What's the best State forDeer?

[Gunslingergirl]

I have an acquaintance on another forum who is British. He's coming to the United States and wants to know where the best place is to hunt deer. I said my home state of Michigan and particularly Northern Michigan is a pretty good place to hunt deer. I also told him I'd ask some experts and see what they thought. So, I'm asking.

What state or region would you recommend for someone who was coming from the UK to deer hunt?

GSG

[gspsonny03]

Depends on what he is looking for. Quantity or quality. If it was me I'd go to Texas for quantity and Michigan or Illinois for quality. I have no idea what licenses would cost on any of those places and that would make a big difference to me. And that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[BILLY D.]

GSG

I'd go Ohio or Illinois. They both have monster deer. But I would not hunt Illinois due to political beliefs. I wouldn't even drive through that state.

I have hunted Ohio and their fees are great. Very reasonable.

Best wishes, Bill

[fabsroman]

If he is looking for quantity, Maryland and Virginia have plenty of deer, and every once in a while a really nice buck. Actually, I see way more good bucks killed around here than I did 15 to 20 years ago. The deer population is out of control in Maryland.

[gd357]

GSG,

According to B&C as well as P&Y, the top states over the last decade have been Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky, Kansas, and Texas (in no particular order). The top county in the country is Buffalo County, Wisconsin. Hunting rates are priced accordingly there. I'd stick to the midwest. Southern Ohio is tough to beat, both for numbers and quality. Anywhere in those regions should give your friend a decent chance at taking a quality whitetail. JMHO

gd

[gd357]

here's a map of the densities of trophy deer taken in the US

gd

[Jack]

Don't overlook some of the southeastern states.
South Carolina has an extremely long season, with very liberal bag limits.
Georgia and Alabama also produce a lot of deer.
Quantity or quality is a good question, and it would also be good to find out what your UK friend expects.
I think sitting in a tree stand in the woods all day might be different than what he's used to- maybe that would appeal to him. Maybe not.
If he's expecting open country hunting, spot and stalk type, then some of the plains states might be good.

[BILLY D.]

Originally posted by gd357
here's a map of the densities of trophy deer taken in the US

gd

Man gd

I didn't know Wisconsin was that hot. Looks like Indiana ain't all that bad either.

I also have to vouch for southern Ohio. Last time I was down there I arrowed a nice 4 point. Four points may not sound so great but this guy had a big body. He was a bruiser. I could care less about the antlers. Never found a good recipe for them anyway.

Also had good fortune just East of Dayton close to Spring Valley. Got one there with my 357 Rem Max. And I still haven't gotten over the Trout in the Mad River. When I was a kid the Mad, Stillwater and the Miami's were cesspools. I was fishing the Mad a few years ago right underneath the underpass across the road from Wright Pat and except for the traffic bustle I would have sworn I was on a trout stream in Montana or Wyoming. There was actually clean water flowing through. Both sides of the streambed were tree covered. It was beautiful. Ohio has done a great job of cleaning up their parks and public areas. Give yourselves a pat on the back.

Best wishes, Bill

[Gunslingergirl]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Guess I do need to find out a bit more information as to what he wants to do. I know his wife is coming as well and it's meant to be a holiday, so I imagine he'll want to find a location where there will be other activities to do as well.

GSG

[wrenchman]

Mi has a good population of deer but our bigger deer come from
the up or the south countys hillsdale and jackson are tops for big deer and large numbers of deer and it is next to impossible to get to hunt these areas big farm area and they lease out to the high bidder.
we do have the greatest access for any deer hunter in the country they could come here and hunt for a small amount of money and go home with a deer.
kentucky is a nice place to hunt deer good numbers and they have a better chance then mich for good book size deer
kentucky is a sleeper state.
kansas is got your best chance at book size deer.

[Catfish]

The only 2 states I`ve hunted are Ohio and Virginia. Both states have had pleanty of deer where I hunted. Ohio deer are definately larger on the average. I`m not a horn hunter and tend to shoot more bucks with bad racks than good, just to take them out of the breeding population. Last year I killed 2 deer, a buck and a doe in the first 2 days of deer season in Ohio. The year befor a 6 point and a button buck in Va. and a nice doe in Ohio. If I could hunt only 1 state it would be Ohio because I can kill up to 3 deer without buying a deer tag and the deer are larger than the Va. deer. I do but 1 deer tag each year so I can hunt with the neighbors off my land.

[wrenchman]

catfish i have hunted ohio just south of mi over by ceder point with muzzle loader the terain was real nice and seen some nice deer i passed on a few does the guy i was with shot a butter ball doe.
The one thing that shines in mi about hunting is lots of land to hunt that is state or fed 50% of the u.p. and 30% of the nortern lower.
If you were going to gun hunt mi do your home work some areas get hit hard by the gun hunters and you are best to steer real far frome them.
gunslinger if they are looking at mich some of the resorts in the u.p. would be the best bet they would steer them to were the deer are if they bow hunt mich is great in oct you have fall colors and the fishing is great.

[Catfish]

I guess I`m pretty lucky. I`ve got 600 acures of mu own to hunt and permission on alot of the neighbors. There is a check station 3 1/2 mi. from me that check in over 1,000 deer last year, that`s all seasons, gun, bow ect. I don`t think I would want to hunt public hunting areas. I see deer some where most days around here.

[Lilred]

Hey gd...that map don't make not sense to me honey,
in VA it shows the mtns as havin the most deer ....that aint so by a long shot. Well, let me explain a lil better.
Bedford county they say has the most deer, but bedford is also the largest county in the state..lol
but I dont even think that map included bedford? didn't look like it to me anyways.

My best vote state would be the midwest somewheres if yer lookin fer a big buck. Quantity would be the east coast er southeast.
Fabs...I hear ya'll got over a million there in MD?
I think last I heard we had over a million too..but ya'll must be overrun. Can ya'll run dogs? I'll come up and herd some down my way lol

[gd357]

Lilred,

It's not a population density map, but a map showing where the B&C and P&Y entries are the most concentrated in the country. So for example, a buck would probably have a better chance of surviving to maturity in the mountains than if he were among a higher human population with more hunters in the area, or at least that's my theory behind it. LOL

gd