Youth must apply for the September deer hunts by July 29
Looking for a hunting experience without the crowds in some of Kansas’ most unique locations? The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Special Hunts program provides limited access to areas not normally open to hunting.
Some of these special hunts are scheduled for the first two weekends in September for youth at the Grand Osage Wildlife Area east of Parsons at the Great Plains Industrial Park. One youth on each weekend will be able to harvest deer of either sex. On the same weekends, five youth each weekend can harvest an antlerless deer. These youth can bring a friend for the antlerless hunts.
While access through the program is free, hunters must still meet all licensing and permit requirements under Kansas law.
Opportunities for deer, upland game, waterfowl, dove and furbearers will be offered, with hunts taking place on a mix of public lands, parks, private lands and other select areas. Managers, biologists, landowners and partners offer these hunts with safety, management and positive relationships in mind.
All fall and winter special hunt opportunities are available through a single application period, open now through July 29. Details of each special hunt and application details are available at ksoutdoors.com/ Hunting/Special-Hunts-Information. Successful applicants will be selected through a random drawing.
“The Special Hunts program offers hunters unique opportunities to access generally restricted areas under certain conditions. Whether public land or private, because access is limited for safety and management reasons, these hunts can be high-quality experiences for a wide range of hunters,” said Brian Serpan, KDWP Public Lands regional supervisor. “The Special Hunts program does not guarantee a successful hunt or large numbers of wildlife, but it provides a great opportunity to introduce someone to hunting, explore a new area, and enjoy the Kansas outdoors.”
Both Kansas residents and non-resident hunters can apply, though some hunts are restricted to residents only. When applying online, hunters will select hunts by species, date, and one of four hunt type categories: open, youth, mentor, or disabled.
Open Hunts are available to all applicants with no age or experience restrictions.
Youth Hunts require each hunting party to include at least one hunter age 17 or younger, accompanied by a non-hunting adult age 18 or older. Some hunts may have more specific age requirements.
Mentor Hunts are designed for youth and novice hunters supervised by a licensed adult mentor age 18 or older. Both the novice and mentor may hunt, unless otherwise specified.
Disabled Hunts are intended for hunters with disabilities. Some hunts may have specific eligibility requirements.
The drawing of applicants will take place in early August, and all applicants will be notified by email in mid-August. Successful applicants will receive their hunt permit and any additional details via email.
Hunters are responsible for purchasing any licenses, permits, tags, or stamps required by law, and must have completed a certified hunter education course unless exempt. Nonresident deer hunters must have drawn a Kansas deer permit earlier in the year to be eligible for deer special hunts.
In Labette County, dove season opens Sept. 1 and hunters will have access to Grand Osage, where an 80-acre sunflower field will have provided a food source for the dove and other wildlife. Another open hunting time will be Saturday, Sept. 6. Additional hunting days may be added after this. Hunters must meet at the gate house between 5:30 and 7 a.m. on hunt days to be escorted to the field. The field will be closed down at 10 a.m.
See HUNT, Page 3.
Last year, staff at the Grand Osage Wildlife Area east of Parsons began using a scarecrow of sorts to keep deer out of a sunflower field that is used to feed dove and other wildlife. The device turns on every hour for 15 seconds and has lights to create an eerie effect at night. Staff says the device has detered deer from consuming the young sunflower plants, allowing most to grow to maturity. Courtesy photo
on those days.
Special Hunts for youth are scheduled for Sept. 6-7 and Sept. 13-14 at the Grand Osage. There are opportunities for one youth to take any sex deer and an antlerless deer on each of those dates and an opportunity for 10 other youth hunters to take antlerless deer only on those dates.
Other special hunts this fall: Oct. 11-12: Six antlerless deer hunts by draw, open to all ages.
Nov. 1-8: Twenty either sex deer hunts for archery only. Hunters must be 18 years of age or older.
Nov. 9-17: Twenty either sex deer hunts for archery only. Hunters must be 18 years of age or older.
Nov. 18-26: Fifteen either sex deer hunts for archery only. Hunters must be 18 years of age or older.
The Grand Osage Wildlife Area consists of 3,000 acres. Additional acreage in the GPIP property is available for hunting via agreement with KDWP. The property remains gated for security purposes.
For more information, visit https://programs. ksoutdoors.com/Programs/Special-Hunts/2025-Fall-Winter-Hunts.
Hunters may also contact Ty Gatton, Kansas habitat specialist for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever at [email protected] or by calling (620) 778-5624.
