I traveled thru a lot of Unit 17 to get to Unit 2 to hunt Nonresident Muzzleloader Mule Deer (which was good for Whitetail aslo). Only 42 nonres permits drawn for the Unit and it was good for Unit 2 and 17 both. Unit 17 is pretty dang open farm/rangeland. Unit 2 is almost wide open with only trees along the rivers. The drought has hit the western part of Kansas hard the last 2 yrs and worst was this year. Wallace County had less than 3" of rain this year, some areas less and some a little more. Deer were off this year really bad. Cover for them to hide in is standing crops or rolling ranch land with yuccas and grass. There was no cover to be found on CRP or ranchland due to drought. Most of the creeks and rivers I crossed were dry. Water was really an issue for wildlife in a lot of areas. Standing crops went to cattle grazing most of the time. Harvested cropland went to cattle grazing a lot this year. They have planted some wheat dryland and irrigated and it all needs rain really bad.
Here is what Wallace County looked like where I hunted.

There are big deer in Kansas. Really big. But don't just think because you draw a permit that they will be one waiting just for you. But, there were many smaller bucks killed in the area I was hunting. I did see on huge 6x6 WT in standing corn and even got a shot at him with my ML but just barely nicked him. I watched him walk and trot off for about a mile over the horizon on land I had no access to.

I hunt Pike County every year. I know what is there and that it is hunting and not killing. I will do my work and give it 110%. I have never hunted KS and I want to and it looks like I am going to. I just have to figure out whether I want to do it with a gun or bow. I know I can get drawn with a gun. It is archery that I am concerned about.

I know I can get drawn with a gun. It is archery that I am concerned about.

Number of permits are the same for the Unit, doesn't matter if you put in for gun or bow. For example, Unit 17 had 534 tags. 238 went to Firearms, 184 went to archery and 112 went to muzzle loader.

Sweet info to know. I hope I get drawn. Im really looking fwd to hunting there

Here is a link to the KDWP and if you click on the "2012 Nonresident Deer Draw Stats Report" at the bottom of the chart it will take you to all the management areas and numbers for nonres.

http://kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/Hunting/Applications-and-Fees/Deer/Quotas-and-Draw-Stats