Bordering Nebraska, this unit stretches south to Interstate 70 between Topeka and a point south of Manhattan. Whitetail hunting is excellent on hundreds of square miles of private land, thousands of acres of public land, and many private walk-in areas that are open to the public.

Hunters without access to closely held private property have other options, including some public areas and many walk-in hunting areas provided through state leases.

This land is composed of flat lands and rolling hills that drain into a myriad of creeks and rivers, most of them lined by brush and trees. Most land is between 1,000 and 1,350 feet above sea level. Nemaha and Pottawatomie counties are in this unit along with parts of Brown, Jackson, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Riley and Marshall counties. The main waterways are Big Blue River, Turkey Creek and Kansas River. Tuttle Creek Reservoir is the largest body of water here.

Grasses and crops cover most of the unit. There are dozens of species of grass, including native long grasses. Crops include soybeans, corn, peas, barley and hay. Many types of sedges, brush and forbs grow in natural areas along with native grasses. Trees grow in strips and wide bands along rivers and creeks and are mainly willows, maples, box elders, red cedar, oaks and elms. There are many woodlots and planted windbreaks that also provide deer cover.

Camping is not allowed on walk-in hunting properties. RV and tent sites are at Lake Shawnee Campground, which also has showers. RV sites, tent campsites and 11 cabins are at Tuttle Creek State Park. Private RV parks include Ridge RV Park, which is five miles east of Manhattan, and Deer Creek Valley RV Park in Topeka. Stallbaumer RV Park & Campground is on the west side of Seneca in the northeastern part of the unit. Another private facility is Calvin’s RV & Tent Camping park in Wamego, which is east of Manhattan. Many motels are available in Manhattan and Topeka. In the northern half of the unit are a few motels in small towns, including The Banker’s Inn in Frankfort, a couple of motels in Seneca, and Oak Tree Inn in Marysville.

Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area next to Tuttle Creek Reservoir has 100 miles of wooded shorelines and another 12,200 acres of land managed for deer, turkey, quail, waterfowl and other species of wildlife. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages about 8,000 acres in the southern end of the Tuttle Creek Reservoir area. At 400 acres, Shawnee Wildlife Area offers deer hunting. Jeffrey Energy Center Wildlife Area, about halfway between Topeka and Manhattan, has two areas open to hunting. In this unit, the state leases many private properties and opens them to public hunting through the state’s walk-in hunting program, click here for details. Controlled shooting areas (private fee hunting areas) are listed here; some might offer deer hunting. Lands owned by the native Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation have been open to hunting by tribal members and sponsored guests. Contact the tribal office at 785-966-4000 for details.