start looking in.
 
If you're serious about your wife not loving you hunting, my recommendation is to wait until it's worth the drive, time and money. I just returned from Western and Central Kansas. It's going to be really tough this year. There will be a few birds, sure, but my guess is that the diminished numbers won't dissuade too many hunters from trying anyways.

If you really want to go this year, head to South Dakota. It's just as far and expensive, but more likely to produce some good hunts.
 
i would have to agree, although there will be pockets of birds in Kansas, overall this is going to be a significantly down year, by any one's standards.

SD or ND would really be better time spent, especially if you have far to travel or kids who want to have some chances to bag birds everyday, without walking from here to hell and back, cause that, for the most part, will be hunting in Kansas this fall.......not sayin' you shouldn't come to Kansas, but a reality check is truly in order this year...the heat and dry conditions continue to be brutal for all wildlife.
 
We will have birds but as all are saying, its not going to be the greatest year in much of the state.
 
Given the weather pattern we've had recently (nearly a year), I would have to agree with the other posters and suggest you try the Dakota's this year if anything. Sure, they had a hard winter, but my belief is that pheasants are far more resilient to cold and snow than they are of drought and lack of habitat (i.e. crops).

It's been a bad year for the farmers out in Western Kansas this year.
 
-Wildcat- said:
Given the weather pattern we've had recently (nearly a year), I would have to agree with the other posters and suggest you try the Dakota's this year if anything. Sure, they had a hard winter, but my belief is that pheasants are far more resilient to cold and snow than they are of drought and lack of habitat (i.e. crops).

It's been a bad year for the farmers out in Western Kansas this year.
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I haven't traveled out of KS for a couple of years now b/c our population has been so good.

I'm taking my vacation and heading up to MT or ND this year.
 
Thanks

I just wanted to thank everyone who posted and pm'd me information. I guess this is not looking like the year to go to Kansas, I sure hope you guys get some moisture for your crops though !!

Maybe I will look a little closer to home and check out a bit on Eastern Colorado.
 
Hate to think that you won't be spending some of your hard earned money in Kansas, but the pheasant crop is what it is and we can't change it. Do put us on your travel plans in a better year.

All the best,
 
M. R. Byrd said:
Hate to think that you won't be spending some of your hard earned money in Kansas, but the pheasant crop is what it is and we can't change it. Do put us on your travel plans in a better year.

All the best,
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Ditto. We'd hate for this year to be your first experience in KS cuz it's gonna be tough. The good news is, in recent memory the pheasant population has rebounded from their "slumps" rather quickly. If nesting conditions are good next spring, they could come right back. If not.....let's not talk about that;)
 
UtGunner, hope you get the chance to visit Kansas down the road. There are lots of good local folks, great food, and even good pheasant hunting except for this year. Those birds have a way of rebounding pretty fast as KB mentioned. Good luck.
 
dito on everyone's comments.......normally the Kansas experience is top notch, good hunting, good people, good down home cookin' to be found in a lot of small towns too......wait and come when you can have it all...good luck.
 
Well thank ya sir :) no worries, I am sure I will drop by when things pic up, just want my first out of state to be rememorable for the best reasons.:thumbsup:
 
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