1. (a) The open season for the taking of deer shall be as follows:

   1. (1) Archery season.

      1. (A) The archery season in all deer management units shall begin on the second Monday following the first Saturday in September and shall be valid through the last day of the same calendar year.
      2. (B) Archery deer permits also shall be valid during the portion of the extended firearm seasons beginning on January 1 and extending through the last open day in units open during an extended firearm season and shall be valid with any legal equipment authorized during a firearm season, but shall be valid only for antlerless white-tailed deer during those dates.
      3. (C) The number of archery deer permits shall be based on a review of deer population indices, biological and ecological data, history of permit use and harvest rates, public input, and other relevant information.
      4. (D) The urban antlerless-only white-tailed deer archery season shall begin on the third Monday following January 4 and shall continue through January 31 in all units designated as an urban deer management unit.

   2. (2) Firearm season.

      1. (A) The regular firearm season dates in all deer management units shall begin the Wednesday following Thanksgiving and shall continue for a total of 12 days including the opening day.
      2. (B) The pre-rut white-tailed deer antlerless-only season in all deer management units shall begin on the Saturday immediately preceding Columbus Day and shall continue for a total of three days including the opening day.
      3. (C) The extended pre-rut white-tailed deer antlerless-only season in deer management unit 12 shall begin the Tuesday immediately following Columbus Day and continue for a total of six days including the opening day.
      4. (D) During the regular and extended firearm deer seasons, white-tailed either-sex deer permits issued for a deer management unit adjacent to or encompassing an urban deer management unit shall be valid in both the designated unit and the urban deer management unit.
      5. (E) The number of firearm deer permits for each management unit shall be based on a review of deer population indices, biological and ecological data, history of permit use and harvest rates, public input, and other relevant information.

   3. (3) Muzzleloader-only season.

      1. (A) The muzzleloader-only season in all deer management units shall begin on the second Monday following the first Saturday in September and shall continue for a total of 14 days including the opening day. Muzzleloader deer permits shall also be valid during the established firearm seasons using muzzleloader equipment, except that during the portion of the extended firearm season beginning on January 1 and extending through the last open day in units open during an extended firearm season, these permits shall be valid with any legal equipment authorized during a firearm season. During an extended firearm season, only muzzleloader deer permits for deer management units open during these dates shall be valid, and only for antlerless white-tailed deer.
      2. (B) The number of muzzleloader deer permits issued for each management unit shall be based on a review of deer population indices, biological and ecological data, history of permit use and harvest rates, public input, and other relevant information.

   4. (4) Season for designated persons.

      1. (A) The season for designated persons to hunt deer shall begin on the first Saturday of September and shall continue for a total of 9 days including the opening day.

      2. (B) Only the following persons may hunt during this season:

         1. (i) Any person 17 years of age or younger, only while under the immediate supervision of an adult who is 18 years of age or older; and
         2. (ii) any person with a permit to hunt from a vehicle issued according to K.A.R. 115-18-4 or a disability assistance permit issued according to K.A.R. 115-18-15.
      3. (C) All resident and nonresident deer permits shall be valid during this season.
      4. (D) All persons hunting during this season shall wear blaze orange according to K.A.R. 115-4-4.

   5. (5) Extended firearm seasons.

      1. (A) Each unfilled deer permit valid in unit 3 shall be valid during an extended antlerless-only firearm season beginning on January 1 and continuing through the first Sunday occurring after the third day in January.
      2. (B) Each unfilled deer permit valid in unit 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 16, as applicable, shall be valid during an extended antlerless-only firearm season beginning January 1 and continuing through the second Sunday occurring after the third day in January.
      3. (C) Each unfilled deer permit valid in unit 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 19, as applicable, shall be valid in an extended antlerless-only firearm season beginning January 1 and continuing through the third Sunday occurring after the third day in January.
      4. (D) Only antlerless white-tailed deer may be taken.
      5. (E) Permits restricted to a specific unit shall remain restricted to that unit during the extended firearm season.
      6. (F) Equipment legal during a firearm season shall be authorized with any permit.
2. (b) Unlimited resident hunt-on-your-own-land, special hunt-on-your-own-land, and nonresident hunt-on-your-own-land deer permits shall be authorized for all units. These permits also shall be valid during the portion of the extended firearm season beginning on January 1 and extending through the last open day in units open during an extended or special extended firearm season, but shall be valid only for antlerless white-tailed deer during an extended or special extended firearm season.

3. (c) Any individual may apply for and obtain multiple deer permits, subject to the following limitations:

   1. (1) Any individual may apply for or obtain no more than one deer permit that allows the taking of an antlered deer, except when the individual is unsuccessful in a limited quota drawing and alternative permits for antlered deer are available at the time of subsequent application.

   2. (2) Any individual may obtain no more than ten antlerless white-tailed deer permits, subject to the following limitations:

      1. (A) One antlerless white-tailed deer permit shall be valid statewide, except in units 1, 2, 17, and 18, including lands managed by the department;
      2. (B) Four additional antlerless white-tailed deer permits shall be valid in units 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 16 on lands not managed by the department; and
      3. (C) Nine additional antlerless white-tailed deer permits shall be valid in units 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 19 on lands not managed by the department, except Berentz-Dick, and Elk City Wildlife Areas.
   3. (3) Any resident may obtain no more than one either-species, either-sex permit through the application period specified in K.A.R. 115-4-11.
   4. (4) Nonresidents shall be eligible to obtain antlerless white-tailed deer permits. Otherwise, a nonresident shall be eligible to apply for and obtain only those permits designated as nonresident deer permits.
   5. (5) No resident or nonresident shall purchase any deer permit that allows the taking of antlerless-only deer without first having obtained a deer permit that allows the taking of antlered deer, unless the antlerless-only deer permit is purchased after December 30.
   6. (6) Any individual may obtain one antlerless-only either-species deer permit, subject to the number of antlerless-only either-species deer permits authorized.
4. (d) The bag limit for each deer permit shall be one deer, as specified on the permit issued to the permittee.
5. (e) No deer permit shall be valid after January 31 following the date of issuance.

(Authorized by and implementing K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 32-807 and K.S.A. 32-937; effective May 2, 1990; amended May 1, 1991; amended May 1, 1992; amended May 1, 1994; amended May 14, 1997; amended May 30, 1998; amended June 29, 1998; amended May 30, 1999; amended May 30, 2000; amended May 30, 2001; amended May 1, 2002; amended May 1, 2003; amended May 1, 2004; amended May 1, 2005; amended May 4, 2006; amended May 1, 2007; amended May 1, 2008; amended May 1, 2009; amended May 1, 2010; amended May 1, 2011; amended May 1, 2012; amended May 1, 2013; amended April 1, 2014; amended April 1, 2015; amended April 1, 2016; amended March 28, 2017; amended April 2, 2018; amended April 3, 2019; amended April 27, 2020; amended March 31, 2021; amended June 2, 2022; amended Aug. 18, 2023; amended Sept. 12, 2025.)