In 2012 I hope to go on my frist whitetail deer hunt. I am starting a new job(a good thing) that will not give me much time to hunt until October next year. I have never hunted whitetail let alone going on a out of state hunt so I have alot to plan. Any advice on how to hunt them would be appreciated. I also need to find a state to hunt thats has O.C. tags with public land to hunt. I would consider a trade hunt but it would be hard for me to fulfill my end of the bargan. I have a hunting partner that moved to Montana that wants me to come up but I just don't think I can afford the tag in time for the draw. I would like to find a place where I could shoot both a buck and doe. Not looking for your honey hole but a place I can learn to hunt it on my own. Thanks...Jim
Jim, good luck, as you know there are a lot of places that have whitetails. For the public otc thing you could check out Nebraska, it's one of the closer states as well. Good luck, whitetails are a ball to hunt. I wished we had them here.-
I would hunt later in October and November deer movement is better with colder weather and the rut. You are in for a great time there is nothing like hunting whitetails.
Another state would be Missouri the Northern part has some good WMAs I had a good time there and seen some nice deer and unless the tags went up they are a good price. ND also has OTC tags but the deer numbers are way down right now but the price is good might be worth looking in to in a few years when the numbers come back.
I would suggest you look at all the states you think you would like to try. The south has the most dear and better chances at deer. The further north you go the better chance at them real monsters.
KS has a lot of public and has atlas to those areas.
Just hop on the Fish and game for all the states you think you would like to hunt. I agree late Oct. to mid Nov. is your best time.