Sherman County walk-in hunting (WIHA): Kansas 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Sherman County has 49 Walk-In Hunting Access tracts on KDWP's 2026-27 map, 19,535 acres in all, 2.9% of the county's land. That ranks 17th of Kansas's 105 counties for WIHA acres. Most tracts are open Sept. 1 to Jan. 31 (34 tracts).
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 landWalk-in (WIHA)Sherman CountyWildlife areaLakeHighway
| WIHA tracts, 2026-27 | 49 |
|---|---|
| WIHA acres | 19,535 (2.9% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 1,299, 1,280, 1,275, 1,108, 800 acres |
| Public land | 2,805 acres (0.4%) |
| Deer units | Unit 1 and Unit 2 |
| KDWP region | Region 1 |
| Towns | Goodland and Kanorado |
When are Sherman 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. Sherman County's 49 tracts by lease period:
| Lease period | Tracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 1 to Jan. 31 | 34 | 14,898 |
| Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 | 14 | 4,437 |
| Sept. 1 to May 31 | 1 | 200 |
None of the county's tracts is marked archery and shotshell only. 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 Sherman County, by number of tracts: pheasant 41, deer 39, other 15, geese 1, waterfowl 1 and turkey 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 Sherman County?
The 12 largest tracts on KDWP's 2026-27 map, each placed by the nearest town:
| Acres | Where | Deer unit | Lease period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,299 | 6 mi east of Kanorado | Unit 1 | Sept. 1 to Jan. 31 | Species listed: deer, other |
| 1,280 | 16 mi southwest of Goodland | Unit 2 | Sept. 1 to Jan. 31 | |
| 1,275 | 11 mi southwest of Brewster | Unit 2 | Sept. 1 to Jan. 31 | Species listed: deer, other |
| 1,108 | 9 mi northwest of Goodland | Unit 1 | Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 | Species listed: deer, pheasant |
| 800 | 12 mi northwest of Winona | Unit 2 | Sept. 1 to Jan. 31 | Species listed: deer, pheasant |
| 640 | 13 mi south of Goodland | Unit 2 | Sept. 1 to Jan. 31 | Species listed: deer, pheasant, other |
| 640 | 15 mi southeast of Kanorado | Unit 2 | Sept. 1 to Jan. 31 | Species listed: pheasant |
| 640 | 14 mi southwest of Goodland | Unit 2 | Sept. 1 to Jan. 31 | Species listed: deer, pheasant, other |
| 640 | 6 mi south of Brewster | Unit 2 | Sept. 1 to Jan. 31 | |
| 640 | 9 mi northwest of Winona | Unit 2 | Sept. 1 to Jan. 31 | |
| 635 | 16 mi north of Kanorado | Unit 1 | Sept. 1 to Jan. 31 | Species listed: deer, pheasant, other |
| 631 | 11 mi north of Goodland | Unit 1 | Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 | Species listed: pheasant |
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 Sherman County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP area maps show 2,805 acres of public land in the county, 0.4% of it. The walk-in tracts cover more ground: 19,535 acres. Wildlife areas with a page: Kansas Veterans Wildlife Area (2,783 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| KDWP land | 2,805 | 0.4% |
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 Sherman County?
Sherman 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 1 | 55% | 1,830 (2021) | 170,924 |
| Unit 2 | 45% | 1,540 (2021) | 157,235 |
How does Sherman County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 5 counties that touch Sherman County, most walk-in land first:
| County | WIHA acres | WIHA tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne County | 45,054 | 82 | 0.2% |
| Wallace County | 44,053 | 96 | 0% |
| Rawlins County | 37,681 | 96 | 0% |
| Thomas County | 32,327 | 98 | 0% |
| Logan County | 19,583 | 47 | 0.1% |
Questions hunters ask
How many walk-in hunting acres are in Sherman County, Kansas?
19,535 acres on 49 tracts on KDWP's 2026-27 Walk-In Hunting Access map, 2.9% of the county.
Can you deer hunt on WIHA in Sherman County?
Yes, during each tract's lease period and the deer seasons, with the permit for the deer unit the tract is in (Unit 1 and Unit 2). WIHA tracts take walk-in hunters only; trapping is not part of the program.
Is there public land in Sherman County?
2,805 acres, 0.4% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP area maps, mostly KDWP land. Wildlife areas here: Kansas Veterans 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.