I came to Kansas five years ago not knowing how my hunting would turn out. As a Midwest native I saw what I never expected. I always heard great things in the past about Monster Bucks in Kansas. I thought to myself "OK maybe only on private land, and hunting with outfitters". Turns out that I ate my own words. My first season here left me with great encounters of larger that average bucks (140"+). I had a difficult time patterning these big bucks while I hunted a small 680 acre tract of public land in North Central Kansas.

This is the part that was just a learning curve I thought. Boy was I wrong! These mature bucks became unpredictable with added pressure from just a few other hunters that fall. I Ended my first Kansas season with three does, and a heart break of no buck.

The next two seasons I watched several good bucks on both private, and public ground. I harvested a young nine pointer the second season, and removed a wounded five pointer the third season. Tagged ten does over those two seasons. The forth season I switched my focus to public land mostly, and hunting private with my buddy. With great summer scouting, and major preparations. My hunting partner, and I set out on a mission of doing management.

We had a plan of taking two mature bucks. We ended up taking a handful of does, and both of us went buckless. We had great encounters with 4 year old, and younger bucks. We just couldn't get the older bucks in range for a shot.

This summer I scouted hard, and found a special tract of land on the Kansas Special Hunts Program. I've been hunting in the meantime with my two hunting partners on private. I've harvested four does so far, and passed on 12 different young bucks.

As we enter the month of Buckvember my hopes are high of making a dream of harvesting a true Kansas giant a reality. My journey continues, and I will be hard at it until I complete the task at hand. Never give up, and push hard in everything you do folks. Your persistence will pay off.

Mathew Clouse
Bucks of Kansas Pro Staffer