CuivreDog
Member
Two things really come as a small surprise. First, few expected Maryland to rank in the top 10. Delaware coming in just behind it only supports the fact that a pocket in the Northeast is prime big buck country. Secondly, select Midwestern states aren’t producing like they used to. Both of these things have been coming. But it’s still eye-opening data. Saw this on FB a few days ago but didn't have the time to post it.......have at it.......
9. Missouri
Entries (per square mile) the last five seasons: .00136
Top county for typicals: Lincoln (three)
Top county for non-typicals: Mercer (four)
This is just an all-around good state for deer hunting. It’s never been near the top. But it’s never really fell from grace, either. Call Missouri Old Faithful, if you will.
https://www.realtree.com/deer-hunting/articles/where-the-biggest-booner-bucks-are-coming-from-now
5. Iowa
Entries (per square mile) the last five seasons: .00285
Top county for typicals: Allamakee (seven)
Top county for non-typicals: Warren/Harrison (four)
Iowa is the heralded state that so many want to hunt. It’s the epitome of the deer hunting world for many bowhunters. No, it isn’t what it used to be. It’s dropped off significantly from where it was 10 to 15 years ago. Plus, it’s only cranking out half as many as Booners as Wisconsin and Kentucky on a per-square-mile basis. But it’s still Iowa.
6. Illinois
Entries (per square mile) the last five seasons: .00191
Top county for typicals: Bureau/Fulton/Marshall/Ogle (three)
Top county for non-typicals: Jo Daviess/McHenry (three)
The Land of Lincoln is No. 2 on the all-time list. But it falls to No. 6 when taking into account the size of the state and considering the most recent data. It might not rank as high as it used to, but it’s still offering pretty darn good deer hunting.
8. Kansas
Entries (per square mile) the last five seasons: .00175
Top county for typicals: Riley/Trego (three)
Top county for non-typicals: Pottawatomie (five)
You might be surprised that Kansas doesn’t rank higher on this list. I was. But I fear that within the next 10-15 years the Kansas legacy won’t be what it once was. We’ve already witnessed the continuous decline in past seasons. Only time will tell, though.
As you compare the two lists above, you’ll notice the huge differences between the all-time lists and the most recent data. You’ll also notice a huge difference between total entries vs. total entries per square mile. There’s a big difference. And things are rapidly changing across the deer hunting landscape. It looks like we’re witnessing the beginnings of a shift. We’re likely entering a new era.
It’s crazy how things have changed throughout the years. It used to be Illinois that everyone talked about. Today? Hardly a peep. Illinois deer hunting has greatly declined in the last 10 years. It’s No. 2 on the all-time list. It falls to No. 5 on the top states since 2010. Dial it in to the recent data even more by just looking at the last five seasons and it drops to No. 6. There are still some big deer to be tagged there, but nothing like it once was.
Other states have really come a long way in recent years. Indiana is one such state. It’s produced 133 total entries and .00371 entries per square mile to jump up to No. 4 in the last five seasons. That’s pretty significant. And when you have states like Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Maryland ranking in the top 15, and states like Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas ranking outside of the top 15, there’s certainly a shift beginning to happen.
Two things really come as a small surprise. First, few expected Maryland to rank in the top 10. Delaware coming in just behind it only supports the fact that a pocket in the Northeast is prime big buck country. Secondly, select Midwestern states aren’t producing like they used to. Both of these things have been coming. But it’s still eye-opening data.
9. Missouri
Entries (per square mile) the last five seasons: .00136
Top county for typicals: Lincoln (three)
Top county for non-typicals: Mercer (four)
This is just an all-around good state for deer hunting. It’s never been near the top. But it’s never really fell from grace, either. Call Missouri Old Faithful, if you will.
https://www.realtree.com/deer-hunting/articles/where-the-biggest-booner-bucks-are-coming-from-now
5. Iowa
Entries (per square mile) the last five seasons: .00285
Top county for typicals: Allamakee (seven)
Top county for non-typicals: Warren/Harrison (four)
Iowa is the heralded state that so many want to hunt. It’s the epitome of the deer hunting world for many bowhunters. No, it isn’t what it used to be. It’s dropped off significantly from where it was 10 to 15 years ago. Plus, it’s only cranking out half as many as Booners as Wisconsin and Kentucky on a per-square-mile basis. But it’s still Iowa.
6. Illinois
Entries (per square mile) the last five seasons: .00191
Top county for typicals: Bureau/Fulton/Marshall/Ogle (three)
Top county for non-typicals: Jo Daviess/McHenry (three)
The Land of Lincoln is No. 2 on the all-time list. But it falls to No. 6 when taking into account the size of the state and considering the most recent data. It might not rank as high as it used to, but it’s still offering pretty darn good deer hunting.
8. Kansas
Entries (per square mile) the last five seasons: .00175
Top county for typicals: Riley/Trego (three)
Top county for non-typicals: Pottawatomie (five)
You might be surprised that Kansas doesn’t rank higher on this list. I was. But I fear that within the next 10-15 years the Kansas legacy won’t be what it once was. We’ve already witnessed the continuous decline in past seasons. Only time will tell, though.
As you compare the two lists above, you’ll notice the huge differences between the all-time lists and the most recent data. You’ll also notice a huge difference between total entries vs. total entries per square mile. There’s a big difference. And things are rapidly changing across the deer hunting landscape. It looks like we’re witnessing the beginnings of a shift. We’re likely entering a new era.
It’s crazy how things have changed throughout the years. It used to be Illinois that everyone talked about. Today? Hardly a peep. Illinois deer hunting has greatly declined in the last 10 years. It’s No. 2 on the all-time list. It falls to No. 5 on the top states since 2010. Dial it in to the recent data even more by just looking at the last five seasons and it drops to No. 6. There are still some big deer to be tagged there, but nothing like it once was.
Other states have really come a long way in recent years. Indiana is one such state. It’s produced 133 total entries and .00371 entries per square mile to jump up to No. 4 in the last five seasons. That’s pretty significant. And when you have states like Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Maryland ranking in the top 15, and states like Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas ranking outside of the top 15, there’s certainly a shift beginning to happen.
Two things really come as a small surprise. First, few expected Maryland to rank in the top 10. Delaware coming in just behind it only supports the fact that a pocket in the Northeast is prime big buck country. Secondly, select Midwestern states aren’t producing like they used to. Both of these things have been coming. But it’s still eye-opening data.
