Big Basin Prairie Hunting - Clark Kansas

1,818 acres managed by Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. It's listed as a public hunting area and is included in KDWP's special hunts program. However, this is primarily a nature preserve first — it was sold to the state with the stipulation that it be managed as such — so the hunting pressure and infrastructure are minimal compared to a dedicated wildlife management area. I'd strongly recommend contacting the KDWP Region 3 office directly before going to confirm current regulations and any seasonal restrictions.

For upland birds — particularly quail and prairie chicken — this could be a solid and underutilized spot given how lightly hunted it likely is. Deer are present but the open terrain makes traditional whitetail hunting a different game than what you're used to in heavier cover. It's not destination-level hunting, but the combination of light pressure and diverse habitat makes it worth checking out if you're already in that part of southwest Kansas. Just confirm access rules and any bison area closures with KDWP before you go.

Wildlife You'll See

The big draw wildlife-wise is the free-roaming bison herd (around 50 head), but obviously those aren't huntable. Beyond bison, visitors regularly report whitetail deer, bobwhite quail, and greater prairie chicken. Given the southwest Kansas location and the Red Hills habitat, you'd also likely encounter coyotes, wild turkey, and various waterfowl around the ephemeral ponds on the basin floor. The prairie chicken hunting is probably the most unique opportunity here — that's hard to find in many places.

Terrain

The terrain is distinctive and worth understanding before you go. The dominant feature is Big Basin itself — a massive circular depression about a mile wide and 100 feet deep with nearly vertical walls. Outside the basin, the land is rolling mixed-grass prairie typical of the Kansas Red Hills — level uplands transitioning into small canyons and draws. Keiger Creek runs through the northeast corner, adding some riparian cover. The basin floor has scattered shallow ponds that hold water after rain. Vehicles are restricted to minimally maintained trails, so you'll be doing significant walking on foot across open prairie and uneven ground. It's wide-open country with long sight lines.

Property size: 1818 acres

Maximum Number of Hunters:

Cattle on Property?

Is fishing allowed?

Are family members allowed?

Are guests allowed?

Can this be used as a corporate lease?

Big Game Limits?

Shared bag limit applied?

Does the landowner require a phone or text notification before hunting?

Electric hookup on property?

Water hookup on property?

Is camping allowed on property?

Greg Willis

• (405) 674-4868
• sales@ushunts.com