I'm 17 years old and am a junior in high school. I am going on a hunting trip for my senior trip. I am not looking to get trashed because i'm "not working for my kills" or "someone else is doing the hunting for me" I just simply want to experience the hunt of a lifetime and I want to take a trophy buck, something to remember about my high school years. I am just asking for some advice if anyone has any. I am trying to figure out if anyone knows which state produces the biggest bucks, which state has the most success ratios, and if anyone has any good experience with any outfitters.... Please let me know!! Thanks for any advice!!
Petersens Bowhunting just ahd an article and rated the top 15 big deer states. Interesting to say the least. SOme states are lottery only (Iowa, etc) for bowhunting, others are step up to the counter and buy an out of state license. Western Kentucky I think was way up on the big deer scale, and closer to you than Minnesota or Wisconsin. Good luck and let us know how you do.
Im kinda confused on the whole lottery thing... Does that mean that the only way you can get a bowhunting license for a state like Iowa is through winning a lootery for them or something? They dont sell any, like not even for the outfitters?
I'd say Ohio, Northern IL, Northern MO, North Western KS are top on my list. as far as, seeing shows where people kill big bucks. I've personnally seen some monsters in IL and MO. there are plenty of outfitters in both states. but if I had to choose where to hunt an outfitter it would most likely be eastern KS. I've pheasent hunted out there for a few years and saw plenty of monster bucks on all of the public hunting property. theres tons of it. We used to kick some easily 160 to 180 inch bucks while flushing pheasant.
In Iowa you have to apply for preference points. It takes about 3 years to finally draw. Iowa is also pretty pricey for non residents. I would look at Kansas or Kentucky. Big bucks in those states.
Thanks for the advice, I've heard the same about Kansas having quality bucks so i have been checking out some outfitters there like Triple Creek Outfitters. I have also been checking out Pike County IL, do you know or have heard anything about the hunting there?
I was in the same position about a month ago! Me and my dad decided to go on a late season whitetail hunt in IL in December. Not sure if you'd be interested in that but it's a suggestion.
Yeah it would be during rut or later in the season... where in IL and public land or are yall going to an outfitter?
