Best States for White Tail Deer?
- Thread starter Iron Pony
- Start date
I do not know the season length and regulations of other states, but if I could go on a true trophy hunting trip to 5 places they would be:
1) Texas, turn me loose on the King Ranch!
2) Nebraska/Kansas, seen some pics of other peoples hunts and chances are it wouldn't be in 3 feet of snow like it would be in Canada....it might just be 2 feet.LOL.
3) Candada, huge deer again.
4) Illinois, seems like all the pics I see are huge deer.
5) Old Mexico, crossing the border makes me nervous, but it is such a wild and untamed place that I couldn't resist.
This is my opinion: Texas offers the best chance at a good trophy buck, but you are going to have to pay ($) for it! And too many of the operations are getting unethical (small places high fenced and bringing deer in). The large low-fenced places in south Texas are as good as it gets for opportunities at a good trophy IMO (that is 155+). Mexico falls into the same category.
For the chance at a record book buck (170+). I would say that the midwest (Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, etc) and Candada are the best bet. The deer are much larger in bodies especially and the mass of the antlers tends to be better (though our panhandle bucks are getting some attention now). Also, most of the places are more true "fair chase" as well. I have no experience hunting outside of Texas, I know only what I read and see in videos.
This is my opionion and I think it would be hard to argue with........you could definately be more specific though.
1) Texas, turn me loose on the King Ranch!
2) Nebraska/Kansas, seen some pics of other peoples hunts and chances are it wouldn't be in 3 feet of snow like it would be in Canada....it might just be 2 feet.LOL.
3) Candada, huge deer again.
4) Illinois, seems like all the pics I see are huge deer.
5) Old Mexico, crossing the border makes me nervous, but it is such a wild and untamed place that I couldn't resist.
This is my opinion: Texas offers the best chance at a good trophy buck, but you are going to have to pay ($) for it! And too many of the operations are getting unethical (small places high fenced and bringing deer in). The large low-fenced places in south Texas are as good as it gets for opportunities at a good trophy IMO (that is 155+). Mexico falls into the same category.
For the chance at a record book buck (170+). I would say that the midwest (Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, etc) and Candada are the best bet. The deer are much larger in bodies especially and the mass of the antlers tends to be better (though our panhandle bucks are getting some attention now). Also, most of the places are more true "fair chase" as well. I have no experience hunting outside of Texas, I know only what I read and see in videos.
This is my opionion and I think it would be hard to argue with........you could definately be more specific though.
That's a great list Woodrow! I would move Ill up the list some after seeing this place called SAMPSONs RIDGE. 
They have apparently got the right mix of nutrition, management, genetics to produce monsters....................I saw a show on Texas Trophy Hunters TV the other day and had trouble getting to sleep.
Texas is #1 on my list too. Just too many quality bucks and more of them.
They have apparently got the right mix of nutrition, management, genetics to produce monsters....................I saw a show on Texas Trophy Hunters TV the other day and had trouble getting to sleep. Texas is #1 on my list too. Just too many quality bucks and more of them.
Well the #1 place to hunt for me is the great state of Texas .We have one of the biggest population of deer than allmost anywere else . I have hunted from far west to south and now i'm in the eastern part of Texas . Although many states have great deer ,the chance of getting a b&c or p&y deer i would probably say will come from Texas unless your hunting a high fenced ranch .Don't get me wrong a lot of states have excellent deer and i'm not bragging on Texas or anything but from what i've seen and can afford i think i'll stay right were i'm at .
Bud Nadeau
New member
I'd say some of the midwest corn belt states, there always giving up big deer. The state of Maine is a state that is always over looked, big racks and some of the heaviest deer to be found anywhere. No offence to all you texans, but I wouldn't waste my money hunting your state for deer. Your deer have nice racks but are very much lacking in the weight department. I like to eat venison not horns. How much of your state is public lands that can be hunted with a resonably good sucess rate and not be over run with hunters? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Bud,
I think you might make some good points here. Please let me point out that the 300 pound bucks tend to be a little tough. Don't you think?
If the antlers are about the same, do you really care how fat that buck is? Makes for an easier shot I guess?
I'd also like to point out that I can take one buck in my back yard, go to my brothers in the hill country and take a buck/two doe. That's four tags and four deer. Now how much venison do you plan on eating? I've got a MFN freezer full of venison. That's four deer, two of which are young tasty does. I'm eating smoked venison sausage, venison links, venison chili, venison summer sausage, vensison break feast sausage every week. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I had a buddy go up to PA this year for a deer and black bear hunt. The locals in PA asked why he left Texas for PA for Deer. I think that say something.
I think you might make some good points here. Please let me point out that the 300 pound bucks tend to be a little tough. Don't you think?
If the antlers are about the same, do you really care how fat that buck is? Makes for an easier shot I guess?
I'd also like to point out that I can take one buck in my back yard, go to my brothers in the hill country and take a buck/two doe. That's four tags and four deer. Now how much venison do you plan on eating? I've got a MFN freezer full of venison. That's four deer, two of which are young tasty does. I'm eating smoked venison sausage, venison links, venison chili, venison summer sausage, vensison break feast sausage every week. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I had a buddy go up to PA this year for a deer and black bear hunt. The locals in PA asked why he left Texas for PA for Deer. I think that say something.
Please take a moment to look at these deer and the different catagories.
http://www.americansportsman.com/hunting/asn_leaderboard/loscaszadores/default.asp
It was a tough year. The abundance of food and mild weather kept a bunch of the large bucks in the cover.
http://www.americansportsman.com/hunting/asn_leaderboard/loscaszadores/default.asp
It was a tough year. The abundance of food and mild weather kept a bunch of the large bucks in the cover.
Bud Nadeau
New member
Iron Pony your right! texas does have a lot of deer, four a year is plenty. That should add up to about 300 lbs. When you go out, you got so many deer that its called shooting not hunting. Tough venison depends on when you take that deer, and if its a quick kill. I've had deer that weighed 260 and better that were quite taste and tender, quick killed animals no adrenalin pumped into the animal /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Im not picking on you Iron Pony its just that I'd hunt a lot of diff, states before I'd go to texas.
Im not picking on you Iron Pony its just that I'd hunt a lot of diff, states before I'd go to texas.
Prophet of Coyote Death
New member
If you want a big bodied deer that tastes good hunt iowa, Eastern South Dakota or Eastern Nebraska.
I'll be the first to admit that I am bias. I dislike how expensive and how business like Texas hunting is getting. There is some dang good public land in Texas to hunt, but there are not many permits for the good places. When it comes to eating, I like doe.
The fact is that Texas hunting is top notch, and so is the hunting in all the states I mentioned in my first post, and many others I have not mentioned. It is just different.
If I lived out of Texas, I wouldn't want to pay $5,000+ to kill a trophy! I don't and won't pay it now. There are plenty of places in Texas to kill trophy deer and not all of them cost that much. But can you blame the ranchers? It has saved a lot of em! Trust me, in 10 years you will see more and more outfitters coming into Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, etc! It's coming.
Texas is awesome, bottom line. And I would love to kill a big ole' northern buck too.
The fact is that Texas hunting is top notch, and so is the hunting in all the states I mentioned in my first post, and many others I have not mentioned. It is just different.
If I lived out of Texas, I wouldn't want to pay $5,000+ to kill a trophy! I don't and won't pay it now. There are plenty of places in Texas to kill trophy deer and not all of them cost that much. But can you blame the ranchers? It has saved a lot of em! Trust me, in 10 years you will see more and more outfitters coming into Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, etc! It's coming.
Texas is awesome, bottom line. And I would love to kill a big ole' northern buck too.
Calypso
New member
Bud,
There are still some of us that have to hunt to get our deer here in Texas. I hunt several low-fenced ranches in west Texas and work hard for my venison. If I get a shot at a nice buck, great, if not, that is ok also. I will not pay to hunt the big south Texas bucks. I would love to get a chance to hunt a big Kansas/Nebraska buck sometime. When I lived in Tulsa for a couple of years it seemed like the deer doubled in body size at the Kansas State line.
Good Hunting,
Bob
There are still some of us that have to hunt to get our deer here in Texas. I hunt several low-fenced ranches in west Texas and work hard for my venison. If I get a shot at a nice buck, great, if not, that is ok also. I will not pay to hunt the big south Texas bucks. I would love to get a chance to hunt a big Kansas/Nebraska buck sometime. When I lived in Tulsa for a couple of years it seemed like the deer doubled in body size at the Kansas State line.
Good Hunting,
Bob
Bud Nadeau
New member
Woodrow pretty much said what was on my mind. I've never had to pay anyone to hunt on their land, merely ask for permission to hunt their land and most will say yes. You watch shows about texas deer hunting and the dollar signs start rolling in front of you. But its not just texas, the price of hunting is rising through out the country. Hunting use to be a sport that all could afford. When I started hunting in the 50s 90% of the family's here in Vt. were hunters, now I'm sure that number is a fraction of that.
Hunting has become a very expensive sport for most, and I couldn't begin to think about the cost to a beginer just starting out buying all his gear. Then add the price of tags.
Im not picking on you texans am I???
Hunting has become a very expensive sport for most, and I couldn't begin to think about the cost to a beginer just starting out buying all his gear. Then add the price of tags.
Im not picking on you texans am I???
Bake to the original question. Which 5 states. Canada and Mexico are not states.
1. Texas. South Texas to be specific. Be prepared to pay big bucks. Asking permission just gets you laughed off the porch.
2. Illinois. Still offers the chance for permission to hunt. Huge bucks, but short seasons.
3. Kansas. Same a Illinois.
4. Iowa. It is in the same group with Illinois and Kansas.
5. Alabama. You mentioned quanity and bag limits. Alabama has an even higher deer density than Texas and with a buck a day limit and almost 3 month season you should get plenty of meat for the freezer. Don't expect any book deer though, they are few and far between. South Carolina would fall into this category as well.
1. Texas. South Texas to be specific. Be prepared to pay big bucks. Asking permission just gets you laughed off the porch.
2. Illinois. Still offers the chance for permission to hunt. Huge bucks, but short seasons.
3. Kansas. Same a Illinois.
4. Iowa. It is in the same group with Illinois and Kansas.
5. Alabama. You mentioned quanity and bag limits. Alabama has an even higher deer density than Texas and with a buck a day limit and almost 3 month season you should get plenty of meat for the freezer. Don't expect any book deer though, they are few and far between. South Carolina would fall into this category as well.
Corn fed makes for some big mo-foes. I wrestled a few of them in High School. I have only taken deer here in Kali. The thing that sucks is that all the nice big ones are usually in town where you can’t that them. I have seen a 250lb+ 4x4 in Atascadero not 50yds from us while at a BBQ. Would have loved to take a shot at him. The deer seem to be a problem in that neiborhood because they eat everything and no one is allowed to thin them out.
Here is my pride and joy. Measures 25"x13"
Edited because I can't spell
Here is my pride and joy. Measures 25"x13"
Edited because I can't spell