Kansas Pheasant Season to Open November 14
Kansas pheasant and quail season opens on the second Saturday in November, with the bird population down across all regions this year.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Hunting
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The Kansas pheasant and quail season opens November 14, 2026. The pheasant population decreased across all regions this year, according to the Kansas Upland Bird Forecast.
Why it matters
A lower bird population means hunters may find fewer birds in the field this season. Heavy rain during peak hatch across most of the primary range limited pheasant production, which is cited as a factor in the decline.
The forecast reports a population decrease in every region, and the season opens November 14, 2026, one day after this report. The source does not quantify the decline or project harvest numbers.
The players
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
The state agency responsible for managing Kansas wildlife, hunting seasons and the upland bird population.
The details
Heavy rain during peak hatch across most of the primary range limited pheasant production this year. Hunters are advised that landowner permission is required before hunting on private land, whether posted or not, and that land marked with purple paint on fence posts or "Hunting By Written Permission Only" signs requires written permission. Hunters who scout high-quality habitat are more likely to flush birds than those who tramp through random fields.
Timeline
The Kansas pheasant and quail season opens November 14, 2026, the second Saturday in November.
Seasonal Patterns
The Kansas Upland Bird Forecast's annual pheasant population assessment shows a decline in every region this year, following heavy spring rain that limited hatch success across most of the primary range. The report places the 2026 season against that year-to-year population tracking.
Hunters should secure written landowner permission before entering any private land, since posted land requires it. Scouting high-quality habitat spots before the November 14 opening gives hunters the best chance of flushing birds this season.
The takeaway
Plan ahead by securing landowner permission and scouting habitat early, since the population decline makes choosing good ground more important this season.
What happens next
The Kansas pheasant and quail season opens November 14, 2026.
Further reading
For more on seasons and access rules, see Hunting coverage across Kansas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NewsRadio 1150 KSAL.
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