Our new website is live, but you may see a few areas in transition as we continue organizing and updating content. Site search will be limited at first while Google updates its index, but results will improve over time. If you’re looking for a quick starting point, try the How Do I… section on the home page to jump straight to common actions.
Two deer species thrive in Kansas – the mule deer and the white-tailed deer. Mule deer are restricted to the western one-third of the state, primarily on the High Plains, Smoky Hills, and Red Hills regions. As you travel west to east, mule deer are less abundant, and whitetail numbers increase.
White-tailed deer can be found virtually statewide wherever suitable habitat exists, and there is excellent potential for trophy-sized bucks in all regions. Whitetails have adapted well to Kansas’ modern landscape, finding cover in natural woodlands, shelterbelts, old homesteads and grasslands, and abundant food in cropfields.
You must have both a valid hunting license and a deer permit to hunt deer in Kansas.
Resident hunters ages 16–74 must have a resident hunting license, unless exempt by Kansas law. (Residents age 75+ do not need a hunting license.)
All nonresident hunters must have a nonresident hunting license, regardless of age.
A deer permit is also required for all hunters. Permit availability and requirements differ for residents and nonresidents.
No hunter may purchase more than one permit that allows the harvest of an antlered deer.
All nonresident deer permits are issued through a lottery (draw).
Some resident permits are issued through a lottery. The Resident Any‑Deer Firearms Permit is allocated through a draw. Most other resident permits, such as archery, whitetail any‑season, and antlerless permits, are available over the counter.
Preference points can only be purchased during the specified application periods. Preference points increase your chances of drawing a deer permit in future years. Each year you choose to purchase a preference point instead of applying for a permit, you accumulate one point. In draw years, hunters with more points have a higher likelihood of being selected. (Points are used only in the nonresident deer draw and the resident antelope draw.)
Resident permits are generally available August 5-December 31, with draw-only permit applications accepted during a specified timeframe, generally in May or June.
Non-resident permit applications areaccepted during a specified timeframe, generally inApril.
All hunters (resident and nonresident) born on or after July 1, 1957 must be hunter‑education certified to hunt in Kansas.
Use the expandable sections below to view information for each permit type.
You can also purchase licenses and permits at most Kansas Department of Wildlife and Park offices, by calling 1-833-587-2164 between 6am and 9pm, or from one of more than 600 license vendors located around the state.
Hunter applies in one unit and selects one adjacent unit to also hunt, as well as the season choice (archery, muzzleloader, or firearm) at the time of application. Muzzleloader permit holders may hunt during early muzzleloader season and regular firearm season using muzzleloader equipment only.
Applicant will be asked at the time of application to select the choice of permit delivery.
The group hunt application is available for both resident and non-resident draw-only permits 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.
We’ve highlighted a few important deer‑specific regulations to help you prepare for your hunt. This overview is meant as a helpful guide, not a complete list of Kansas hunting laws. Learn more about Kansas outdoor regulations and statutes.
Hunter Education
All hunters (resident and nonresident) born on or after July 1, 1957 must be hunter‑education certified to hunt in Kansas. Anyone under 27 years old must carry their hunter education card while hunting. The minimum age for certification is 11 years, and youth 12-15 who have completed hunter education may hunt without adult supervision (except during youth seasons when adult supervision is required regardless of hunter education). Learn more about Hunter Education.
There is no minimum age to apply for and receive a big game (deer, elk, antelope) permit.
Firearm permit holders may hunt with any legal equipment during the firearm season. Muzzleloader permit holders may only hunt with muzzleloading or archery equipment during the muzzleloader and firearm seasons. Archery permit holders may only use archery equipment during the archery season, even during days that overlap the muzzleloader or regular firearm season. Learn more about legal deer hunting equipment.
All deer hunters and persons assisting them must wear orange during an open firearm or muzzleloader season. An orange hat and at least 200 square inches of orange is required. Of this, 100 square inches must be visible from the front and 100 square inches must be visible from the back on the upper half of the body. Camouflage orange providing the required orange is legal.
Wild game processors are exempt from registration or regulation under Kansas law with the Kansas Department of Agriculture. This is complementary list of known deer processors across the state and may not be all inclusive. This list also include processors who are affiliated with the Hunters Feeding the Hungry organization.
Electronic Registration
A voluntary option for transporting harvested deer allows hunters to register their harvested deer through the Internet, using photos taken at the harvest site. This is not a telephone registration system, and it is not required unless you want to transport your deer without evidence of sex attached. (Without this system, deer taken with antlerless-only permits must have the head attached until it arrives at a commercial place of processing, preservation, or the permit holder's residence.)
Once a registration confirmation number has been obtained or the hunter retains the photographs necessary for electronic registration later, the hunter may then transport the carcass without the head or evidence of sex being attached.
For complete directions on this process, go to the Electronic Deer Check-in Application.
Last season's quotas and draw outcomes can provide useful context for planning your application strategy, but they’re offered here for reference only. Permit numbers and draw odds can change from year to year.
| Management Unit | 2025 Resident either Species, either Sex Firearms Deer Permit |
Permits Authorized | # of Leftover Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| WMD (Units 1,2,17,18) | Either Species, either Sex | 959 | |
| EMD (Units 3,4,5,7,16) | Either Species, either Sex | 57 |
| Management Unit | 2025 Nonresident Deer Permit Type | Permits Authorized | # Of Leftover Permits | Date Leftover Permits Sold Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Whitetail Either Sex | 451 | ||
| Unit 1 | Mule Deer Stamp | 24 | ||
| Unit 2 | Whitetail Either Sex | 313 | ||
| Unit 2 | Mule Deer Stamp | 19 | ||
| Unit 3 | Whitetail Either Sex | 739 | ||
| Unit 4 | Whitetail Either Sex | 454 | ||
| Unit 5 | Whitetail Either Sex | 659 | ||
| Unit 6 | Whitetail Either Sex | 589 | ||
| Unit 7 | Whitetail Either Sex | 1474 | ||
| Unit 8 | Whitetail Either Sex | 1870 | ||
| Unit 9 | Whitetail Either Sex | 1182 | ||
| Unit 10 | Whitetail Either Sex | 1339 | ||
| Unit 11 | Whitetail Either Sex | 3523 | ||
| Unit 12 | Whitetail Either Sex | 2193 | ||
| Unit 13 | Whitetail Either Sex | 636 | ||
| Unit 14 | Whitetail Either Sex | 2019 | ||
| Unit 15 | Whitetail Either Sex | 1658 | ||
| Unit 16 | Whitetail Either Sex | 1765 | ||
| Unit 17 | Whitetail Either Sex | 619 | ||
| Unit 17 | Mule Deer Stamp | 38 | ||
| Unit 18 | Whitetail Either Sex | 241 | ||
| Unit 18 | Mule Deer Stamp | 19 |
Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.
