Elk
Elk were another big game species that were common in pre-settlement Kansas. They were also extirpated at the turn of the century. However, a small herd was maintained at the Maxwell Wildlife Area near McPherson. The 2,200-acre enclosure is operated as a refuge and also features bison. In 1981, elk from Maxwell were released at the Cimarron National Grassland, and that herd was free-ranging. To keep that herd from growing too big and causing crop damage, a limited resident-only season was opened in 1987. Later in the 1980s, elk were captured at Maxwell and released on the Ft. Riley Military Reservation. That herd is also free-ranging, and a season was established for the fort in 1990. Today, elk are primarily hunted on and around Ft. Riley, but individual elk or small herds may be found at other locations around the state, and hunting is permitted everywhere except Morton County. About 900 applications are received for the 20 or so permits allotted each year, and they are divided among military personnel and Kansas residents.
Dates: 08/01/2024 - 08/31/2024
Elk Season Outside Fort Riley - Firearm
Dates: 09/01/2024 - 09/30/2024
Elk Season - Muzzleloader and Archery - Fort Riley
Dates: 09/01/2024 - 09/30/2024
Elk Season Outside Fort Riley - Muzzleloader
Dates: 09/16/2024 - 12/31/2024
Elk Season Outside Fort Riley - Archery
Dates: 10/01/2024 - 10/31/2024
Dates: 10/01/2024 - 12/31/2024
Elk Season - Firearm Season for Holders of Any-Elk Permits - Fort Riley
Dates: 11/01/2024 - 11/30/2024
Dates: 12/01/2024 - 12/31/2024
Dates: 12/04/2024 - 12/15/2024
Elk Season Outside Fort Riley - Firearm
Big Game and Wild Turkey - General provisions
Big Game Control Permit - Application, Requirements and Provisions.
Use of crossbows for big game hunting by persons with disabilities - Application, Permit, and General Provisions
Deer; nonresident limited-quota antlered permit application period.
Elk; management units.
Restitution scoring system; white-tailed deer; mule deer; elk; antelope.
Big Game - Legal Equipment and Taking Methods.
Retrieval and possession of game animals and migratory game birds - Requirements
Deer - Management Units
Antelope - Open Season, Bag Limit, Permits and Game Tags
- Take a picture of the animal with your phone's camera making sure all the animal is visible.
- Open the Go Outdoors KS App and on the home screen, select "Harvest Reporting".
- On the "Harvest Reporting" screen you will see all your available tags.
- If you have multiple accounts on your phone, you can change to another account's available tags by selecting the name at the top of the screen. This will give you a list of everyone you have on your phone.
- Choose the tag you want to fill.
- Fill out the corresponding questions for the tag (harvest date, time, species, age, weapon used, unit and county).
- Click "Select Image" to select the picture you have taken of the animal.
- The last question, "Are you completing this Harvest Report for a Paper Carcass Tag?" If you are E-tagging select "No".
- Click "Submit" at the bottom and review all your answers for validation. Once reviewed click, "Submit" again.
- You should receive a popup success window with your E-tag confirmation number.
- If taking the animal to a processor or taxidermist, please write the confirmation down and attach it to the animal so it can stay with the animal.
To download the Go Outdoors KS mobile app to your Android device, visit: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.brandtinfo.gooutdoorsks&hl=en_US&gl=US
To download the Go Outdoors KS mobile app to your Apple/iOS device, visit: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gooutdoorsks/id1613997956
Elk Management Unit Map