The Guide to the Kansas Hunting Seasons 2025

For hunters who plan a year full of hunting, you'll also find plenty of opportunities to hunt turkey, waterfowl, antelope, and elk.

So, what do you need to know to plan your Kansas hunting seasons? Use this guide to learn about season dates, hunting licenses, bag limits, and more. We'll also help you find the best public or private land for a successful hunt.

Updated June 10, 2025

Why Do Hunters Hunt in Kansas?

You'll find a wide variety of game to hunt and plenty of land to hunt it on in Kansas. The state offers 300,000 acres of public land, plus landowners make another million acres available to hunters throughout the year.

Pheasant season in Kansas brings out local and out-of-state hunters for the experience, as it's some of the best bird hunting in the U.S. However, if your focus is big game, it's a great state for an antelope, elk, or deer hunt.

Where Should I Hunt?

Kansas divides the state into five regions. Season dates can vary throughout each region and the Kansas hunting units.

The state is relatively flat, except for some low rolling hills. Depending on what you hunt, you'll navigate agricultural fields, plains, trees, creeks, and lakes.

With HuntWise, you can scout the land to find the best places (and permissions) for your hunt. Our layers, 3-D maps, and public/private boundary lines help you visualize various hunt areas so you're prepared for any hunt, any season.

When Can I Hunt?

The Kansas hunting seasons are fairly simple to navigate, so planning your year is less of a challenge than actually bringing down the game you're after.  

Please note that the season information we provide here is the latest available from the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks (KDWP). We'll update this guide with new season information as it becomes available.

We also recommend revisiting official resources for the latest hunting season dates to catch any information that may have changed.  

Kansas Deer Hunting Season

• Youth/Disabled: September 6 – 14, 2025

• Muzzleloader: September 15 – 28, 2025

• Archery: September 15 – December 31, 2025

• Pre-Rut Whitetail Antlerless Firearm: October 11 – 13, 2025

• Extended Pre-Rut Whitetail Antlerless Firearm (Unit 12 Only): October 14 – 19, 2025

• Regular Firearm: December 3 – 14, 2025

• Extended Firearm Whitetail Antlerless Only (Locations TBD): January 1 – 11, 2026

• Extended Firearm Whitetail Antlerless Only (Locations TBD): January 1 – 4, 2026

• Special Extended Firearm Whitetail Antlerless Only (Locations TBD): January 1 – 18, 2026

• Extended Archery Whitetail Antlerless Only (Units 19 and 10A): January 19 – 31, 2026

Military Base Deer Seasons

• Fort Leavenworth Firearm: November 6 – 17, 23 – 24, November 28 – December 1, December 7 – 8, and 14 – 15

• Fort Leavenworth Extended Firearm Whitetail Antlerless-Only: January 1 – 19, 2025

• Fort Leavenworth Extended Archery Whitetail Antlerless-Only: January 20-31, 2025

• Smoky Hill Air National Guard Firearm: December 4 – 15

• Fort Riley Firearm: December 14 – 22

• Fort Riley Whitetail Antlerless-Only Firearm: November 29 – December 1

Antelope

Draw Application Deadline: June 13, 2025

• Archery (Resident and Non-resident): September 20 – 28, 2025

• Muzzleloader: September 29 – October 6, 2025

• Firearm: October 3 – 6, 2025

Elk

Draw Application Deadline: June 13, 2025

Unit 2A (on Fort Riley)

• Muzzleloader & Archery: September 1 – 30, 2025

• Either-Sex Firearm: October 1 – December 31

• Antlerless-Only Firearm:

  • First Segment: October 1 – 31, 2025

  • Second Segment: November 1 – 30, 2025

  • Third Segment: December 1 – 31, 2025

  • Fourth Segment: January 1 – 31, 2026

Units 2 and 3 (outside Fort Riley)

• Muzzleloader: September 1 – 30, 2025

• Archery: September 15 – December 31, 2025

• Firearm: 

  • 1st Segment: August 1 – 31, 2025

  • 2nd Segment: December 3 – 14, 2025

  • 3rd Segment: January 1 – March 15, 2026

Turkey

Spring

• Youth/Disabled: April 1 – 15, 2025

• Archery: April 7 – 15, 2025

• Regular: April 16 – May 31, 2025

Game Birds

• Greater Prairie Chicken: September 15, 2025 – January 31, 2026

• Pheasant: November 8, 2025 – January 31, 2026

• Quail: November 8, 2025 – January 31, 2026

Small Game

• Squirrel (Gray and Fox): June 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026

• Rabbit/Hare: Year-round

• Bullfrog: July 1 – October 31, 2025

Migratory Game Birds

• September Teal:

  • High Plains Unit: September 21 – 29

  • Low Plains Unit: September 14 – 29

• Duck, Coot, Merganser:

  • High Plains Zone: October 12 – January 5, 2025 and January 17 – 25, 2025

  • Low Plains Early Zone: October 12 – December 8 and December 21 – January 5, 2025

  • Low Plains Late Zone: October 26 – December 29 and January 18 – 26, 2025

• Dark Geese (Statewide): October 26 – 27 and November 6 – February 16, 2025

• Light Geese (Statewide): October 26 – 27 and November 6 – February 16, 2025

• Spring Conservation Order (Statewide, White and Blue Phase of Snow and Ross Geese): February 17 – April 30, 2025

• Dove (Statewide):

  • Migratory: September 1 – November 29

  • Exotic: Year-round

• Rail (Statewide): September 1 – November 9

• Snipe (Statewide): September 1 – December 16

• Woodcock (Statewide): October 12 – November 25

• Crow (Statewide): November 10 – March 10, 2025

• Sandhill Crane:

  • West Zone: October 19 – December 15

  • Central Zone: November 6 – January 2, 2025

Youth, Veteran, Active Military (Duck, Coot, Merganser, Dark & Light Geese):

• High Plains Zone: October 5 – 6

• Low Plains Early Zone: October 5 – 6

• Low Plains Late Zone: October 19 – 20

• Low Plains Southeast Zone: November 2 – 3

Coyote

Year-round. Night-vision Permit Season: January 1 – March 31, 2025

Visit the KDWP website for more information about season dates for hunting and trapping.

What Do I Need to Know About Kansas Hunting Regulations?

All hunters born on or after July 1, 1957 (and are 16 years old or older) must pass a hunter education course before getting a hunting license. Then, you can purchase the license for the game you plan to hunt.

Choose the license that applies to your hunt and whether you are a resident or non-resident. Purchase licenses online through the KSOutdoors website.

What are the Bag Limits?

How many pheasants, deer, or turkeys can you bring home this year? To comply with the laws for the Kansas hunting seasons, make sure you know the bag limits for every animal on your list to hunt. 

Here's a brief overview of the state's bag limits.

Deer

Permit based

Dark Geese

6 per day (3x the daily limit in possession)

Antelope

1 antelope either-sex 

Light Geese

50 per day (no possession limit)

Elk

1 bull, spike, cow, or calf (depending on the permit)

Spring Conservation Order

No limits

Turkey

1 turkey with visible beard per permit

Dove (Migratory)

15 per day (3x the daily limit in possession)

Greater Prairie Chicken

2 per day (4x daily limit in possession)

Dove (Exotic)

No limits

Pheasant

4 cocks per day (4x daily limit in possession)

Rail

25 per day (3x the daily limit in possession)

Quail

8 per day (4x daily limit in possession)

Snipe

8 per day (3x the daily limit in possession)

Squirrel

5 per day (20 in possession)

Woodcock

3 per day (3x the daily limit in possession)

Rabbit/Hare

10 per day (40 in possession)

Crow

No limits

September Teal

6 per day (3x the daily limit in possession)

Sandhill Crane

3 per day (3x the daily limit in possession)

Duck and Merganser

6 per day (3x the daily limit in possession)

Bullfrog

8 per day (24 in possession)

Coot

15 per day (3x the daily limit in possession)

Coyote 

No limits

What Else Do I Need Before I Can Hunt?

Whether you're excited about pheasant hunting season in Kansas or you're planning your annual whitetail hunt with your buddies this season, you need the right gear!

Successful hunts require the right clothing (whether you're looking for new early-season clothing or thinking ahead to late-season hunts), a sharp hunting knife, good binoculars, and a good rifle for firearm seasons.

Don't forget: HuntWise app users save money when getting geared up! Use exclusive gear discounts through our app partners to save hundreds on gear.

Get Ready for the Kansas Hunting Seasons with HuntWise

We hope this guide helps you plan your hunts in Kansas this year — but don't forget to check official resources for the latest details.

Do you have everything you need for success? Make sure you have the HuntWise hunting app! Our maps, layers, and forecasting features give you an advantage over other hunters while increasing your chances of a successful day in the field.

Plus, Elite subscribers enjoy access to more tools in the app, including up to 15 days of weather and animal activity forecasting.

Download the app and start your free trial to get ahead of the game (and other hunters) before opening day!

Content most recently reviewed and updated for the latest season dates and details June 10, 2026.