Ellsworth County walk-in hunting (WIHA): Kansas 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Ellsworth County has 20 Walk-In Hunting Access tracts on KDWP's 2026-27 map, 3,679 acres in all, 0.8% of the county's land. That ranks 63rd of Kansas's 105 counties for WIHA acres. Most tracts are open Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 (11 tracts). 2 tracts are archery and shotshell only.
Data updated October 2026. Walk-in: KDWP's Walk-In Hunting Access layer for 2026-27. Land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 and agency area maps.
KDWP landArmy Corps of EngineersState park or recreation areaWalk-in (WIHA)Ellsworth CountyWildlife areaLakeHighway
| WIHA tracts, 2026-27 | 20 |
|---|---|
| WIHA acres | 3,679 (0.8% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 480, 440, 252, 200, 181 acres |
| Public land | 18,246 acres (3.9%) |
| Deer units | Unit 4, Unit 7 and Unit 6 |
| KDWP region | Region 4 |
| Towns | Ellsworth, Kanopolis, Wilson, Holyrood and Lorraine |
When are Ellsworth County's walk-in tracts open?
Each WIHA tract is open to the public only during its lease period, shown on the sign at the tract and in KDWP's atlas. Ellsworth County's 20 tracts by lease period:
| Lease period | Tracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 | 11 | 1,947 |
| Sept. 1 to May 31 | 5 | 1,215 |
| Sept. 1 to Jan. 31 | 3 | 317 |
| Nov. 1 to May 31 | 1 | 200 |
2 tracts (600 acres) are marked archery and shotshell only, so no rifle or slug hunting there. Tracts open until May 31 or March 31 cover the spring turkey season or late winter; tracts that close Jan. 31 do not.
Lease periods and the archery/shotshell mark: KDWP Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) tracts (KDWP's legend codes, read against its 2026 contract list).
What does KDWP list on the tracts?
Species named in KDWP's tract records for Ellsworth County, by number of tracts: quail 18, pheasant 17, deer 7, turkey 6, dove 2, furbearers 2, geese 1 and waterfowl 1. A tract with no species named is still open to all hunting in season during its lease period.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Ellsworth County?
The 12 largest tracts on KDWP's 2026-27 map, each placed by the nearest town:
| Acres | Where | Deer unit | Lease period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 480 | 6 mi south of Wilson | Unit 4 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, pheasant, quail, furbearers |
| 440 | 5 mi north of Holyrood | Unit 4 | Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 | Archery and shotshell only; Species listed: pheasant, quail |
| 252 | 2 mi south of Kanopolis | Unit 4 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, quail |
| 200 | 5 mi southeast of Wilson | Unit 4 | Nov. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, pheasant, quail |
| 181 | 4 mi north of Holyrood | Unit 4 | Sept. 1 to Jan. 31 | Species listed: pheasant, quail, dove |
| 163 | 5 mi southeast of Kanopolis | Unit 4 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, pheasant, quail |
| 160 | 7 mi north of Holyrood | Unit 4 | Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 | Species listed: pheasant, quail |
| 160 | 7 mi east of Wilson | Unit 4 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, pheasant, quail, furbearers |
| 160 | 3 mi northeast of Wilson | Unit 7 | Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 | Species listed: pheasant, quail |
| 160 | 7 mi east of Wilson | Unit 4 | Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 | Species listed: pheasant, quail |
| 160 | 6 mi southeast of Wilson | Unit 4 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, pheasant, quail |
| 160 | 6 mi northwest of Holyrood | Unit 4 | Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 | Species listed: pheasant, quail |
Tracts: KDWP Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) tracts; towns: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places. Use KDWP's Hunting Atlas or the Go Outdoors Kansas app to find each tract's signs and parking.
What public land is in Ellsworth County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP area maps show 18,246 acres of public land in the county, 3.9% of it. The walk-in tracts cover less ground: 3,679 acres. Wildlife areas with a page: Kanopolis Wildlife Area (4,881 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Army Corps of Engineers | 13,391 | 2.9% |
| KDWP land | 4,855 | 1% |
| State park or recreation area (not counted as hunting land) | 92 | under 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside the Census county line 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.
Which deer units cover Ellsworth County?
Ellsworth County is split between 3 deer units. A deer hunter on a walk-in tract needs a permit valid in the unit the tract lies in.
| Deer unit | Share of the county | Deer harvested (whole unit) | WIHA acres (whole unit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 4 | 94.1% | 2,752 (2021) | 29,342 |
| Unit 7 | 4.2% | 4,641 (2021) | 65,866 |
| Unit 6 | 1.7% | 2,888 (2021) | 5,644 |
How does Ellsworth County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 6 counties that touch Ellsworth County, most walk-in land first:
| County | WIHA acres | WIHA tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russell County | 15,514 | 59 | 2.4% |
| Lincoln County | 13,004 | 40 | 0.2% |
| Saline County | 7,528 | 24 | 0% |
| Barton County | 974 | 9 | 3.3% |
| McPherson County | 524 | 4 | 1.2% |
| Rice County | 0 | 0 | 0.2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many walk-in hunting acres are in Ellsworth County, Kansas?
3,679 acres on 20 tracts on KDWP's 2026-27 Walk-In Hunting Access map, 0.8% of the county.
Can you deer hunt on WIHA in Ellsworth County?
Yes, during each tract's lease period and the deer seasons, with the permit for the deer unit the tract is in (Unit 4, Unit 7 and Unit 6). 2 tracts are archery and shotshell only. WIHA tracts take walk-in hunters only; trapping is not part of the program.
Is there public land in Ellsworth County?
18,246 acres, 3.9% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP area maps, mostly Army Corps of Engineers. Wildlife areas here: Kanopolis Wildlife Area.
Walk-in rules to know
- No access outside a tract's lease period; stay inside the tract's signed boundary.
- Walk-in only: park where it does not block roads, gates or driveways.
- No baiting, trail cameras or commercial guiding; trapping is not part of WIHA.
- iWIHA tracts need check-in and check-out in the Go Outdoors Kansas app.
Source: KDWP's Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, page 56 and page 7.
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Where these numbers come from
- Walk-in tracts: KDWP Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) tracts.
- Public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1. County line: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 cartographic boundary counties.
- Deer unit harvest: KDWP deer harvest by unit (2017 to 2021).
FilledTag is not part of Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Tracts change every season; the sign on the tract is the final word.