Washington County participates in the Walk-in Hunting program that was started in 1995. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks leases private land and open it to public hunting. Through this program, every hunter must purchase a Kansas hunting license. Some walk-in hunting areas are limited to youth hunting only. These tracts are noted on the walk-in hunting map. Youth 16 years old and younger may hunt on these areas if accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 21, who may hunt with the youth. There are currently 16,850 acres enrolled in the program.\

On occasion, sites enrolled in the program are removed at the landowners request or due to poor habitat conditions. Make sure the land you are entering is posted with Walk-in hunting signs. If you arrive at a walk-in hunting area and find that it has been cultivated or is planted to a crop such as a winter wheat, do not be too concerned. Most likely these areas have essentially been donated to the program for the purpose of rounding out an area to make it easier to place signs or gain access. Some wheat fields were leased to provide goose or crane hunting. Hunting is allowed on these areas.

Extended drought conditions may impact quality of some walk-in hunting areas in the area.

WIHA PROGRAM RULES:

Obey the safety zone concept. Allow a buffer around livestock and buildings. Know your target, especially when using a rifle.
If the WIHA property is bordered by a hedgerow or creek, hunt only on the side which is on the WIHA tract. Do not walk or hunt on adjacent property. Hunting on the wrong side of the WIHA property boundary is a trespass violation and jeopardizes the future of the program.
Do not damage any standing crops.
Obey all Kansas hunting rules and regulations and respect the rights of the landowners and others using the area. Treat the land as if it were your own and act responsibly when a field. Sportsmen’s behavior will decide the future of these areas.
Take all your trash with you when leaving. If someone using the area before you left trash, remove it also.
WIHA tracts are for walk-in traffic only. Do not open gates or enter properties with vehicles. Park along the road or in areas designated as parking areas. Do not block access to fields, or block access along county roads. Landowners are working fields with big equipment, especially in September and October, so please allow them to pass. Avoid stretching fences.
Department leases for walk-in hunting areas are for hunting only. Other activities are prohibited, unless specifically allowed by the property owner. The department discourages contact of walk-in hunting lessors.
Do not attempt to contact cooperating landowner for the purpose of hunting on other portions of their land. Enrollment of land in the walk-in hunting program may have been done to reduce the landowner’s direct contact with the hunters.
Walk-in hunting areas are open to hunting September 1 – January 31, or November 1 January 31. A walk-in turkey map will be available next year.
The following public land regulations are enforced on Walk-in hunting areas: no target practice, no trapping unless specifically allowed by property owner (KAR 115-8 – 1), no commercial or noncommercial hunting dog training (KAR 115-8-4), no discharge of fully automatic rifles of fully automatic handguns (KAR 115-8-5), no camping (KAR 115-8-9), no horseback riding (KAR 115-8-1), no stocking or releasing of wildlife (KAR 115-8-12), no operation of vehicles (KAR 115-8-13), no discharge of fireworks (KAR 115-8-14), no fires (KAR 115-8-15), no littering (KAR 155-8-18), no cereal malt beverage or alcoholic liquor (KAR 115-8-19), no destructive acts, including digging, destruction or removal of signs or vegetation (KAR 115-8-20).

Youth Hunting Opportunities

Youth Deer Season –
Youth 12-16 years old may hunt deer under the supervision of an adult 21 years old or older. Youth must have proper deer permits, which retain unit, species, and equipment and antler restrictions. All hunters must wear hunter orange.
Youth Waterfowl Season –
Youth 15 and under may hunt ducks and dark geese while under the supervision of an adult 18 years old or older. Daily bag limits are the same as regular season limits.
Youth Upland Bird Season –
Youth 16 and under may hunt pheasants and quail while under the supervision of an adult 21 years old or older. The supervising adult can not hunt during this season. Daily bag limits are half of regular season limits.

Address:
214 C Street
Washington, KS 66968

Phone:
785-325-2116

Fax:
785-325-2830

E-mail:
washcott@
washingtonks.net