Smith County walk-in hunting (WIHA): Kansas 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Smith County has 76 Walk-In Hunting Access tracts on KDWP's 2026-27 map, 14,219 acres in all, 2.5% of the county's land. That ranks 28th of Kansas's 105 counties for WIHA acres. Most tracts are open Sept. 1 to May 31 (41 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 landState park or recreation areaWalk-in (WIHA)Smith CountyWildlife areaLakeHighway
| WIHA tracts, 2026-27 | 76 |
|---|---|
| WIHA acres | 14,219 (2.5% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 798, 640, 580, 520, 400 acres |
| Public land | 308 acres (0.1%) |
| Deer units | Unit 7 and Unit 3 |
| KDWP region | Region 1 |
| Towns | Smith Center, Kensington, Lebanon, Gaylord, Athol and Cedar |
When are Smith 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. Smith County's 76 tracts by lease period:
| Lease period | Tracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 1 to May 31 | 41 | 8,967 |
| Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 | 23 | 3,776 |
| Sept. 1 to Jan. 31 | 12 | 1,476 |
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 Smith County, by number of tracts: quail 59, deer 53, pheasant 30, turkey 29, prairie chicken 10, dove 8, geese 1 and furbearers 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 Smith County?
The 12 largest tracts on KDWP's 2026-27 map, each placed by the nearest town:
| Acres | Where | Deer unit | Lease period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 798 | 3 mi north of Portis | Unit 7 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, quail, prairie chicken |
| 640 | 9 mi north of Athol | Unit 3 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: turkey |
| 580 | 4 mi northeast of Lebanon | Unit 7 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, quail |
| 520 | 16 mi north of Smith Center | Unit 7 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, quail |
| 400 | 9 mi north of Athol | Unit 3 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: turkey |
| 400 | 13 mi north of Kensington | Unit 3 | Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 | Species listed: deer, pheasant, quail |
| 320 | 11 mi north of Athol | Unit 3 | Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 | Species listed: deer, pheasant, quail |
| 320 | 8 mi north of Smith Center | Unit 7 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, pheasant, quail |
| 320 | 5 mi south of Lebanon | Unit 7 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, quail |
| 315 | 5 mi north of Athol | Unit 3 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, pheasant, quail |
| 242 | 5 mi north of Athol | Unit 3 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, pheasant, quail |
| 240 | 11 mi northwest of Lebanon | Unit 7 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, pheasant, quail, prairie chicken |
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 Smith County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP area maps show 308 acres of public land in the county, 0.1% of it. The walk-in tracts cover more ground: 14,219 acres. Wildlife areas with a page: Francis Wachs Wildlife Area (230 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| KDWP land | 308 | 0.1% |
| State park or recreation area (not counted as hunting land) | 6 | 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 Smith County?
Smith 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 7 | 63.5% | 4,641 (2021) | 65,866 |
| Unit 3 | 36.5% | 3,394 (2021) | 81,918 |
How does Smith County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 4 counties that touch Smith County, most walk-in land first:
| County | WIHA acres | WIHA tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osborne County | 20,866 | 82 | 0.6% |
| Rooks County | 16,061 | 57 | 1% |
| Jewell County | 11,753 | 64 | 0.7% |
| Phillips County | 6,256 | 24 | 0.2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many walk-in hunting acres are in Smith County, Kansas?
14,219 acres on 76 tracts on KDWP's 2026-27 Walk-In Hunting Access map, 2.5% of the county.
Can you deer hunt on WIHA in Smith County?
Yes, during each tract's lease period and the deer seasons, with the permit for the deer unit the tract is in (Unit 7 and Unit 3). WIHA tracts take walk-in hunters only; trapping is not part of the program.
Is there public land in Smith County?
308 acres, 0.1% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP area maps, mostly KDWP land. Wildlife areas here: Francis Wachs 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.