[MinScout]

I don't like these "what's best" questions, since it's largely subjective, but for the sake of discussion: Which state has the best whitetail deer hunting in terms of deer numbers, quality, generous seasons/bag limits, publice land availability, etc? Thanks.

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Size: The closer you can get to Alberta, the better.
Bag Limit: South Carolina. I think I read that you can take one a day, like a vitamin.
Quantity: Any state that has a 'Shoot a doe, before you shoot a buck,' rule.
Generous season: More like generous rules. If you can shoot Bear from a tree-stand over Bait, then where hunting is allowed at the Deer feeder, that's a pretty generous season to me. (Not sporting, but generous.)


-Steve

[RIDE]

Easy... KANSAS

[asknight]

Arkansas isn't bad at all (http://www.agfc.com/pdfs/reports/deer_report_2004-05.pdf).

[sumpnz]

Not AZ, that's for sure. There's some monster mule deer there, but drawing a tag is a once in a lifetime sort of odds for the trophy hunts. Overall, AZ typically authorized 35k or so tags for deer. There's usually around 100k or so applicants. And they "target" an average success rate of ~20%. That means that on "average" a deer hunter in AZ can only expect to harvest a deer every 15 years or so.

I know when I looked into the deal in Maryland when I was considering a move there, the bag limits for deer was something 10 does and 2 bucks. I think the limit for shotguns did not count against the limit for smokepoles, and archery hunters could take unlimited does.

Now that I'm moving to WA I'll have to get familiar with the laws here. But, in the meantime I have a cow elk tag for AZ for the fall '07 hunt.

[hounddog]

West Virginia is not bad at all. Over the counter or online licenses. Can hunt over bait for deer. 3 deer archery. 3 does during gun season, 2 bucks during gun, 2 Black powder....all depending upon county.

[Rembrandt]

Not Iowa....nothing here but small sickly examples of the species. Unfortuntely all those big racks you hear about are fabricated stories by hunting magazines to increase their circulation.

[redneck2]

I suspect that states with generous bag limits have a lower rate of large bucks. What I've seen is that, if a state lets you take anterless, there are also some button bucks harvested.

A few years ago Indiana cut back to one buck per year, regardless of method. I can already see the number and size of bucks increasing. They can't grow big if you never let them grow.

['Card]

Go to any barbershop where they have a bunch of backissues of Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, etc. on the magazine rack and you should find literally dozens of cover stories listing the TOP 20 REGIONAL GRAND ALMIGHTY MONSTER BIG BUCK MAMMOTH RACK SUPER-SECRET HOTSPOTS IN THE UNITED STATES! Try to ignore the fact that every article will list 20 different places, based on which guide service bought some advertising space that month. :cool:

Personal opinion? I've hunted deer in 8 or 9 states (mostly in the southeast) and I've found my favorite places for deer hunting aren't usually the best places for deer killing. Down here in eastern NC for example, the deer are pretty small in terms of size, but you can legally kill a truckload of 'em and they're mostly corn-fed so they're good eating - but you pretty much have to hunt from a treestand and I find that tedious as hell. See what I mean? Great for deer killing, but the hunting doesn't do much for me.

[redneck2]

I'd agree with the above post. I'm at the point where numbers don't mean much. Every year I pass up numerous deer. If I'm not gonna hang it on the wall, I'm probably not going to shoot it.

That's just me. If it's legal and you want to take it, have at it.

[Kingcreek]

Not Iowa....nothing here but small sickly examples of the species.
Same for Illinois. They kill those big ones up north and truck them in at night, then take the pictures the next day in Iowa and western Illinois.
I don't mind shooting little ones anyway, taste better and easier to drag out.

[sturmruger]

I would have to vote for my home state of WI. I think we shoot more deer every year that most other states.

I did live in IA a few years and they have some massive deer. In WI a 300lb deer would be unusual but I they bag deer that size regularly in SE IA.

[NRA4LIFE]

For big bucks, I believe Wisconsin tops all for B&C entries. For bag limits, no state can possibly top Missouri. In most of the nothern half of the state, there is no bag limit. You can shoot as many as you want. Only one buck, but doe permits are $7 (residents and non-residents) and are sold OTC and you can buy a million if you so choose.

[MinScout]

I agree, Wisconsin is a good deer state, but their season is too short. Missouri looks pretty good, as far as putting meat on the table. Minnesota used to be one of the top big buck states, but it's declined lately for some reason.

[DogBonz]

Every year I pass up numerous deer. If I'm not gonna hang it on the wall, I'm probably not going to shoot it.

I just want to eat them.

[Lambo119]

I will have to agree with Rembrandt that it is not Iowa. All of our deer, if you are lucky enough to see one, are about poodle sized. :D

[Geno]

Southern Michigan deer have huge bodies and huge racks! You may find other deer populations around the country that are as-large, but you will not find consistently larger or consistently better racks. The deer in the central Michigan and Northern Michigan areas are okay, but they are not the southern Michigan quality. Some of the most impressive deer I have ever seen in Michigan have come from Jackson county. This area of the state is shotgun only.

[MrDig]

Since I have only Hunted Deer in MN I can't say. I can say that Mn has some great Deer hunting, Big Bucks, and most of the state has bonus tags for does to reduce the population. Plenty of Freezer meat if thats all you want.

[cdrt]

Montana has a pretty long deer season and depending on the area, lots of chances for extra tags. We lived in the Bitterroot Valley which has a serious whitetail over-population. One year they offered a drawing where you could get up to 3 extra doe tags; the limit was 500 hunters. The next year, the limit went up to 1500. I had a neighbor whose garden kept getting raided by the whitetails, so I put in for the extra tags. Ended up harvesting 3 does and one really nice buck and only had to drive down the road to do it. :)

And the resident license at that time (2001) ran about $50 for one elk and one deer (mule deer or whitetail). The extra tags ran $8 each once you qualified to buy them.

Navy Vet & SWIFT Boat OIC

[uk roe hunter]

ENGLAND

we have deer in season for 12 months. we have roe, fallow,red, muntjac, cwd. No bag limits, no tags.

but getting your rifle is dificult, expensive ammo

uk-roe

[EricTheBarbarian]

ive hunted ohio and kentucky and theyre both pretty good for deer. southern ohio has by far more deer than the northern part of the state. however, in ohio you are stuck with using shotguns. i couldnt really say about the racks though ive seen a nice 12 pointer in kentucky that my friend shot, but i mainly hunt for meat and a doe is just as good for me anyways.

[El Tejon]

Right here. Big well-fed deer all flavored up on corn, soybeans, apples and peppermint and spearmint.

[redneck2]

FWIW..I think once you get north of maybe Kansas/Kentucky, it has more to do with longevity. I have a friend that hunts 2,600 acres of prime land with only 5 other guys. He has 6 deer in the record book, and swears that there's a deer thats close to a world record on the property. Says it makes his 180's mount look like a runt.

[bigbore442001]

Which state has the best whitetail deer hunting in terms of deer numbers, quality, generous seasons/bag limits, publice land availability, etc? Thanks.

There is that old saying, " You can't eat your cake and have it,too."

Texas has the largest deer population and long seasons with good bag limits. The unfortunate thing is that there is little free hunting or public land. Unless you know someone very well or own land there, you will pay. Also, the deer in the Lone Star State aren't all that large. Yes they have some antlers but my friend shot a buck in Massachusetts dressed out at 272 pounds. You will not get that in Texas. Also, he didn't have to pay any sort of lease fee. In Massachusetts, if land is unposted you can hunt on it.

Maine has a lot of open land to hunt and there are always some deer that appoach the 300 lb dressed mark each season. But the deer density where the trophies are, is not very high. Hunter success rates are 10% or less.

The same could be said of New Hampshire or Vermont. Again, you can have fun but it isn't perfect.

I hear some good stories about Michigan. I wouldn't mind going there one day to experience it.

[gezzer]

I just want to eat them.

Yep, no matter how long you boil them thar horns you still cann't eat them.

[Shadow Shock]

In terms of numbers, Texas. In the nearby city of Lakeway, conservative estimates are that theres 5 deer per person in the city limits alone. That number greatly rises in rural areas like were I live

[Art Eatman]

I've found parts of western central Texas to be the most fun for me in chousing Bambi. I like to walk and hunt, and some terrain/vegetation is just right for easing along, seeing what can be kicked out of bed. Same sort of thing for mulies in the Davis Mountains, as well.

I've also enjoyed sneaky-snaking along in the river-bottom "jungle" of the Appalachicola River in Florida. Bucks move around some at mid-day, and every now and then a worthwhile shootable critter will volunteer.

Art

[prime8]

Not Iowa....nothing here but small sickly examples of the species. Unfortuntely all those big racks you hear about are fabricated stories by hunting magazines to increase their circulation

There is no reason 4 out of staters to even come here. Shoot theres so few left, we cant even hit em with the truck no more~!!!:uhoh:

[merpho]

I'm thinking of leaving Michigan and moving to northern Alabama. How is the deer hunting in AL?

[grizz]

Not Utah.

[ojibweindian]

Merpho

Dear season here starts in mid September and ends January 31st. From mid September to the Saturday following Thanksgiving, it's bow. From then on, rifle.

Limit thoughout the season is one antlered buck per day, and depending on where you hunt here in Alabama, you may also take one antlerless deer per day.

One buck, one doe per day for roughly four months. Works out to 240 deer, if you're able to spend every waking daylight moment in the woods.

We've got a pretty good population, in good health, for the most part. But the deer just aren't going to be the bruisers found up north. A trophy here will be a 140 or better.

Go to http://www.aldeer.com. Lots of info about deer hunting in The Heart of Dixie.

[tasco 74]

there are way too many deer here and too many of em choose suicide by car:what: :mad: .................

[K3]

I say Texas.

In the Trans-Pecos we have whitetails and mulies, so a possible 3 bucks.

WT season is 2 months, and mule deer season is 2 weeks.

Of course, aside from one recent trip to Mississippi, I've only hunted in Texas. Mississippi was cool though. There's actually some trees.

[phantomak47]

I have hunted in various places in Alabama (tuscaloosa area) for two years , but when I came to Texas, I was blown away.


I hunted in Banderas (spelling) and not only were there a mega plethra of deer, the landscape was much easier to hunt and it was very scenic. I love Texas hunting and would love it more if it was as expensive.

[OK-gobbler]

I like Oklahoma. I've never hunted anywhere else, but I am perfectly happy here. In the SE part of the state there are mountains and timber. Treestands work well and there are lot of deer, but they are small bodies. In the SW, the population is growing and hunting the rivers, canyons and plum thickets adjacent to wheat and alfalfa fields are best. This is my favorite place. In the N and NW, there are "Kansas Quality" deer w/ big bodies that feed on wheat, corn, and milo. These areas are great, but see a lot of pressure.

OK now allows 2 bucks and up to 5 does, depending on the area and season. Archery runs Oct 1-Jan 15. BP in late Oct and Rifle is 16 days starting the Sat before Thanksgiving. I have a lifetime license, so I don't buy tags, but they are available over the counter.

[George Hill]

Not Utah? Aint that the truth.

[ChiBears]

I agree with a couple posts here. STAY AWAY from IL and IA. The only good thing my bow and slug gun are good for here in IL is coyotes....
Unless you get an antlerless only permit, then come on by!....
NEVERMIND...coyote hunting is bad too...just stay away!

[charby]

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~charby/assets/121005button.jpg
This is a champion buck from Iowa. 2005 State Record! 5th biggest all time.

Go hunt places like Alabama or Mississippi where the deer are 10 times bigger than this.

[MinScout]

I'm starting to think that Minnesota might be in contention after all, at least in terms of numbers. I've never seen so many deer as I have in the past month. I've had no trouble counting at least couple dozen while driving my 28 miles to work some evenings.

[Oldnamvet]

There are plenty of deer in Michigan. Somewhere around 65,000 were killed by cars last year. Rats with antlers but not that many with trophy racks -- at least in central Michigan. But they are corn and sugar beet fed.............

[El Tejon]

Why are the deer in Iowa and Illinois so small, and Indiana breeds monsters???:confused:

[charby]

El T

Do you have something to do with that?

-C

[T.R.]

Northern California is my all time favorite place to hunt.

Coastal mts offer easy access to public lands and many vineyard owners are open to having deer populations reduced

The forests and foothills are nearly deserted of hunters because hunting is a politically incorrect activity.

Mulies grow large in north-eastern counties

Its not freezing cold or snowing on opening day

Jack

[huntinstuff]

Alberta.....well, we are kinda like Texans....why CAN'T we be a state?

I read in a deer magazine that Michigan was #1......