josh chatham
Senior Member
Saw this on the forum back in 2012 or 13. What do you think is the greatest sleeper state for big bucks now. Its funny back then KY was getting mentioned a little and Mississippi as well. What do yall think now?
Welcome Guest!
Greatest Sleeper State for Monster Bucks!
- Thread starter josh chatham
- Start date
Crakajak
Daily Driveler News Team
Wisconsin has always produced big bucks.
bear claw
bearded driveler
You know me josh. I still think kentucky an possibly Indiana. All I know is kentucky seems good to me every year.
livetohunt
Senior Member
I am not sure there are many sleeper states anymore. Most of the best hunting areas are well known now. Maybe Nebraska, Oklahoma, or Eastern Colorado. I think the absolute best areas are Southern Iowa, Kansas, Canada.
Mexican Squealer
Senior Member
Minnesota/Wisconsin
TJay
Senior Member
I'll second Eastern Colorado. They have a growing whitetail population and if you draw a tag you have the choice of whitetail or mule deer.
Jim Boyd
Senior Member
Read an article recently on this and there were some monsters coming out of some very odd eastern states like Delaware, Maryland etc.
My dream hunt is still SE Iowa. Sitting on the points, just need the right farm!
I know this is redundant but we need a dedicated 8 person group that are willing to create two man teams and each team goes every 4 years. I see no other way to lock a farm down and keep it long term.
The two that are hunting that year pay the lease, in case the property is lost at some point in the future.
I am working on a few opportunities but nothing concrete so far
My dream hunt is still SE Iowa. Sitting on the points, just need the right farm!
I know this is redundant but we need a dedicated 8 person group that are willing to create two man teams and each team goes every 4 years. I see no other way to lock a farm down and keep it long term.
The two that are hunting that year pay the lease, in case the property is lost at some point in the future.
I am working on a few opportunities but nothing concrete so far
Gut_Pile
Senior Member
Put me on a team
josh chatham
Senior Member
Yes KY has been really good to you!! Shhh dont tell anyone haha
JSnake
Useless Billy Bouncer
I think Oklahoma flies under the radar.
josh chatham
Senior Member
Your right about that Snake! I have a friend who goes out there every year and kills some monsters!
C.Killmaster
Georgia Deer Biologist
Maryland
Jim Boyd
Senior Member
Oklahoma was prominent in the article I read also....
Darn it, guess I am just stuck in west central
Illinois in November!
Darn it, guess I am just stuck in west central
Illinois in November!
jaydawg
Senior Member
As far as sleeper states...VA, MD and SD
C.Killmaster
Georgia Deer Biologist
Number of entries per thousand square miles tells the true story and sets all states on a level playing field. Page 15:
https://www.qdma.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2011_Whitetail_Report.pdf
https://www.qdma.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2011_Whitetail_Report.pdf
We used to goose hunt every year on the eastern shore, and we saw some monster bucks in the fields and on the walls.
I think the reason the deer hunting is not so well known is that it is mostly small farms, owner occupied, and you have virtually no chance of getting permission to hunt.
You would see a monster buck on the wall of a bar, and everyone could tell who shot it and when, but nobody had a clue where it was shot (that they would tell us).
shdw633
Senior Member
Wonder what those numbers are now since that EHD breakout they had in the midwest a couple years back.
Jim Boyd
Senior Member
Swamprat
Swamprat
Jim Boyd beat me to Maryland/Delaware but I will add parts of TN, Arkansas, Louisiana are giving up good bucks.
Maine is a sleeper but they judge by body weight....a 250lb buck barely gets a nod. Gotta be pushing close to 300 or above to get attention.
I will say we have a few counties in the Panhandle of Florida (Jackson, Gadsden, Leon, Jefferson) that has properties that give up bucks from 140 to 160" pretty regular but you will never ever see these deer on social media. Have seen the racks/mounts and swore to secrecy not to reveal where.
Maine is a sleeper but they judge by body weight....a 250lb buck barely gets a nod. Gotta be pushing close to 300 or above to get attention.
I will say we have a few counties in the Panhandle of Florida (Jackson, Gadsden, Leon, Jefferson) that has properties that give up bucks from 140 to 160" pretty regular but you will never ever see these deer on social media. Have seen the racks/mounts and swore to secrecy not to reveal where.
yellowhammer73
Senior Member
Maryland
I’ve seen some monsters up there. My buddies dad works at the naval base and they kill several 150” plus bucks every year.
I’ve seen some monsters up there. My buddies dad works at the naval base and they kill several 150” plus bucks every year.
