Kansas 2026-27 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
Kansas's listed 2026-27 firearm deer season runs Dec 2-13, 2026.
Muzzleloader White-tailed Deer opens Sep 14, 2026 and closes Sep 27, 2026.
Firearm/General Coyote opens Jan 1, 2026 and closes Dec 31, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Kansas KDWPT.
- firearm deer
- Dec 2-13, 2026
- archery deer
- Sep 14-27, 2026
- coyote
- Jan 1-Dec 31, 2026
Free Kansas wallpaper
Kansas 2026-27
Save to Photos → set as your lock screen. See all 50 states →
Get Kansas’s dates + next season’s wallpaper in your inbox
Key seasons by species
We summarize official agency information and link to the source for verification. Regulations can change, and zone details matter. Always confirm final dates, bag limits, permits, and legal requirements with Kansas KDWPT before hunting.
Deer
21 listed rowsWhite-tailed Deer
Youth and Disability
Sep 5-13, 2026
Youth 17 and younger with valid deer permit, under immediate supervision of adult 18+. Also open to persons with vehicle permit per K.A.R. 115-18-4 or disability assistance permit per K.A.R. 115-18-15. All resident and nonresident permits valid; equipment restrictions on permits apply. Hunter orange required.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader
Sep 14-27, 2026
Valid permits: Resident/Nonresident Muzzleloader Either-species/Either-sex, Resident Any-Season White-tailed Deer, Nonresident Muzzleloader White-tailed Deer, Hunt-Own-Land, Special Hunt-Own-Land, Antlerless White-tailed Deer, Antlerless Either-Species. Muzzleloader or archery equipment. Hunter orange required.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Sep 14-Dec 31, 2026
Zone: Fort Riley
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Sep 14-Dec 31, 2026
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Pre-rut Antlerless-only
Oct 10-12, 2026
Any permit allowing harvest of white-tailed antlerless deer is valid. Equipment and unit restrictions on permit apply. Hunter orange required.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Extended Pre-rut Firearm Antlerless Only
Oct 13-18, 2026
Unit 12 only.
Zone: Unit 12
White-tailed Deer
Firearm (First Segment)
Nov 14-15, 2026
Fort Leavenworth deer season in addition to DMU 19 season dates.
Zone: Ft. Leavenworth
White-tailed Deer
Firearm (Second Segment)
Nov 21-22, 2026
Fort Leavenworth deer season in addition to DMU 19 season dates.
Zone: Ft. Leavenworth
White-tailed Deer
Firearm (Third Segment)
Nov 26-29, 2026
Fort Leavenworth deer season in addition to DMU 19 season dates.
Zone: Ft. Leavenworth
White-tailed Deer
Regular Firearm
Dec 2-13, 2026
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Regular Firearm
Dec 2-13, 2026
Smoky Hill ANG Firearms Deer Season.
Zone: Smoky Hill
White-tailed Deer
Firearm (Fourth Segment)
Dec 5-6, 2026
Fort Leavenworth deer season in addition to DMU 19 season dates.
Zone: Ft. Leavenworth
Show 9 more deer rows
White-tailed Deer
Firearm (Fifth Segment)
Dec 12-13, 2026
Fort Leavenworth deer season in addition to DMU 19 season dates.
Zone: Ft. Leavenworth
White-tailed Deer
Firearm (First Segment)
Dec 19-23, 2026
Zone: Fort Riley
White-tailed Deer
Extended Firearm Antlerless Only
Jan 1-17, 2027
Fort Leavenworth extended firearm antlerless only season.
Zone: Ft. Leavenworth
White-tailed Deer
Extended Season - Firearms Antlerless Only
Jan 1-24, 2027
Firearm, whitetail antlerless only.
Zone: Units 10A, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 19
White-tailed Deer
Extended Season - Firearms Antlerless Only
Jan 1-17, 2027
Firearm, whitetail antlerless only.
Zone: Units 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 16
White-tailed Deer
Extended Season - Firearms Antlerless Only
Jan 1-10, 2027
January deer season - extended firearms whitetail antlerless only.
Zone: Unit 3
White-tailed Deer
Whitetail Antlerless Only (Follows Unit 8 dates)
Jan 1-17, 2027
Follows Unit 8 dates.
Zone: Fort Riley
White-tailed Deer
Archery - Extended Antlerless Only
Jan 18-31, 2027
Fort Leavenworth archery deer season extended, antlerless only.
Zone: Ft. Leavenworth
White-tailed Deer
Extended Season - Archery Antlerless Only
Jan 25-31, 2027
Valid permits: Resident/Nonresident Archery Either-species/Either-sex, Nonresident Archery White-tailed Deer, Resident Any-Season White-tailed Deer, Hunt-Own-Land (Unit 19), Special Hunt-Own-Land (Unit 19), Antlerless White-tailed Deer. Unit 10A is Ft. Leavenworth, open only to military personnel.
Zone: Unit 19
Turkey
Wild Turkey
Youth/Disabled
Apr 1-14, 2026
Spring turkey youth/disabled season. Open to hunters age 17 or younger under immediate supervision of adult 18+, and persons with qualifying disability. Resident permits available for Units 1,2,3,5,6; Unit 4 by lottery only. Non-resident by lottery for Units 1,2,3,5,6. No additional game tags in 2026.
Zone: Unit Specified on Permit
Wild Turkey
Archery Only
Apr 6-14, 2026
Legal equipment: recurve or compound bows and crossbows. Shooting hours: one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Dogs may not be used. Resident permits available for Units 1,2,3,5,6; Unit 4 by lottery only. No additional game tags in 2026.
Zone: Unit Specified on Permit
Wild Turkey
Regular (Firearm/Archery)
Apr 15-May 31, 2026
Spring turkey regular season. Legal equipment: shotguns using shot sizes 2-9; long, recurve or compound bows and crossbows. Shooting hours: one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. No dogs. Resident permits for Units 1,2,3,5,6; Unit 4 by lottery. Non-resident by lottery for Units 1,2,3,5,6. No additional game tags in 2026.
Zone: Unit Specified on Permit
Elk
Elk
Firearm (First Segment)
Aug 1-31, 2026
Elk season outside Fort Riley - firearm.
Zone: Unit(s) Specified on Permit (Outside Fort Riley)
Elk
Muzzleloader/Archery
Sep 1-30, 2026
Elk season muzzleloader and archery - Fort Riley.
Zone: Fort Riley
Elk
Muzzleloader
Sep 1-30, 2026
Elk season outside Fort Riley - muzzleloader.
Zone: Unit(s) Specified on Permit (Outside Fort Riley)
Elk
Archery
Sep 14-Dec 31, 2026
Elk season outside Fort Riley - archery.
Zone: Unit(s) Specified on Permit (Outside Fort Riley)
Elk
Firearm (First Segment)
Oct 1-31, 2026
Zone: Fort Riley
Elk
Firearm (Second Segment)
Nov 1-30, 2026
Zone: Fort Riley
Elk
Firearm (Third Segment)
Dec 1-31, 2026
Zone: Fort Riley
Elk
Firearm (Second Segment)
Dec 2-13, 2026
Elk season outside Fort Riley - firearm.
Zone: Unit(s) Specified on Permit (Outside Fort Riley)
Elk
Firearm (Fourth Segment)
Jan 1-31, 2027
Zone: Fort Riley
Elk
Firearm (Third Segment)
Jan 1-Mar 15, 2027
January elk season outside Fort Riley - firearm.
Zone: Unit(s) Specified on Permit (Outside Fort Riley)
Waterfowl
Canada Goose, Cackling Goose
Dark Geese - First Segment
Nov 1-2, 2025
Includes all geese except light and white-fronted. Stamps required: Kansas HIP Permit, State Waterfowl Stamp, Federal Duck Stamp.
Zone: Statewide
Canada Goose, Cackling Goose
Dark Geese - Second Segment
Nov 5, 2025-Feb 15, 2026
Includes all geese except light and white-fronted. Stamps required: Kansas HIP Permit, State Waterfowl Stamp, Federal Duck Stamp.
Zone: Statewide
Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove, Ringed Turtle Dove
General
Jan 1-Dec 31, 2026
Year-round. Any taken during migratory dove season in addition to mourning and white-winged dove daily bag must have a fully-feathered wing attached while being transported.
Zone: Statewide
Rabbit
Cottontail, Jackrabbit
Regular
Jan 1-Dec 31, 2026
All year season.
Zone: Statewide
Cottontail, Jackrabbit
General
Jan 1-Dec 31, 2026
Regular season all year statewide.
Zone: Statewide
Furbearer
Beaver, Otter
Trapping
Nov 12, 2025-Mar 31, 2026
Otter bag limits and management units apply. No open trapping or hunting season on any other furbearers.
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon, Opossum
Extended Hunting and Trapping
Mar 1-Nov 18, 2026
Furharvester license required. Only cage/box traps and dog-proof foot encapsulating traps allowed. Artificial light prohibited except as permitted for taking treed or trapped furbearers during general season.
Zone: Statewide
Migratory Birds
Crow
Regular
Nov 10, 2025-Mar 10, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Eurasian Collared Dove, Ringed Turtle Dove
Exotic Dove
Jan 1-Dec 31, 2026
Year-round season. Any taken during migratory dove season in addition to mourning/white-winged dove daily bag must have fully-feathered wing attached while transported.
Zone: Statewide
Teal
High Plains
Sep 20-28, 2025
Stamps required: Kansas HIP Stamp, State Waterfowl Stamp, Federal Waterfowl Stamp.
Zone: West of Hwy. U.S. 283
Pronghorn
Pronghorn Antelope
Archery
Sep 19-27, 2026
Zone: Units 2, 17, and 18
Pronghorn Antelope
Muzzleloader
Sep 28-Oct 5, 2026
Zone: Units 2, 17, or 18
Pronghorn Antelope
Firearm
Oct 2-5, 2026
Zone: Units 2, 17, or 18
Coyote
Coyote
Night Vision Permit (Second Segment)
Dec 15, 2025-Mar 31, 2026
Artificial light, scopes and equipment that amplify visible light, and thermal imaging scopes and equipment may be used Sept 1 thru March 31 except during antlered deer firearm seasons. Not permitted on department lands/waters including WIHA. Night Vision Equipment Permit required.
Zone: Statewide
Coyote
Firearm/General
Jan 1-Dec 31, 2026
No closed season. Motor vehicles and radios in vehicles may be used to hunt coyotes only. Furharvester license required to trap and sell; hunting license required to hunt and sell.
Zone: Statewide
Coyote
Regular
Jan 1-Dec 31, 2026
No closed season. Motor vehicles and radios in vehicles may be used to hunt coyotes only. Furharvester license required to trap and sell; hunting license required to hunt and sell.
Zone: Statewide
Other
Paddlefish
Snagging
Mar 15-May 15, 2026
Posted Areas Include: Inside city parks on the Neosho River in Chetopa and Burlington, Neosho River at Iola downstream from dam to city limits, Marais des Cygnes River below Osawatomie Dam downstream to posted boundary, Marais des Cygnes River from the upstream boundary of the Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area downstream to the Kansas-Missouri border, and the Browning Oxbow Lake of the Missouri River.
Zone: Posted Areas
Trout
General
Dec 1, 2025-Mar 31, 2026
Zone: Statewide
🎯 While you wait for opening day
Practice in Hunting Homestead
Build a property, plant food plots, and take shots with real ballistics in our free browser game. No download — season's always open.
Kansas Hunting Season FAQ
When does deer season start in Kansas?
September 5, 2026 is the first listed deer opener for Kansas; it is youth and disability white-tailed deer Sep 5-13, 2026.
When is Kansas's firearm deer season?
Dec 2-13, 2026 is the listed firearm deer window for Kansas. Check zone and permit details with Kansas KDWPT before hunting.
When does spring turkey open in Kansas?
A current spring turkey opener is not listed for Kansas yet. Check Kansas KDWPT for the latest turkey dates.
Do I need a license to hunt in Kansas?
Yes. Hunters generally need the appropriate Kansas hunting license, and some seasons may require tags, permits, stamps, or zone-specific authorizations. Confirm final requirements with Kansas KDWPT.