Best whitetail state and why!

[CAT22]

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!

[rastaman]

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

[lpcjon2]

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

[Red4arm]

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.

[John Scifres]

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.

[ron w]

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!

[Shawn Leonard]

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

[Big Ed]

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

[Hot Hap]

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

Hap

[7 Lakes]

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.

[NYStickhunter]

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.

[Bud B.]

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.

[bolong]

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.

[VTer]

Vermont is the best whitetail state.

#1 reason: You learn how to hunt here!

[David Dumke]

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.

[59Alaskan]

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

 

[30coupe]

Originally 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.

[mwosborn]

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.

[robtattoo]

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.