Kansas Mule Deer 2013

[Brady]

My dad drew a unit 1&2 KS mulie tag for this fall on his first try. I am taking him on this hunt as a thank you for taking me hunting my whole life, I'm 27 y/o and he is 61. We are planning on using USO outfitters. This is a muzzleloader hunt and we can go in either Sept or Nov, whenever they find us a big one.

Have any of you hunted western KS? Any tips?

Thanks

Brady

 

[Fink]

What are the season dates?

 

[tdcour]

I haven't hunted there yet, but I plan on it! I'm moving to central Kansas in a month or so. I have some guys I will be working with that I am planning on bringing this subject up to. If I get some good info or any tips on contacts, I'll try and pass them on to you. I have a bad habit of saying that then never being able to find the original post again! Good luck to you! I hear there are some big ones out there.

 

[Eberle]

I'm assuming you are a non-resident? I've never hunted unit 1 or 2. I've hunted 3 & 7. I lived in eastern Kansas for 10 years. My oldest son Pake & I hold a lifetime licenses. There are some good muleys out there. USO should be able to put you on one. The muzz seasons are typically in September & December. The tag should be valid for both early & late seasons. I think Kansas also legalized scopes for muzz, you might check on that. Lots of walkin hunting, but the pheasant hunters run alot of deer out. Good luck & congrats to your Dad!

 

[wapiti66]

Hunting the early season (sep.) is usually still really hot. The big mulies are still pretty nocturnal, depending on your area they may be in the middle of a corn field all day. But...if you find a big one you will be hunting an unpressured mulie most likely in velvet. Eberle is right, if you hunt the rifle season the deer will be much more educated by pheasant, coyote, and archery deer hunters. But...you could be catching the end of the mulie rut, and some "unseen" big deer seem to show up just in time for the rut (after your sep. hunt) I'd definately ask your outfitter some questions about their success in sep. muzz before you go early. A lot of it depends on the particular area you will be hunting.

 

[Kevin Root]

My family is from Kansas around Abilene. I can remember going there many years ago when the deer hunting was not quite as good as it is today. I also remember USO outfitters back when they started up in the late 80's and their licensing service. I've seen some hunting shows with them back in the day and they really looked like a good outfit. I hope you have a great hunt. Let us know how it goes. It sounds like an great hunt.

 

[Brady]

Thanks guys. The tag is good for early and late seasons, we will hunt when Brent (USO's outfitter) tells us we need to hunt. Yes you can use a scoped muzz which will help a lot. I plan on making a video of the hunt and I will share it here.

 

[Kevin Root]

Thanks guys. The tag is good for early and late seasons, we will hunt when Brent (USO's outfitter) tells us we need to hunt. Yes you can use a scoped muzz which will help a lot. I plan on making a video of the hunt and I will share it here.

Looking forward to seeing that one and or reading about it here. Sounds like it will be an awesome memory or I'm hoping so for you for both you and your dad.

 

[Fink]

Thanks guys. The tag is good for early and late seasons, we will hunt when Brent (USO's outfitter) tells us we need to hunt. Yes you can use a scoped muzz which will help a lot. I plan on making a video of the hunt and I will share it here.

Just checked the season dates.. Sept 16-29 for the early muzzleloader might be tough dates.. The bucks will have shed velvet by then, and many will probably have already begun deviating from their summer patterns, and become mostly nocturnal.
The December 4-15 dates could be sweet. If the bucks are no longer rutting, the will be pounding food sources for sure.

 

[Brady]

Just checked the season dates.. Sept 16-29 for the early muzzleloader might be tough dates.. The bucks will have shed velvet by then, and many will probably have already begun deviating from their summer patterns, and become mostly nocturnal.
The December 4-15 dates could be sweet. If the bucks are no longer rutting, the will be pounding food sources for sure.

Thanks for the dates. We will be flexible on the hunt dates. We will go twice if need be. I'm glad they will be out of velvet and my dad will be glad as well. Crossing our fingers while the horns grow.

Does anyone know how the rainfall looks up there so far this year? It's been great here in Fort Worth, Tx this year! I got 3.8" of rain last week alone!

 

[tdcour]

From what I have heard it has been hit or miss. Central and eastern Kansas are doing ok for rain, but last I heard they still needed some out west. I was just west of 35 in the Hutchinson area last weekend and things looked great. They actually have some water standing in fields in places where they have gotten rain, but still don't have much info for out west.

 

[Jrs3]

How did this hunt go?

I learned today that I drew a WT tag for 2014's black powder season in unit 1 as well. I put in with USO and they connected me with Great Plains Outfitters. I cannot find many reviews about them on line and want to see what others have experienced.

Thank you,

John