Kansas Waterfowl Hunting Season – Mallards, Canadian Geese, Teal & more
Kansas Waterfowl Hunting Season
Kansas might not be the first state that comes to mind when someone talks about waterfowl hunting. A lot of hunters think about the Dakotas first. Maybe Arkansas once the birds get farther south. But Kansas is sitting right in the middle of the Central Flyway, and that puts it in a pretty good spot.
The hard part is figuring out when to come. And this is true for any waterfowl hunt. You can look at the calendar and pick a week. You can look at what happened last year. But neither one guarantees much with waterfowl. Weather still runs the show. At 10 Gauge Outfitters, we know roughly when different birds normally move through the state. The rest will come down to weather and water.
Guided Kansas Waterfowl Hunting
- Price is per hunter – per day
- Hunters arrive after 3:00pm day before hunt
- Departure after the hunt on last day unless arranged
*Non-shooting guest rate $350/per night
*To secure your hunt dates 10 Gauge requires a 50% deposit. Deposits are non-refundable and 10 Gauge requires that 90 days prior to arrival your balance is paid in full for the hunt. Prior to 90 day arrival window, hunt dates are eligible to be rescheduled in the current season – within the 90 day arrival period no rescheduling of hunt dates is allowed.
**When traveling to 10 Gauge – Google may try to have you go down I Road. This is a minimum maintenance road and you will get stuck. Please arrive to Kinsley and head North on 90th Ave. to the lodge.
What Will This Year Look Like – 2026-2027
The 2026–2027 waterfowl season is going to depend heavily on how much water the area picks up between now and fall. As of August, Kinsley and much of Edwards County are sitting in moderate drought conditions, so natural water is something to watch closely going into the season. That doesn’t mean the hunting will be bad. In fact, when water is limited, ducks and geese can get more concentrated around the ponds, wetlands, and other water that we have access to.
For hunters, the biggest thing to watch will be fall rain and the first hard cold fronts coming out of Nebraska and the Dakotas. If the area gets some moisture and northern weather pushes birds south at the right time, November and December could set up well.
Kansas Compared to Other States
One reason Kansas is worth looking at is that you’re not limited to waterfowl. Pheasant season overlaps a big part of duck and goose season. That can make for a pretty fun trip. Hunt ducks in the morning, grab something to eat, and then walk pheasant cover in the afternoon.
South Dakota Pheasant Season vs. Kansas
South Dakota is usually a stop for migrating ducks and geese. There you’ll find wetlands, crop ground and prairie potholes that can hold birds during the fall. Kansas sees many of those same birds farther down the migration.
Similarities:
Both states sit in the central flyway and offer good opportunities. Agriculture plays a big role in both of these states. Waterfowl may spend the night or part of the day on water and then move into harvested corn or other fields to feed. Weather is another big factor. Hunters in both states need to be mobile and keep up with what the birds are doing.
Differences:
South Dakota normally gets an earlier shot at migrating birds because it’s farther north. But earlier isn’t always better. Once South Dakota starts getting hard freezes and snow, open water disappears and birds begin moving south. That’s when Kansas becomes more interesting. Around Kinsley, hunters can still be chasing migrating ducks well into the winter.
Montana Pheasant Season vs. Kansas
Montana is another major waterfowl state farther up the Central Flyway. Its location means hunters can see early migrating birds before those same birds reach Kansas.
Similarities:
Montana and Kansas both provide opportunities during a long fall season. Both also have a mixture of wetlands, ponds and agricultural ground that birds usually look for during the migration.
Differences:
Each state falls into different parts of the migration. Montana is farther north, so its season is more focused on the early and middle parts of the migration. By November and December, birds that have been pushed out of Montana and the Dakotas by snow and frozen water can start showing up further south.
North Dakota Pheasant Season vs. Kansas
North Dakota is hard to leave out of any waterfowl conversation. The state produces ducks, holds migrating birds, and has a lot of wetland habitat. Early in the fall, it can be tough to beat. But North Dakota and Kansas offer two very different parts of the migration.
Similarities:
Both states are located along the Central Flyway. Weather can also completely change hunting in both states. One big front can bring new birds in or send the birds you’ve been watching somewhere else.
Differences:
North Dakota gets the first crack at a lot of birds. But frozen wetlands, snow covered fields and low temps eventually push birds out. And that’s exactly what Kansas hunters are waiting for. Kansas is farther down the flyway, so cold weather in North Dakota can actually improve hunting around Kinsley. A strong northern front can bring a new group of birds into the area instead of ending the season.
