Kansas Deer Management Unit 14: deer harvest, public land and walk-in access
Kansas's Deer Management Unit 14 covers 6,816 square miles across Greenwood, Lyon, Butler, Chase, Morris and Wabaunsee counties. 1% of it is public land by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP area maps, mostly KDWP land, and KDWP's 2026-27 WIHA map adds 45,762 acres of private walk-in land on 148 tracts. KDWP's harvest table shows 10,232 deer taken here in 2021: 5,389 white-tailed bucks, 4,843 antlerless whitetails.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: KDWP's table by unit, 2017 to 2021. Seasons: KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 summary. Land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 and agency area maps. Walk-in: KDWP, 2026-27.
KDWP landNational wildlife refuge or WPAArmy Corps of EngineersState park or recreation areaOther publicWalk-in (WIHA)Unit 14Wildlife areaNeighboring unitsLakeHighway
| Size | 4,362,051 acres (6,816 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Counties | Greenwood, Lyon, Butler, Chase, Morris, Wabaunsee, Osage and Cowley and 8 more |
| Public land | 1% (45,701 acres) |
| Walk-in land (WIHA, 2026-27) | 45,762 acres on 148 tracts (1% of the unit) |
| Deer harvested, 2021 | 10,232 (5,389 bucks) |
| Nonresident whitetail permits, 2026 | 2,079 (increased by 60 from 2,019 in 2025) |
| Wildlife areas with a page | Melvern Wildlife Area, El Dorado Wildlife Area, Council Grove Wildlife Area, Otter Creek Wildlife Area and Lyon State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area |
| Towns in it | Emporia, Winfield, Herington, Osage City, Eureka and Burlington |
How many deer are harvested in Unit 14?
KDWP's table counts 10,232 deer in 2021, up 8% from 9,462 in 2017. White-tailed deer were 100% of the 2021 harvest, and nonresident hunters took 2,135 of the 10,232 deer (20.9%).
| Year | Total deer | White-tailed bucks | Antlerless whitetails | Mule deer bucks | Antlerless mule deer | Taken by residents | Taken by nonresidents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,232 | 5,389 | 4,843 | 0 | 0 | 8,097 | 2,135 |
| 2020 | 9,847 | 5,043 | 4,804 | 0 | 0 | 7,665 | 2,182 |
| 2019 | 8,848 | 4,631 | 4,217 | 0 | 0 | 6,819 | 2,029 |
| 2018 | 7,302 | 4,740 | 2,536 | 9 | 17 | 5,775 | 1,527 |
| 2017 | 9,462 | 4,957 | 4,497 | 8 | 0 | 7,243 | 2,219 |
Source: KDWP deer harvest by unit (2017 to 2021). KDWP's newer harvest reports give statewide totals only, so 2021 is the latest year by unit. Antlerless means does and fawns, as KDWP's table counts them.
How much public land is in Unit 14?
1% of the unit is public land: 45,701 of its 4,362,051 acres, led by KDWP land at 23,593 acres. Wildlife areas with a page of their own: Melvern Wildlife Area, El Dorado Wildlife Area, Council Grove Wildlife Area, Otter Creek Wildlife Area, Lyon State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area, Chase State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area, Butler State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area, Toronto Wildlife Area and Fall River Wildlife Area. KDWP's map shows 10 wildlife areas in the unit in all.
| Manager | Acres | Share of the unit |
|---|---|---|
| KDWP land | 23,593 | 0.5% |
| National wildlife refuge or WPA | 16,609 | 0.4% |
| Army Corps of Engineers | 5,499 | 0.1% |
| State park or recreation area (not counted as hunting land) | 2,953 | 0.1% |
| Other public (not counted as hunting land) | 546 | under 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside KDWP's unit boundary from USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee and designation lands with open or restricted public access) and KDWP wildlife areas; the water of the larger reservoirs is left out.
How much walk-in hunting land is in Unit 14?
KDWP's 2026-27 Walk-In Hunting Access layer maps 45,762 acres on 148 tracts inside the unit, 1% of its ground. WIHA land is private land KDWP leases for walk-in hunting during the lease period on its sign. County totals for the counties the unit touches:
| County | Share of the county in this unit | WIHA acres in the county | WIHA tracts in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenwood County | 79.2% | 2,520 | 7 |
| Lyon County | 100% | 7,159 | 28 |
| Butler County | 59.1% | 3,790 | 7 |
| Chase County | 100% | 6,325 | 7 |
| Morris County | 99% | 2,186 | 16 |
| Wabaunsee County | 77.8% | 12,708 | 32 |
| Osage County | 57.8% | 3,274 | 16 |
| Cowley County | 30.6% | 1,320 | 4 |
| Coffey County | 49.7% | 2,310 | 15 |
| Elk County | 38.2% | 12,207 | 35 |
| Geary County | 59.2% | 1,351 | 4 |
| Marion County | 20% | 0 | 0 |
| Shawnee County | 29% | 2,195 | 18 |
| Woodson County | 30.8% | 753 | 2 |
| Riley County | 1.5% | 817 | 8 |
| Dickinson County | 0.3% | 8,263 | 38 |
Walk-in acres inside the unit measured by FilledTag from KDWP Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) tracts; county acres and tract counts are KDWP's own figures for each tract.
When is deer season in Unit 14 in 2026?
The statewide seasons apply here, plus an extended firearm season for antlerless whitetails, Jan. 1-24, 2027. Up to ten Whitetail Antlerless-only permits can be used here: the first anywhere in the unit (public land and walk-in included), permits 2 to 10 only on private land with permission, walk-in areas, and Elk City and Berentz-Dick wildlife areas.
| Season, 2026-27 | Dates |
|---|---|
| Youth (17 and younger) and disabled | Sept. 5-13, 2026 |
| Muzzleloader | Sept. 14-27, 2026 |
| Archery | Sept. 14-Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Pre-rut whitetail antlerless firearm | Oct. 10-12, 2026 |
| Regular firearm | Dec. 2-13, 2026 |
| Extended firearm whitetail antlerless-only (Unit 14) | Jan. 1-24, 2027 |
Source: KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, page 30; Whitetail Antlerless-only permits, page 33.
How many nonresident deer permits does Unit 14 get?
KDWP authorized 2,079 nonresident whitetail either-sex permits for Unit 14 in 2026 (increased by 60 from 2,019 in 2025). 4,317 hunters picked the unit as their first choice, and 405 permits went to applicants with no preference points.
| Draw | Permits | First-choice applications | Second choice | Permits to 0-point applicants | Permits to 1-point applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2,079 | 4,317 | 3,287 | 405 | 1,503 |
| 2025 | 2,019 | 3,728 | 2,976 | 738 | 1,162 |
Source: KDWP deer quotas and draw statistics. Nonresident permits are drawn for one unit plus one adjacent unit (KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, page 32). Residents buy whitetail permits over the counter; resident either-species firearm permits are drawn by zone.
Is there elk or pronghorn hunting in Unit 14?
KDWP's elk unit map overlaps it: elk unit 3. No pronghorn unit overlaps it. Elk and pronghorn permits are for residents, except pronghorn archery permits, which nonresidents can buy too.
Units: KDWP elk units; KDWP pronghorn firearm units. Rules: KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, page 36 to 38.
Which deer units border Unit 14?
Unit 14 touches 8 other units. Their public land, walk-in acres and 2021 harvest, for comparison:
| Unit | Public land | WIHA acres | Deer harvested, 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 6 | 0.7% | 5,644 | 2,888 |
| Unit 8 | 1.3% | 46,695 | 4,585 |
| Unit 9 | 1.7% | 42,406 | 3,581 |
| Unit 10 | 2.1% | 20,500 | 6,706 |
| Unit 11 | 1.5% | 25,147 | 15,611 |
| Unit 12 | 2.1% | 17,689 | 6,449 |
| Unit 13 | 0.9% | 222 | 1,603 |
| Unit 15 | 0.3% | 6,628 | 6,569 |
Questions hunters ask
How much public land is in Kansas deer Unit 14?
45,701 acres, 1% of the unit, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP area maps; the largest share is KDWP land (23,593 acres). KDWP's walk-in program adds 45,762 acres of private land open to walk-in hunting in 2026-27.
How many deer were harvested in Unit 14 in the latest year on record?
10,232 in 2021, KDWP's latest year by unit: 5,389 white-tailed bucks, 4,843 antlerless whitetails, 0 mule deer bucks and 0 antlerless mule deer.
Can a nonresident hunt deer in Kansas Unit 14?
Yes, with a permit drawn in April. KDWP set 2,079 nonresident whitetail permits for Unit 14 in 2026; each is valid in the unit drawn and one adjacent unit. The application deadline is the last Friday in April.
Which counties are in Unit 14?
Greenwood, Lyon, Butler, Chase, Morris, Wabaunsee, Osage, Cowley, Coffey, Elk, Geary, Marion, Shawnee, Woodson, Riley and Dickinson. Walk-in land by county is on each county's WIHA page where one exists.
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest: KDWP deer harvest by unit (2017 to 2021).
- Seasons, permits and rules: KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary; KDWP deer quotas and draw statistics.
- Public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1. Walk-in land: KDWP Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) tracts. Unit boundary: KDWP Deer Management Units.
- Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Numbers are copied from KDWP, the USGS and the Census Bureau, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
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