Washington County walk-in hunting (WIHA): Kansas 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Washington County has 82 Walk-In Hunting Access tracts on KDWP's 2026-27 map, 15,647 acres in all, 2.7% of the county's land. That ranks 24th of Kansas's 105 counties for WIHA acres. Most tracts are open Sept. 1 to May 31 (71 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 landOther publicWalk-in (WIHA)Washington CountyWildlife areaLakeHighway
| WIHA tracts, 2026-27 | 82 |
|---|---|
| WIHA acres | 15,647 (2.7% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 720, 640, 480, 474, 466 acres |
| Public land | 612 acres (0.1%) |
| Deer units | Unit 8 |
| KDWP region | Region 2 |
| Towns | Washington, Hanover, Greenleaf, Clifton, Haddam and Linn |
When are Washington 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. Washington County's 82 tracts by lease period:
| Lease period | Tracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 1 to May 31 | 71 | 13,845 |
| Sept. 1 to Jan. 31 | 9 | 1,322 |
| Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 | 2 | 480 |
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 Washington County, by number of tracts: quail 48, deer 47, turkey 42, pheasant 42, dove 4 and prairie chicken 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 Washington County?
The 12 largest tracts on KDWP's 2026-27 map, each placed by the nearest town:
| Acres | Where | Deer unit | Lease period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 720 | 4 mi south of Barnes | Unit 8 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, pheasant, quail, prairie chicken |
| 640 | 5 mi southwest of Barnes | Unit 8 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, pheasant, quail |
| 480 | 7 mi south of Haddam | Unit 8 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, pheasant, quail |
| 474 | 6 mi west of Hollenberg | Unit 8 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | |
| 466 | 4 mi north of Hanover | Unit 8 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | |
| 363 | 7 mi south of Barnes | Unit 8 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | |
| 360 | 3 mi northeast of Clifton | Unit 8 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | |
| 350 | 3 mi northeast of Barnes | Unit 8 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, pheasant, quail |
| 327 | 6 mi southeast of Linn | Unit 8 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | |
| 320 | 8 mi east of Mahaska | Unit 8 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | |
| 320 | 6 mi west of Hollenberg | Unit 8 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, pheasant, quail |
| 320 | 5 mi west of Hanover | Unit 8 | Sept. 1 to May 31 | Species listed: deer, turkey, 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 Washington County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP area maps show 612 acres of public land in the county, 0.1% of it. The walk-in tracts cover more ground: 15,647 acres. Wildlife areas with a page: Washington State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area (417 acres here) and Griswold Wildlife Area (143 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| KDWP land | 612 | 0.1% |
| Other public (not counted as hunting land) | 30 | 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 Washington County?
All of Washington County is in Unit 8. 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 8 | 100% | 4,585 (2021) | 46,695 |
How does Washington County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 5 counties that touch Washington County, most walk-in land first:
| County | WIHA acres | WIHA tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall County | 24,752 | 144 | 1.1% |
| Cloud County | 11,539 | 56 | 0.7% |
| Clay County | 6,338 | 33 | 3.4% |
| Republic County | 5,221 | 36 | 0.7% |
| Riley County | 817 | 8 | 2.7% |
Questions hunters ask
How many walk-in hunting acres are in Washington County, Kansas?
15,647 acres on 82 tracts on KDWP's 2026-27 Walk-In Hunting Access map, 2.7% of the county.
Can you deer hunt on WIHA in Washington County?
Yes, during each tract's lease period and the deer seasons, with the permit for the deer unit the tract is in (Unit 8). WIHA tracts take walk-in hunters only; trapping is not part of the program.
Is there public land in Washington County?
612 acres, 0.1% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and KDWP area maps, mostly KDWP land. Wildlife areas here: Washington State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area and Griswold 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.