Best whitetail state and why!

[TxAg]

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.

[Flingblade]

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

[Easykeeper]

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.    

[bowtough]

I think Ohio is the state to go to!

[Hoyt]

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.

[Earl Jeff]

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 ???

[Swinestalker]

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.

[Bowwild]

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?

[Tim Finley]

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!!!

[Bobaru]

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.

[getstonedprimitivebowhunt]

OHIO ...  AND THIS IS WHY ...!!!!

[getstonedprimitivebowhunt]

Two Ohio Bucks side By Side ..Same deer in above pic!

[Kris]

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

[snakebit40]

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.

[elbow]

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.

[deaddoc4444]

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 .

[Ia Hawkeye]

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.

[DaleinOhio]

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*

[Tom Leemans]

I like Illowasourias

[Jason Scott]

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