Montgomery County walk-in hunting (WIHA): Kansas 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Montgomery County has 7 Walk-In Hunting Access tracts on KDWP's 2026-27 map, 1,427 acres in all, 0.3% of the county's land. That ranks 82nd of Kansas's 105 counties for WIHA acres. All 7 are open Sept. 1 to May 31. 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 areaOther publicWalk-in (WIHA)Montgomery CountyWildlife areaLakeHighway
| WIHA tracts, 2026-27 | 7 |
|---|---|
| WIHA acres | 1,427 (0.3% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 397, 346, 240, 141, 124 acres |
| Public land | 17,793 acres (4.3%) |
| Deer units | Unit 12 and Unit 11 |
| KDWP region | Region 3 |
| Towns | Coffeyville, Independence, Cherryvale, Dearing, Caney and Tyro |
When are Montgomery 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. Montgomery County's 7 tracts by lease period:
| Lease period | Tracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 1 to May 31 | 7 | 1,427 |
2 tracts (487 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 Montgomery County, by number of tracts: deer 4, turkey 3, quail 3, dove 2 and waterfowl 2. 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 Montgomery County?
The 7 largest tracts on KDWP's 2026-27 map, each placed by the nearest town:
| Acres | Where | Deer unit | Lease period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 398 | 2 mi northeast of Elk City | Unit 12 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | |
| 346 | 2 mi southeast of Elk City | Unit 12 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Archery and shotshell only; Species listed: deer, turkey, quail, dove, waterfowl |
| 240 | 3 mi east of Elk City | Unit 12 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | |
| 141 | 3 mi east of Elk City | Unit 12 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Archery and shotshell only; Species listed: deer, turkey, quail, waterfowl |
| 124 | 4 mi east of Elk City | Unit 12 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, quail, dove |
| 100 | 5 mi southwest of Elk City | Unit 12 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer |
| 80 | 3 mi northeast of Elk City | Unit 12 | Sept. 1 to May 31 |
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 Montgomery County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP area maps show 17,793 acres of public land in the county, 4.3% of it. The walk-in tracts cover less ground: 1,427 acres. Wildlife areas with a page: Elk City Wildlife Area (15,174 acres here), Copan Wildlife Area (1,782 acres here), Buffalo Ranch Wildlife Area (1,088 acres here), Duck Creek Wildlife Area (251 acres here) and Dove Flats Wildlife Area (203 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| KDWP land | 17,792 | 4.3% |
| State park or recreation area (not counted as hunting land) | 1,036 | 0.2% |
| Other public (not counted as hunting land) | 385 | 0.1% |
| Army Corps of Engineers | 1 | 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 Montgomery County?
Montgomery County is split between 2 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 12 | 88.5% | 6,449 (2021) | 17,689 |
| Unit 11 | 11.5% | 15,611 (2021) | 25,147 |
How does Montgomery County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 5 counties that touch Montgomery County, most walk-in land first:
| County | WIHA acres | WIHA tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk County | 12,207 | 35 | 0% |
| Chautauqua County | 7,394 | 22 | 0.1% |
| Labette County | 6,983 | 40 | 2.8% |
| Neosho County | 6,585 | 32 | 0.9% |
| Wilson County | 80 | 1 | 0% |
Questions hunters ask
How many walk-in hunting acres are in Montgomery County, Kansas?
1,427 acres on 7 tracts on KDWP's 2026-27 Walk-In Hunting Access map, 0.3% of the county.
Can you deer hunt on WIHA in Montgomery County?
Yes, during each tract's lease period and the deer seasons, with the permit for the deer unit the tract is in (Unit 12 and Unit 11). 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 Montgomery County?
17,793 acres, 4.3% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP area maps, mostly KDWP land. Wildlife areas here: Elk City Wildlife Area, Copan Wildlife Area, Buffalo Ranch Wildlife Area, Duck Creek Wildlife Area and Dove Flats 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.