Hard to say-- I know a lot of guys that have bucks that would make the books-- They just choose not to enter them!!!! I am sure most of you also know guys and gals like this in your state.
I would be very surprised if the margin of entered vs non entered deer varied in any significant statistical degree from state to state. If hypothetically 50% are entered in say in Texas I would guess that 50% would be entered in say Ohio. I would think that residency plays a part however, for example a non resident traveling to hunt in known big buck producing state more likely enter a big buck vs joe hunter that walked out his back door in the same state. More then likely the record books numbers are good average indicator as to the quality of bucks that state produces.
You may be right.. My opinion is that a lot of guys won't spend the money to see their name in a book.. Maybe they might once, but after that. I know I didn't
Honestly, unless you killed a giant that ranks really high up the boards, I just don't see the point in registering your deer w. P&Y or B&C.
Outfitters push the entries so they can brag up success for their business and their state. I would bet that states like Illinois, Texas and Wisconsin entered a higher percentage of deer in the past. States that run big buck contests and have had a lot of pressure from outfitters drive it. I think that is the reason that you now see over 600 B&C bucks entered in just the last 5 years from Iowa. We are starting to get more and more outfitters and non-resident landowners that want to brag about their deer. As far as locals go, I don't know anyone that wants the notoriety of having a deer in the books. Money drives the book in my opinion.
I think those who show up here in Kansas will be highly disappointed for the most part. That is unless you want to hunt some high fence operation. Here is what you are going to pay around these parts. Mgmt. Buck $2000.00 Up to 150" $3000 151" to 160" $4000 161" to 170" $5000 171" to 180" $6000 181" to 190" $7500
That's about what Iowa high fence operations charge. Just stupid. No deer is worth that kind of money to shoot.
I think everybody knows where to go when it comes to big whitetails. Of course there are a few sleeper states but for the most part it's well known.
Not when it comes to ease of drawing an out of state tag, cost, and access, number of hunters, and population, and pressure. I can see exactly why they ranked it as high as they did based on those benchmarks. Its been a hot spot for so long the state has priced themselves out of it being a top destination. People will only put up with being price gouge for so long then they will look elsewhere.
