Trad Gang

I'm gonna tell you (IMO) why my great state of Ohio is the best whitetail hunting state on Gods green earth. Can your state compare? Let's see!

1. Big deer and numbers! Pick up a copy of North American Whitetail and odds are there is a featured Ohio buck in every addition. Can't say that about too many states. Numbers? If I were so inclined, I could shoot 18 deer/yr in Ohio w/ my bow. That's a fact, Jack.

2.ODOW is tops. Our state and it's fine conservation officers... Nuff said. No one does it better.

3.Cost. Go compare going to Iowa, Illinois or Kansas with the 125.00 over the counter/Out of state tag here in Ohio and U'll bust an artery in your brain. That tag is good for small game & deer, plus the deer tag you pay for after that is the same it'll cost me. HUGE VALUE.

4.Access. Aside from the VAST & FREE tracts like Ohio Power and state forests Like Wayne National, a little boot leather and a friendly hand shake can still get you access to thousands of acres of private land in Ohio. Not to mention all the suburbs crawling with deer and poor land owners losing expensive shrubbery in an archery only urban zone. NICE!

5. & finally ARCHERY SEASON! Ohios archery season runs the last full week of September thru the first week of February. Only 9 days of gun (shotgun, no rifles) and 3 days of muzzleloader. I'm no gun hater, love those guys too. they're hunters just like me. But I can use my bow those days too. No confusing laws or off days or split seasons. Just sound & simple game management for Ohio! If you come here from out of state, you won't have to bring your lawyer to read our Rules & Regs book!

I could go on & on, but I won't. That's the big 5 for me. So, What say you?! Shoot me down if your state is better!

Yeah, but i bet you don't have any gnats to go along with that!    :D
Try to top that!   :wavey:

Any state that I do not reside in aparently! And I thought it was Missouri?

I'm going to say North Dakota. Huge bucks and a low human population. It's still off most hunters radar. Wisconsin is up there too. Lots of public land and big deer.

I used to would argue with you but Indiana has been through some changes in the past few years.  We have good deer in some places but they are getting fewer and farther between.  It's still good though.  We truly live in the golden age of deer hunting.  You are lucky to live in OH.  I used to live in KY and it's pretty darn good too.

I was impressed with Pike Co. Ill. when I hunted there. Not to much public land as I recall, but I saw some slammer bucks!

I myself would pick Kansas and than maybe Nebraska. I think Nebraska,North Dakota are both sleepers! Shawn

My picks are Ohio and Missouri ,Over the counter tags and plenty of public lands.

Are you tick free? If so I'm in.

Hap

If you can't fill up your freezer with deer meat in NC then you just ain't doing something right.  

PS
Once you filled up one freezer with deer go on over to the Outer Banks and fill up another one with flounder, Blues, Spainish and King Mackral.

We are a at least a 2 Freezer state. Stay here very long and you'll need 3.

As much as I love Pennsylvania, the game commission there shall we say has made some interesting choices this past decade. Take your pick of a Southern State for Numbers, a Midwest State for a Record Book chance.

NC...I don't have to buy out-of-state licenses.    :D

I am glad that so far you are not all jumping on Iowa. last year I ran into two groups of hunters. One from Mississippi said that they got kicked out of everywhere they went, even public land.  while I was talking to them, one of their party called and said he just got chewed out for being within 50 yards of a tree stand of a fellow that thinks he owns a chunk of public property. the others were from Texas and one them tore down my natural blind and tossed my tree seat into a railroad ditch. they all thought that every deer in the area was a world class buck. there was only one and all of us locals new it.

All I know for sure is it's not Arkansas. I guess it is for me though cause I can't afford to go anywhere else.

Vermont is the best whitetail state.

#1 reason: You learn how to hunt here!

Up here in the Upper Peninsula our main reason for tourism is hunting, along with wisconsin (minus their football fan tourism; Green Bay). You come to the UP and you've got hunters and fishers and a lot of places to do both.

Don't believe what you hear about Ohio.  There are no good deer here.  Mainly young bucks with poor genetics.  Don't waste your time.  

Sincerely,
Mr. Buck Pictured Below

  (http://images.imagelinky.com/1316570049.jpg) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1316570049.jpg)

QuoteOriginally posted by pavan:
I am glad that so far you are not all jumping on Iowa. last year I ran into two groups of hunters. One from Mississippi said that they got kicked out of everywhere they went, even public land.  while I was talking to them, one of their party called and said he just got chewed out for being within 50 yards of a tree stand of a fellow that thinks he owns a chunk of public property. the others were from Texas and one them tore down my natural blind and tossed my tree seat into a railroad ditch. they all thought that every deer in the area was a world class buck. there was only one and all of us locals new it.

Yup. Contrary to the TV hype, most of the state has average bucks at best. We have pretty fair numbers of deer, but not lots of monsters. All the TV coverage has made for a lot of what Pavan said. But, as someone else said, I can't afford to go anywhere else, so I guess this is as good as it gets.

Guess I have to go with Nebraska - only place I've ever hunted - been able to shoot deer for over 30 years and currently you can shoot 2 bucks and virtually all the does you want to buy permits for.

Quality or quantity?

Quality I'd guess west Kentucky, Ohio & Illinois. Quantity, definately Tennessee. Seriously, 4 bucks per year, 3 does per day in most of the State.

Texas has some great deer. Many are under fence, though.  I wish we had Ohio's short gun season.

All the same, I think we have a pretty liberal season and game to hunt year round.

You make a great case for Ohio.  I wish I sould say the same about Michigan.  The DNR"E" here doesn't seem to have a clue.  I grew up in Iowa and hunted that state as a non resident for several years but they are over rated and showcasing the "hunting is a rich man's sport" these days.  
robtattoo,  love your signature line!!  
When the going gets tough; the tough poach the "King's deer".  ~Robin Hood

Ohio sounds pretty nice.  I still like Minnesota, but I grew up here so what it's home to me.  Minnesota actually sounds a lot like Ohio, lots of public land.  If you are willing to walk and work a bit to get away from people, lots of good hunting is available.

Where Minnesota looses out is that gun season starts about the first weekend in November and runs through the first week of December (all seasons combined, regs. vary by local).  The early gun season, starting in the pre-rut and through the rut, takes a heavy toll on bucks.  Even with the heavy gun pressure, there's always a few dandies around.  Fortunately it doesn't take a freak monster buck to make me happy anyway.    :archer:

I think Ohio is the state to go to!

I've been saying for several yrs now that Ohio is the best deal for non-resident hunters. Price wise, trophy size, numbers and plenty of public land.

Before Ohio I thought it was Kentucky for the same reasons...but like Illinois, Iowa and Kansas...it don't take long before big leases move in and states to up the prices.

Amazing how good the deer hunting is in Ohio and if you go one state to the east(PA)how bad it can be In the 33yrs I have been hunting I never seen it so bad ???

Ohio sounds pretty good! We have huge numbers here in Mississippi, and real giants in some areas. High Fence operations are really getting out of hand around our part of the state and access to land is tough if you don't own it or join a club. Our deer are very pressured as they are hunted 1/3 of the year and 3 months of that is with guns.

Many good cases above for a variety of states. Several journalist types suggest I hail from a good state. The one buck/year rule implemented in 1992 did wonders towards creating an older deer herd.

However, there are terrible places to hunt in every state listed and great places as well unless Booner-size is your goal. If BC-size is your goal then a whole bunch of states get crossed off the list.

My favorite big buck state is Indiana because I hunt with my best friend on a farm that I'm as likely to see a 140+ as a basket rack. Problem is seeing them at 20 yards or less! It is a bit expensive for the NR especially if I'd like to kill a doe. The NR tag is $150 for one deer. If I want a doe and buck tag it costs $300.  I haven't taken a shot at a doe in Indiana since 1989. I can kill all the does I want here in KY.

Interesting thing about IN, if I first bought the two $150 tags (1 buck & 1 doe) the 2nd doe tag would be only $25.  I should do it.  What an exciting hunt I'd have with does in bow range nearly every time I hunt. Hmmm?

A couple have said North Dakota but its not as good as it was . Too many doe tags and 3 bad winters in a row and our population is way down. At one time I could have bought 4500 doe tags in my unit alone. Our mule deer population has just seen its lowest reproduction yet,hopeing for a mild winter, and standing corn for the deer gun season!!!

New york isn't too bad.  It has the singular distinction of being very close - 500 feet and I'm hunting.  Now, there's something to be said for that.  The most venison per acre for the state is right here in the Finger Lakes Region.

Although, not many really big bucks here, in New York.

Look at the harvest numbers from a great many states and you'll see they're about four times, or more, what they were 40 years ago. So, deer hunting all around is mighty good.

(http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x330/Ruralimagesandartbyjeff/DSC04757.jpg)

OHIO ...  AND THIS IS WHY ...!!!!

(http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x330/Ruralimagesandartbyjeff/DSC04754.jpg)
Two Ohio Bucks side By Side ..Same deer in above pic!

WISCONSIN

We have big bucks and your chance of seeing and shooting one are quite good.  

We have a generous archery season starting mid September ending early January.

Deer are part of our culture here, just like the Packers.

IOWA

Limited gun hunting in Iowa makes for awesome bowhunting with lots of huge racks.  Why do think the Wensel's moved here.

All states have their own unique attractions, they're all good!

Kris

All I know is in Western KS you can be sitting on the creek and have a 150+ whitetail walk by you and ten minutes later have a 180+ mule deer walk by. I think I'll stay in KS.

I love Vermont and own a 90 acre piece of it, Vter is right, you sure learn how to hunt them, but for deer killin, Ill pick Ohio every time.

Ten years ago I would have, without having to  think  said PENNSYLVANIA!    Now it may be one of the worst !!!! Thanks to the Pa Game commisison trying to appease everyone BUT the hunter .

Wensels moved here so they could make money running a guide service, and ,get in some great hunting for themselves (nothing wrong with that).
The land their clients hunt is leased or owned by them and private. Much better then public land. Also very expensive to hunt.

Iowa,s deer hunting shouldn't be judged by what you see on TV.

As a resident hunter in Ohio, I would rank Ohio dead last.  We have zero deer...and the ones we do have are small and taste terrible.  Don't waste your time here.

*fingers crossed behind his back, daleinohio wonders if everyone bought it*

I like Illowasourias

It depends on where you are on the ladder... if you are a wealthy land owner or a Joe Blow public hunter.

Absolutely not NY, more regs, less management, increase loss of habitat.

My state has got to be the worst whitetail state in the US  :biglaugh:

I saw a monster, possibly a 200, and I hope all of the other hunters in my area are too busy watching sports to go hunting this fall. Actually, our numbers are down and the chances that the big boy is going to settle down where I can get at him are slim.  The big buck last year was run off by "hunters" that were riding around instead of hunting. That is the problem around many areas that have lots of roads and field drives, it must be tempting to just go four wheeling than to get out and hunt.  A lot of hunters do not like walk very far around here, I miss the big woods where all one has to do is walk past the wall of ladder stands a hundred or less yards from the roads, and then to have large chunks of land all to myself and the few hardy souls that are not afraid to be out of sight of their vehicles. Wisconsin has that in abundance.

DaleinOhio,

Same hear, hardly ever see one, better go somewhere else.  :rolleyes:

I was working in IL. about 4-5 years ago and I've never seen so many fat a** deer in my life, private property seemed pretty easy to get with some leg work, the local who I met and took me hunting had 8 heads in his living room and everyone score 197 or better if you are into that. I just couldn't afford the $500 out of state buck tag at the time but does were $5 and as many as you wanted.  Tons of Turkeys and Coyotes too.

My pick is the GREAT HOOSIER state

OK, some good picks out there! It's a fun read. Any of you guys want to give Ohio a try? The Ohio Trad deer hunt is going on at Ohio Power starting Oct 19th. I'm gonna try and make it, U should too! Only 60,000 acres (I blve)of public ground highly under-utilized to spread out on. Check out the thread.

Dang sure ain't southeast Georgia!  Low deer numbers and small bucks.

Good whitetail states will continue to fluctuate due to a number of reason, with mismangement being the biggest one.  
    I have said for years, and I standby it that if Indiana would stop with the excessive gun hunting during November, it would probably quickly become the best big buck destination.  Excellent soils, mild winters etc.  The habitat is nearly identical to some of the better stuff found in Illinois, yet the hunting is not as good due to too much gun hunting in November.  
  However, I have heard that things have slightly improved since they went to a 1 buck limit.
   Illinois will continue to spit out big bucks, but unless something changes with the management...or maybe I should say mismanagement, I think we already saw our hey day.  Iowa is the place to be at the moment, but I hear things are declining there as well.  
  Iowa is currently going through what Illinois went through years ago.  
   The best thing that could happen though...is if more states would adopt the management practices of the better midwestern states.  This would produce older class bucks in many other states.  This in turn, would also take some of the limelight off of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, etc.  
  I have to believe in my heart that management in many areas will continue to improve, but unfortunately, it will continue to get worse in some areas.  The key is to try to be flexible, and know what size buck is realistic in your area. It's supposed to be fun.

I agree with Jon's statements above, the irony is, though, that the only improvement in whitetail management in the majority of the Midwest is coming from private landowners...This then just increases the difference in the quality of hunting between the "public" and "private" lands.  That causes more strife and leads to more dissatisfaction with the state game departments who then try to create more "opportunity" - read kill more and more - in an attempt to appease the masses or the insurance companies, take your pick.  Vicious circle.

To answer the question, though, as I see it the best state to whitetail hunt is the one you have enough access to to do the groundwork necessary to become a successful (whatever that means to YOU) hunter - unless you live close to the state line or have lots of vacation this will probably be your home state by default, since it is where you spend the time.  The guys from Vermont that said at least they learn how to hunt there are right on - you might think that hunting in the zoo's you see on TV would be a dream, but you only learn how to kill deer there, not hunt them.  I have pretty good hunting around here - really good relationship with my landowners and I keep it that way - but it ain't no zoo.  I really prefer it that way.

Heck, hunting on Dad's place in Iowa is great when I draw a tag there - but it does me more good as a deer hunter that I only get a tag for there every 3-4 years.  I may not end up with as many big deer on the wall, but I'm learning lots more about becoming a good whitetail hunter.

Just my 2 cents (or less, adjust for inflation)   :)  

Ryan

I will say Iowa because it is home.  I hunt a beautiful timber out my backdoor. Plus, my hubby is not keen on me spending $$$ to hunt anywhere else.  No real need to for whitetails.  We do not have trouble getting meat.  And if you are a landowner, the tags are cheap.  Maybe not 4500 tags, but my little family can't eat that much anyways:)

I got invited to Ohio to hunt a couple of years ago. I passed on a nice 8 point. My friend up there has some bruisers mounted. We went by a farmers house and he took us down in the basement. He had a stack of sheds in one corner as big as a mid sized car with monster antlers. We were in the suburbs of Cincinnati

I am not going to say Indiana is the best state for Hunting Whitetail but it pretty good and getting better.

If you want to kill a bunch of deer on the cheap, you can do it in Indiana. I don't know the exact number you can take state wide but it numbers in the hundreds ( antlerless) if you were so inclined to get permission in every county and fill that county's designated number of tags ( $ 15 each Resident)

There are plenty of big bucks, although they are not behind every tree.

The only things that I do not like is the lengthy gun season and the lack of public ground in spots around the state.

I met some guys from Maine a couple years ago who were here hunting on some property of a friend and they told me " Son, we saw more deer today than we did all season in Maine, you guys don't know how good you have it here" .

I think I agree...
Copper1

It is NOT Texas! Don't believe the hype on TV from Bucks of Tecomate. Worst show on TV.

The state you reside in .

Think back to when you started hunting. You did it for the excitement and the camaraderie of your family/friends . Like Jon said above it's supposed to be fun . The more you do it the more fun . I love living on the land that I hunt on .
I live in an area that the gun season wipes out 60% of the antlered deer . So hunting big trophies is almost a  pipe dream. So I have to say the state you live in and can hunt the most !

Just as an FYI, IN is actually increasing gun hunting opportunities.  Efforts to move some of the gun season out of the rut were vehemently opposed and summarily withdrawn.  We also just allowed crossbows in archery season.  Next year we will add a special antlerless gun season late in the year.  Gunhunting starts in mid November and goes for about a month if you include muzzleloader.

The one buck rule has helped some I agree.  It's still very fun to hunt in a state with lots of does and an outside chance to kill a big buck, even on public ground.

Non-residents kind of get the shaft if they want to kill a doe since the first antlerless license is $150.

150$ for a doe is nuts! To the boys from Vermont, I agree you may learn to hunt from limited opportunity, but Mickey Mantle didn't hit one ball every batting practice. Both arguements are valid. Little opportunity, you learn quick. lots of opportunity, more chances to learn. A good hunter is a good hunter no matter where he/she hunts. I treat every chance I get the same way, wether I've seen one deer that week or 30 in a day.

i am blown away that nobody has said anything about south carolina!    :laughing:

In Idaho I can shoot one deer for a $20 tag. If I want to shoot a second deer the tag is only $300...

QuoteOriginally posted by Jesse Minish:
In Idaho I can shoot one deer for a $20 tag. If I want to shoot a second deer the tag is only $300...

Just to mess with you in Texas there are counties where you can shoot 2 Bucks and 3 Doe's or 1 buck 2 does ect ect..it's crazy really. I haven't kept up with the current regs but you can shoot a ton deer
for chump change.

What Ryan said describes the situation in a lot of KY as well. I've never gotten a straight answer from any of our deer biologists concerning them scheduling the 10-14 day gun season during the rut. That is no way to fine tune the age structure or increase the number of mature bucks. A friend of mine, who works in KY wildlife management, recently told me that "Bubba rules", and that "as long as he does we won't be doing anything that upsets him.  That might cause losses in license, and/or permit sales." Bottom line, they are more than likely going to continue giving the most people the easiest opportunity to take deer using centerfire rifles during the peak of the rut.

You can shoot 2 bucks a day in parts of Florida from mid Sept. into Jan. Give or take a few days between seasons.

5 years ago I would have said Iowa. It's still a great place for some mature bucks but it has went down hill in most places.

doug77

all i know is Ny has really gone downhill  :(

Missouri is pretty good. You can take 2 bucks with abow, another during gun season, and you can hunt during gun season with abow if you want on a gun tag. Most of the state has unlimited doe tags for $7 for a resident. I don't know what our non resident fees are but they are nothing like IL or IA.
Our problem is the same as Kentucky. Gun season during the rut.

I've only ever lived in Ohio. It's just shocking to me that people can shoot multiple bucks in some states. It just sounds wierd. Our gun season is the first monday after thanksgiving with shotgun/slug & muzzleloaders, no rifle. I'm sure that saves a bunch of bucks every year. The range and timing of the gun hunt.

Missouri non-res tags arent bad - they went up some though.  I think they are in the $300 range for 2 deer tags and 2 turkey tags all on one license (correct me if I'm wrong there).  Not dirt cheap, but not bad in this day and age.

CAT, I know what your saying about multiple bucks/multiple deer.  I grew up in north central Ohio, of course, and back in them days it was one deer only, buck or doe, then you're done.  When you killed a deer it was a several day long celebration....when I moved to Indiana I was surprised that the locals thought of killing a deer more like a rabbit - go out and get another tomorrow.  With my lifetime license in Indiana I could kill something like 5-6 does a year in just my county, and one buck - then I guess move county to county killing does 'till you run out of arrows or get sick of it.  Do that every year and never have to buy another license or deer tag.  The lifetime license in Indiana was a great deal when it was available.  In practice, though, I generally shoot 1 doe a year and a buck if he's big enough - thats plenty deer for me.

Ryan

I like my little state of WV, lots of deer, some nice bucks in most of the state, some huge bucks in the bow only counties, friendly folks and beautiful scenery. Maybe not the best but I like it.

Not Ga. A three month gun season kinda makes a deer a bit on edge. If you try to read our reg book and your not a lawyer you will need one to figure most of it out.RC

I love Ohio and have always felt it was an underated state but thats why I really like it. It seems to be catching on a bit more and that scares me more leases less "good" ground, people buying big tracts from out of state or from the city that are in it for the "horn porn". I think it will eventually become like Iowa or Illinois. No disrespect towards those great states, I just think the money/commercial aspect will take over. I live near Derrasic Park some big bucks get sold to big ranches for big money. I also don't agree with the new taging system, guess thats why I'm goin to school to maybe change and regulate this stuff someday. But I do love the hunting here and believe it's some of the best in the country.

The new tagging system in Ohio is going to increase poaching. No one ever has to see the deer. Carry a handgun in your backpack and a bow in your hand. Unless they stop you, which isn't going to happen, you can shoot as many as you want with a gun under an archery premise. No one will know if you butcher it yourself. I think it will be less safe for archers and decrease our population of older deer. For now we are ok, but I don't think the future holds good things for us as a state. Hopefully I will be proven wrong.

Ryan, the MO NR archery license is $225 this year, good for two deer and two turkeys, and small game in season except for furbearers. I'll be headed up that way soon.

I sure hope it's Kansas 'cause several of us are headed out there in about 3 weeks.    :)

New Jersey

1. I live in NJ.
2. NJ offers many days in the field. A hunter can hunt Sundays on WMA's and private property.
A hunter can deer hunt from the second weekend in Sept to mid February. 3. There are a lot of deer in NJ
4. NJ has a very liberal bag limit on deer. In some zones the bag limit is unlimited antlerless deer.
5. NJ does hold some very nice bucks if that's your thing. I'm after putting meat in the freezer not after antler scores. Besides I still haven't found a good recipe for cooking antlers.

Well here is my opinion. I know some may not agree but it's here anyway.

Anyone looks good to me!!

I guess all of the other 49.

Ninnesota has few deer, and small dwarf bucks.

I sure would not waste my time coming up here to hunt. Only a few million acres of public land as well.

dbl post

All you Ohio guys worried about the new tagging system need to talk to someone in  a state who already has the same kind of system.  I live in Ohio, but I am from Missouri.  I still go back to hunt there with my Dad and I really like the system they have.  

I need to find the exact stats, but I was speaking to a conservation officer I used to teach hunter's ed with last time I was there.  He says there has been no significant increase in poaching that they can tell.  He said, and he is right, that poachers will find a way to kill deer illegally even if you had an officer behind every tree.

How many untagged deer do you think rode right past check stations in the back of trucks with the old system?  Thousands I say...not to mention the ones that get killed, butchered and eaten on the same property.  I seriously doubt there will be an appreciable rise in poaching of deer that can be directly attributed to the new tagging system.

QuoteOriginally posted by buckeye_hunter:
The new tagging system in Ohio is going to increase poaching. No one ever has to see the deer. Carry a handgun in your backpack and a bow in your hand. Unless they stop you, which isn't going to happen, you can shoot as many as you want with a gun under an archery premise. No one will know if you butcher it yourself. I think it will be less safe for archers and decrease our population of older deer. For now we are ok, but I don't think the future holds good things for us as a state. Hopefully I will be proven wrong.

Charlie,

Here in Missouri we have tele check (phone in the kill) for our deer and turkey. No more going to the checking station. Just place the tag on the animal for transport and call in by 10 PM to report the kill. I like the tele check system and I don't think it has a negative effect on our game. There will always be that criminal element out there that tries to cheat the system in some way, but that same group was trying to cheat the system before the tele check system. Yeah someone could kill a buck and say they killed a doe or kill a deer with a gun during bow hunting season and call it in as a bow kill, or kill a deer without buying a tag. But what would keep the same person from poaching an animal and not reporting it on the old system? Nothing! A criminal is a criminal.

In Missouri we have landowner tags that are free to the landowners. It used to be a landowner could make their own tag, put it on the animal and take the animal in to have it checked. Then the system was changed so that all hunters had to have state issued tags. Landowner tags were and are still free, but there are no more handwritten tags. Under our system why would a landowner bother to go get tags? The answer: Because it's the law. What keeps a landowner from ignoring the state hunting rules and killing as many animals as they want? The answer: Self-respect, honesty and a willingness to follow the law.

My wife and I have land and it would be easy for me, after I kill an animal, to haul it back to my shop butcher it and put it in the freezer without anyone being wise to my actions but I don't. I carry my tags with me and I use them when I kill an animal and I call the kill in via our tele check system. Being caught, being labeled a criminal and losing my hunting privileges is not worth the risk when doing the right thing is so simple.

Your comment, as you may have noticed, struck a nerve. Reading you comment makes me think that you believe that most outdoorsmen are dishonest and have criminal intentions. I am in the other camp.

Good luck this season.  :campfire:

CAT...I'll be making my first trip this season to your state. Very excited about it.

I don't know Jim, you may be wasting your time. Everybody knows there are NO deer in Ohio!     :bigsmyl:

gatekeeoper, I think Buckeye just has a concern, maybe founded, maybe not, but just his opinion. Certainly not saying he grouping people being dishonest. Anytime tradition is broke and something new comes down the trail, one has doubts. That's the first thing that came to my mind, to be honest, but I think a guy will poach if he's a poacher no matter what. Galion and places in southern Ohio are sparcely populated in comparison to the rest of the state. pretty easy to do what you want down there and not get caught if you wanted. Buckeye, like me, prob has had some experience running into folks like that. But like all of us on this site, we have concerns valid to us. I'm sure no ill intent was meant. Let's get back to the best state for whitetail!

papafrank, I use to live in Stow right across from Larrys Stables. Hunted up against the north side of the stow park. Portage county has great genetics and some slammers down your way! To this day the biggest deer I have ever seen alive lived in that park. You have fun this season and enjoy our great deer!

Gatekeeper...so well said!

I took a nice 10 pointer back in the late 1990's here in upstate NY that would have been a 12 had not 2 tines been broken off. He was huge! Albeit this was during the Southern Zone gun season back then - when I hunted with firearms - which I no longer do any longer but now only hunt with the bow!

Saw this late, but yeah, you're right.   :bigsmyl:

Zone 8 in Massachusetts is #1,,,,,,,  well I think it might of been before all the deer left 8^(

Thats pretty funny Ted that no one else said Ma, I thought sitting 150 + hours and seeing 3 deer all year would rank up at the top? I guess I was wrong. I might be able to increase the 3 deer number tommarow, fingers crossed.

Anywhere in the Midwest is great IMO. Bowhunting southwest Louisiana sucks!

Notice that not many Wisconsin guys have spoken up?  Lots of deer in the southern half of the state.  Few and far between in the northern part.  Lots of wolves, bear, rampant baiting, and an army of over 3 million orange hunters every November.  Combined with a DNR that's hogtied by legislators.  Sure... we have Buffalo county, and the Packers, but if you don't have full pockets to own private land, or season tickets to Lambeau most serious bowhunters I personally know do their "serious" hunting in other states.

Kansas just look at my avatar, and there is a lot of public hunting all over the state.

Wisconsin isn't even close, that is why I haven't spoken up.  I will continue to hunt in WI but I am setting up options to hunt whitetails in other states every year from now on.  Chronic Wasting Disease zone in the south (eradication zone) and few deer in the north.  Get on good private land and Wisconsin could compete with any states already listed...but,if you have to hunt public or "average private" good luck.  Sure you can hunt the thousands of acres of public land but you better really enjoy watching squirrels.

Unfortunately it sounds like many states are struggling and it truly just comes down to too many people trying to use a limited resource.  I don't know where the statistics are coming from that say hunter numbers are declining?  Every year I hear more and more stories about hunter conflict, running into more hunters, and hunters from one state going to other states to try and find better hunting, usually to no avail.

Maybe I need to do some Ohio research???  

Nathan

Ohio, Kansas and my home state of Alabama. We can legally shoot i think 5 bucks a year and 105 does a year in the county i hunt.

Yea for sure we dont have many slammer bucks but im out on the horn porn anyway.

When i get the urge to get a chance to kill a slammer buck i have a lease in ILL. with some friends of mine.

I will take off for a couple of weeks during the rut and i already have 4-5 loc-ons put up so i can slip in and out and not have to stomp around in the woods.

Also have a place in Kansas thats a paid hunt but  MAN we see some huge bucks.

Stll like hunting in AL. the best. When you kill a 120in class down here you have really shot a mature buck.

I would have to go with NJ, why you ask ?, we have so many regulations that's why, if fact we have regulations for the regulations, and then if your in doubt, we have more regulations, and for every regulation we charge $$$$$$$$$ and more $$$$$$$, yes you can shoot all the deer you want, it's not as much fun, but it's cheaper to go and buy the meat.

To get good or decent property to hunt on is gonna cost ya, that's right, $$$$$$$. by the time it's all said and done, one might as well just go and hunt in another state and pay the none resident fee.  

If you hunt up north like some of my friends do, and you shoot a deer, now it's a race to see who gets it first, the bear, the yots, or you.

If there is one thing I learned about hunting in NJ, it's that " it's not the quantity but the quality of the hunt that counts.

loose lips sink ships.

It sure isn't Massachusetts.

I just lease 784 acrs for $4 dollars a acr that has never been leased. Me and my hunting partner got to hunt it 2 afternoons in a row to see if it had deer on it, there was buck sign everywhere.

I saw 3 buck and a WHOLE lot of other deer.

My buddy killed a 18in 8 pointer.

How excited do you think i am waiting for next fall.

Plus the older gentleman said we could sign a 5 year lease going up 25 cents a acr each year.

After the 5 years he said we could still lease the property and we would talk about the money then.

I use to pay $12 dollars a acr hunting the Blackbelt in Pickens county and this land we leased is known for some really nice bucks being killed in that area. We went to a local taxedermist and that all we needed to see, WOW.

We got very lucky to find this land.

You can forget North Dakota after last winter and the heavy gun hunting we only have small pockets of deer left, many areas have no deer very sad from what we had ...Tim

Wow Tim, that sucks to hear.  A few guys in my hunting group were chatting one night and the topic of what state to deer hunt came up. They all figured ND because human population is low and deer genetics are pretty good.  I'm not even going to tell them, as we probably wont make it there any time soon anyway. I hope they rebound for ya!

They just got done paving the last square foot of upstate NY, yep, one big Manhattan now. And if you do get a deer, it tastes like taxi exhaust..... so best hunting one of them other states   :deadhorse:

my picks would be

Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Wisconsin
Missouri
Michigan
North Dakota
West Virginia

all would have many more and bigger deer than Ohio, very overrated state, why else would license be so cheap??   :dunno:

Ohio , I can hunt there cheaper than I can as a resident of my own state if you count all the deer for dollars tags we have to buy here.

Let me tell you, Ohios deer numbers are on the drop. Don't get me wrong, we still have alot of good quality bucks. But our numbers are way down. We have a lot more hunters than we used to have.
If I was going on a hunt I would be looking at North Dakota,Nebraska, or Kentucky. I like the under the radar states.

QuoteOriginally posted by leatherneck:
Let me tell you, Ohios deer numbers are on the drop. Don't get me wrong, we still have alot of good quality bucks. But our numbers are way down...

I've noticed this the last two years.  Still a good place to hunt, but the numbers are going down.  There was an interesting article on ODNR's webiste about how the deer population is declining due to their liberal doe tags (which was there pupose according to ODNR).  Not sure how far they'll let it go before reducing the doe tags back to what they used to be.  I just looked through their past press releases but couldn't find the article.

Ahh, yeah, your right.  Everyone go to Ohio.  Repeat after me, EVERYONE go to Ohio to hunt...

 :saywhat:  

God Bless,
Nathan

I'm noticing a trend here.

Deer hunting is better in every other state than the one you live in!  It's pretty much a trend nationwide that deer numbers are declining due to more hunting pressure.  But, the states with more public access are easier to hunt by out of staters.

The Wensels moved to Iowa for a reason. (Gene told me).

THERE ARE NO DEER IN OHIO!!!!!!!.................. all you guys need to go somewhere else and hunt......

Someone said Arkansas is not the place but come on boys! its a bowhunters dream. next year bow season starts in sept and runs thru the end of february. six months of season? who else has that muchtime? and public land? White river refuge:160,000 acres  Cache river refuge:64,000 acres  Wattensaw:19,000 acres and thats just to name a few of many more which i might add are bowhunting only except a few 3-4 day gun permit hunts. ill b posted up in the delta thank you very much fellers

TEXAS

Why, because TEXAS was where Deer Management started, Antler restriction, Food plots, Mineral licks, Rattling and if You ask any biologist they will Tell You TEXAS is the book mark on Deer hunting.

The only trouble with Texas is finding a place to hunt for less than $1,000.

Here are my thoughts on this. I think folks think the grass is always greener. If your state doesn't strictly manage its deer herd it must be done by the land owners to improve it. It takes a lot of time, work and money.  It would be very difficult to just buy a license come here and kill a mature buck. The places I hunt aren't typical for our state. Most are in some way managed and some strictly managed year round for whitetail. If we didn't the deer would leave. If we didn't give them sanctuary during the firearms season the deer would leave and more would not make it to maturity. We own a farm that has no management and is highly rifle hunted all around it each year. If that was the only place I had to hunt my hero pictures would be few and far between. The deer herd there is not good and its 35 miles from other places I have to hunt.

My point is I think lots of us are looking for a "Great" hunting spot with a lot of deer running around without doing any work and that is almost impossible even in the very best places in this country. I truly believe that a big mature buck or large deer herd can be grown in any part of North America given the proper habitat, nutrition and age structure.

I agree with you TJ, for the most part. I spent about 10 yrs on a 5000 acre lease that we strictly managed here in SW La. We managed this land intensely and were rewarded with our efforts by increased deer numbers and antler quality. I am no longer on that lease, but have a couple hundred acres of private land and a small lease that I now hunt locally. I have pumped money and time into these two properties over the last 5 yrs with no results to show for it. We have really low deer numbers, a long gun season, and every license holder can kill 6 deer a yr. I have come to the conclusion that "Bubba" really does rule here. I have talked to several of the lead state biologists and all have stated the changes that need to be made to increase quality and quantity will not happen anytime soon because the majority of the hunters "just want to kill deer". Small parcel management does not work here. It will never get any better until the state does something about it.

QuoteOriginally posted by Bill Carlsen:
The only trouble with Texas is finding a place to hunt for less than $1,000.

I agree Bill, 100%.. But TEXAS was the birth place of Deer Management, Yes other states and Canada Does Have some Great big Body size deer to go with their racks.

Maine. Specifically Maine North of Augusta.

Maine is not the place to go for big racks, though you can often find mature bucks with lots of antler mass- just shorter tines in general and rarely more than eight.

But the real allure for me was plentiful land to hunt, VERY big body deer- my heaviest dressed out totally empy at 260lbs.
There are lots of water ways to paddle hunt if you choose and also lots of large tracts of thick seldom visited timber.

If you like to hunt fewer deer, but deer in a more deep forest setting, with the chance of actually taking a very large body monster buck it may be the place for you.

There is also plenty of ag/semi ag land to hunt if you do a little legwork and find some owners who would be sympathetic to the trad ethic.

Joshua, born and raised in Maine

BTW, private land is often left open for hunters ie not posted. If you use common sense you will never be troubled and even make a friend or two. some of these areas are actually several tracts against one another and can add up to some very big sections- over 600 acres and often over a thousand.
Some areas ARE heavily posted, so you cannot expect to just drive up to Maine and step out to hunt without doing some scouting.

I think that IA is a great place to hunt, but you wouldn't really know it unless you had some private land to hunt.  Reason being is that IA has very little public ground available (like less than 2% of total land) and what we do have is very crowded even during bow seasons sometimes.

Since bow hunting has gained huge popularity the past 10 years, alot more guys are out.  So you have to share the same amount of land with more guys.

But, if you have a line on private ground, especially SE Iowa, you'll do just fine.  So, my recommendation for out of state guys is to either do a TON of legwork and check the public areas, or hook up with a landowner.  otherwise, you'll probably be disappointed in what you see.

Whitetail heaven baby, right here in Iowa! We have about 90 acres in central Iowa, and I have access to about 220 acres in southern Iowa. Always looking for a nice landowner to allow me to hunt his place tho!  Buddy up to the farmers at the local gas stations/ mom n pop restaurants, you can find a plethora of hunting spots if they aren't leased out already. Plus there's 2 public spots on the way to my grandpa's farm, not a lot of acres but plenty of deer!  Alamakkee (sp) has some trophy animals up in NE Iowa. I saw a 180+ brute but didn't have a shot, my dad missed a monster this year as well and we were only on a 90 acre piece

problem is most big buck states like kansas and iowa are 1 buck only. we have 3 bucks and 5 does here but most people kill more. nothing big but lots of animals. if I had to pick a state it would prolly be kansas because the bucks actually run scrape lines and things during daylight.

Its not Montana.  We are blessed with variety... but big whitetails are few and far between.  

I have near exclusive access to 320 prime riverbottom acres with no gun hunting allowed.  We still never see deer over 140.  Every once in a while somebody in the valley kills a 150 class.  But thats very top end.  

I hunted Ill this fall but was reminded that big bucks in those heavily hunted states are very reclusive and nocturnal.  I'll be back though!

IA and Kansas have big bucks b/c we allow our deer to grow.  The nice thing about IA is that there's no gun seasons open during the rut (november).  Also, rifles are only used the very end of January and only in part of the state for antlerless only.

So, for a non-land owner you can shoot 2 bucks a year.  One during bow season and then one during gun season.  You can use your bow during late muzzy season that falls right after shotgun and the general bow season opens up then again too.

A landowner can shoot 3 b/c s/he can get an extra anysex tag for their land.  Antlerless tags (for the most part) are plentiful, but all of us Iowa hunters are hoping these are scaled back for next year.

Our herd is on teh decline from extra hunting pressure and it's nearly at the projected target for the DNR.  So, now we want to maintain the resource we have.

Here are some sheds from Maine.....up North.

(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Arrowworks/Mainesheds.jpg)

Exactly!