Kansas Greater Prairie Chicken Hunt Fundraising Experience
The Kansas Wildscape Foundation annually offers a unique, bucket-list hunt for greater prairie chickens in Northwest Kansas. This fundraising experience, heading into its 14th year in 2023, will be for 3-4 upland hunters in late September at Stranger Valley Ranch’s 10,000 acres north of Russell, courtesy of owners Angie and Warren Gfeller.
Mike Hayden, Kansas State University wildlife biology graduate, decorated Vietnam War Veteran, former 41st Kansas Governor, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Park’s Secretary, Assistant Director of the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and President of the American Sportfishing Association will host and hunt with the successful winning bidder(s). Hayden is a virtual Google search on all things Kansas outdoors openly sharing interesting facts and figures throughout this truly amazing hunt-of-a-lifetime. Bidding is open to both Kansas residents and non-residents.
Update on the 2022 Outdoor Classic
Hunt participants will arrive Friday afternoon and stay in a gorgeous bunkhouse on the ranch with all the amenities. A gourmet dinner will be served at the Gfellers’ beautiful home overlooking the Saline River Valley Friday evening. Homemade breakfast is served both Saturday and Sunday morning prior to each days’ chicken hunts. On Saturday afternoon, hunters may tour the ranch on their own, fish in one of several ponds complete with lunker largemouth bass, or simply relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of Kansas’ own slice of heaven. Saturday evening hunt participants will be dropped off in strategic locations for a mourning dove hunt which in previous years yielded 15-bird limits in short order. The evening will be topped off with another gourmet, home-cooked, multi-course meal and beverages fit for royalty.
All meals and beverages, lodging and hunt transportation during the hunt will be provided. Hunters will be responsible for bringing firearms and shotgun shells, and a valid Kansas hunting license and prairie chicken permit. Hunters will depart around noon on Sunday after the morning’s chicken hunt.
Update on the 2022 Prairie Chicken Hunt
This year’s annual Prairie Chicken Hunting Experience was auctioned off. Duayne Madl, a longtime friend of Wildscape, purchased the hunt for $5,000 for himself and three friends for a weekend of fun. This year’s drought played a role in the chickens winning most battles, but the group wasn’t skunked and a great time was had by all.
For more information about this fundraising hunting experience, contact Executive Director Marc Murrell at (316) 391-0807.
