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The antelope, or more accurately, the pronghorn, is a unique species to North America. Historically, pronghorn ranged throughout the western three-fourths of Kansas and were considered nearly as numerous as bison. But by the late 1800s and early 1900s, unregulated harvest reduced pronghorn to the western border of the state. Trap and transplant efforts were initiated in 1964 in Wallace and Sherman counties. Later (1978-1983), pronghorn were reintroduced into Barber, Comanche, Ellsworth, Saline, Gove, and Morton counties. A Flint Hills population of pronghorns was also established in Chase County with releases in 1978 and 1979, 1982 and 1983, and 1991 and 1992. The western Kansas reintroductions were successful. There are about 2,000 pronghorn in the westernmost two to three tiers of counties. A few pronghorn roam Barber County, and 50 or so remain in the Flint Hills, which was the eastern edge of the historic pronghorn range in the U.S. None remain in Ellsworth and Saline counties.
As the landscape becomes more intensely developed and modified, it becomes more and more difficult to find space for larger animals like pronghorn, and landscape changes such as the loss of native prairie (to agriculture, urbanization, and tree growth resulting from fire suppression) have not been favorable for pronghorn. Even fences can present a significant barrier to pronghorn movement and survival. As a result of these things, the amount of good pronghorn habitat is limited in Kansas. Even areas with extensive native grassland like parts of central Kansas that might appear to be suitable for pronghorn have seen reintroduced animals dwindle or disappear. There is a healthy population of pronghorn in Kansas, but they are primarily restricted to the west.
The first pronghorn hunting season in Kansas occurred in 1974. Nearly 500 hunters applied for the 80 permits available. Seventy pronghorns were harvested. Today, hunting is restricted to three management units that include parts or all of Sherman, Thomas, Wallace, Logan, Gove, Trego, Greeley, Wichita, Scott, Lane, Ness, Hamilton, Kearny, Finney, Gray, Hodgeman, Ford, Stanton, Grant, Haskell, Morton, Stevens, Seward, Meade and Clark counties. Firearms and muzzleloader permits are limited to residents only, and about 170 permits are authorized each year. Archery hunters can purchase pronghorn permits over the counter.
When demand for limited-draw permits increase at a rate greater than permits are made available, the amount of preference points required to draw that permit can "creep up" or grow over time.
In an effort to mitigate "point creep" for limited-draw antelope permits in Kansas, the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission approved the following change in September 2022:
Antelope hunters may either purchase an over-the-counter archery permit or purchase a preference point/apply for the antelope firearms/muzzleloader limited draw permits.
2025 Antelope Application Deadline: June 13, 2025
Preference points can only be purchased during the application period.
Western portions of the state have a limited competitive draw for firearm and muzzleloader permits. These permits have a unit number printed on it and you are required to hunt within that geographic area. Be sure to consult the maps before hunting.
All applications will need to be submitted thru the online application process.
Applicants must apply online from May 13 thru June 13, 2025 or by phone 1-833-587-2164.
All fees listed below will have an internet convenience fee added at time of applying online for a permit or preference point.
A preference point will be given to those applicants who are unsuccessful in the Resident Draw. If you do not want to apply for a permit and want to purchase a preference point only, select preference point only online at Go Outdoors Kansas for $12.50 from May 13 thru June 13, 2025. Only one preference point may be obtained per year. Preference points can only be purchased during the application period.
Preference points remain on file for 5 years from last date a point was issued or purchased. If applicant fails to make at least one application or purchase one point within five consecutive years, all earned preference points will be reset to zero.
The group hunt application is to accommodate those who do not want to hunt unless their hunting partners draw also. Applicants (up to 5) must apply for the same unit and the same weapon choice. Each person will make application and there will be a question on the application about groups.
The first applicant in the group to apply would select the create group option on this question. This will create a group and you will be given a group number.
Each applicant applying after the group has been set up would select the join group option and they would fill in the Group number. Applicant will be asked at the time of application to select the choice of permit delivery (print and mail, or electronic delivery to the mobile app Go Outdoors Kansas.
The overall group will be drawn from the lowest preference point in the group.
The credit card provided will be used to pay for the total price of the award permits at the time of the draw if this application is selected as a winner for the hunt.
Any members added by the leader will be charged on the leader's credit card by default. Credit card information for each applicant can be modified after the application is submitted.
Antelope hunters may either purchase an over-the-counter archery permit or purchase a preference point/apply for the antelope firearms/muzzleloader limited draw permits.
Open Archery antelope permits have been available to residents since 1990. Recent annual sales have averaged about 115 resident archery permits, and with a 10 to 12 percent success rate among archery hunters, harvest impact on the pronghorn population by archery hunters has been minimal.
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In awarding antelope permits, the first priority shall be given to those individuals who have earned the highest number of preference points. Preference points will be awarded as follows:
All individuals, regardless of land ownership and age, must have in possession a valid permit to hunt antelope. In addition to the antelope permit, a valid Kansas resident hunting license is required (unless exempt by Kansas law).
Members of the armed services on active duty who were Kansas residents at the time of entering the service, and immediate family members living with them, are considered to be residents. Members of the armed services on active duty and officially stationed in Kansas may purchase resident licenses and permits, except for lifetime licenses.
A nonresident who is a registered full-time student in residence of a public or private secondary, post secondary, or vocational school located in this state may purchase resident licenses and permits, except lifetime licenses. Nonresident students must carry evidence of being a full-time student while hunting.
Any holder of a Kansas lifetime license (hunt or combination hunt/fish) who has moved from the state may apply for an antelope permit as a resident.
Anyone born on or after July 1, 1957, must complete an approved hunter education course before hunting in Kansas, and until age 27 must carry a certificate verifying course completion while hunting. Persons hunting on their own land are exempt from this requirement.
Only one application per person may be submitted. Any permit obtained by an individual through false representation, misrepresentation, or in excess of the number of permits authorized shall be invalid from the date of issuance.
There is no minimum age to apply for and receive a big game (deer, elk, antelope) permit.
Visit Hunter Education to learn more.
The state is divided into three management units for firearms/muzzleloader and one management unit for archery hunting. Your permit has a unit number printed on it and you are required to hunt within that geographic area. Be sure to consult the maps before hunting.
All permits sold during season shall not be valid until the next calendar day.
Refund Policy - Refunds can be issued for the following:
Permits are not transferable.
It is illegal:
Blinds and stands may be used on department lands, subject to posted requirements and under the following conditions:
Trail or game cameras, and baiting, are prohibited on public lands and Walk-in Hunting Access (WIHA) and iWIHA areas.
Any resident of Kansas not qualified as a landowner/tenant. Any person who has maintained the person's place of permanent abode in this state for a period of 60 days immediately preceding the person's application for any license, permit, stamp or other issue of the department. Domiciliary intent is required to establish that a person is maintaining the person's place of permanent abode in this state. Mere ownership of property is not sufficient to establish domiciliary intent. Evidence of domiciliary intent includes, without limitation, the location where the person votes or obtains a driver's license.
Residency for Lifetime License Applicants: K.S.A. 32-930(b) provides that a person shall have maintained that person's place of permanent abode in Kansas for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the person's application for a lifetime fishing, hunting or furharvester or combination hunting and fishing license.
Members of the Armed Services: Members of the Armed Services on active duty who were Kansas residents at the time of entering the service, and immediate family members living with them, are considered to be residents. Members of the armed services on active duty and officially stationed in Kansas may purchase resident licenses and permits, except for lifetime licenses.
American Indian License
To qualify and be issued a Kansas Indian License, a person must be:
If your birthday falls within the statutes for required hunter education and fur harvesting education you must have proof of education before being accepted.
National Guard Permit: The legislature appropriated $266,000 to provide free Hunting and Fishing licenses to active members of the Kansas National Guard.
Nonresident Student: A nonresident who is a registered full-time student in residence at a public or private secondary, post secondary, or vocational school located in this state may purchase resident licenses and permits, except lifetime licenses. Student must carry evidence of being a full-time student while hunting.
Lifetime License: Any holder of a Kansas lifetime license (hunt or combination hunt and fish) who has moved from the state may apply for a any Permit as a resident.
Youth 17 years of age or younger who possess a valid hunting license (unless exempt by Kansas law) may hunt during any Youth/Disability season while under the immediate supervision of an adult 18 years of age or older. Permit holders hunting the youth/disability season may also hunt the regular season.
If you are resident and 75 years of age or older, you are not required to purchase a hunting license.
A landowner is any resident who owns 80 acres or more of Kansas farm or ranch land. When applying for a landowner/tenant permit, land owned must be in the unit applying for.
A tenant is any resident or nonresident who is actively engaged in the agricultural operation of 80 acres or more of Kansas farm or ranch land for the purpose of producing agricultural commodities or livestock and
Evidence of tenancy, if requested, shall be provided to the department and may include, but is not limited to, Natural Resource Conservation Service records, Farm Service Agency records, or written agricultural contract or lease documentation. Land must be located in the unit you are applying for to qualify.
Members of the immediate family who are domiciled with a resident landowner or tenant may apply for a resident big game permit as a landowner or as a tenant, but at least 80 acres must be owned by such landowner or operated by such tenant for each individual applying as a landowner or as a tenant.
Those persons not meeting the requirements of a resident as defined above.
Each permittee shall possess an appropriate carcass tag while hunting big game. Except for an elk taken under an "any elk" permit, the head of the harvested animal shall accompany the carcass while in transit from the site of the kill to the permittee's residence or to a place of processing or preservation. Any legally acquired meat may be given to and possessed by another, if a dated written notice that includes the donor's printed name, signature, address, and permit number accompanies the meat. The person receiving the meat shall retain the notice until the meat is consumed, given to another, or otherwise disposed of.
A Kansas resident hunting license is required (unless exempt by Kansas law) to herd or drive big game for a permit holder.
Permanently disabled persons in possession of an archery permit may use crossbows or locking draws while hunting antelope, as permitted under KAR 115-18-7, by application and special permit. Any person with a permanent physical or visual disability that prevents the person's ability to hunt safely, as certified by a physician, may be eligible to obtain a permit to designate someone else to take a legal limit of game for the permit holder. However, a permittee who is, because of disability, unable to pursue a wounded big game animal may designate any individual to assist in pursuing and dispatching a big game animal wounded by the disabled permittee. For more information or application contact the KS Dept. of Wildlife & Parks Pratt office.
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