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Feb 12th, 2024
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 Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
#5190048
07/07/14 04:45 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 666
chk
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 666 |
Ok I'm wanting opinions on which state you'd rather hunt and why? Just curious everyone's thoughts on which state has bigger whitetails.
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: chk]
#5190381
07/07/14 07:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,668
Pitchfork Predator
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,668 |
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: chk]
#5190450
07/07/14 08:19 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Iowa or Kansas would be my choices. This will be my 3rd year in Kansas.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people? ![[Linked Image]](http://neoswarm.com/images/Bug_Crawling.gif)
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: chk]
#5190664
07/07/14 10:26 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,966
jdickey
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,966 |
I got to hunt Pike County Illinois two years in a row and although I did not bag a trophy, I did see the largest bucks that I've ever seen. Six of them were 300 lbs each, 10-14 points, 200 + deer. I took a management buck that was 198 lbs dressed, and a doe that was 169lbs dressed.
I will be hunting southwest Kansas this year, so anxious to see what pops up!
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: chk]
#5190682
07/07/14 10:41 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 666
chk
OP
Tracker
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OP
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 666 |
Exactly what in lookin for jdickey, thanks.
Keep em coming.
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: chk]
#5190709
07/07/14 11:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 12,263
A.B.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
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Obi-Wan Kenobi
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 12,263 |
I had the good fortune of living in and hunting SW Kansas for several years. That part of KS and adjoining SE CO are unbelievable. I would be hard pressed to say anywhere is better than the plains.
Talent is a gift, character is a decision.
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: chk]
#5190776
07/08/14 12:04 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,177
kry226
The General
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The General
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,177 |
They're all good, and don't discount western Kentucky either. But out of those, I'm not sure a person can qualify a "which state has bigger deer" statement. However, don't believe everything you see on the Outdoor Channel. There's not a Booner behind every tree.
Out of those states, for me, it would come down to how easily obtainable and available the tags and property, and price. Flip a coin, or better yet, hunt them all.
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: chk]
#5190842
07/08/14 12:42 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179
therancher
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179 |
Ok I'm wanting opinions on which state you'd rather hunt and why? Just curious everyone's thoughts on which state has bigger whitetails. By "bigger whitetails" exactly what do you mean? Antlers or bodies? Canada has the "biggest bodies". Wisconsin (a state you didn't mention) beats all those other states in B&C qualified deer, if I'm not mistaken. The most deer over 150" and largest average and total inches antler scores though, is without a doubt Texas. The only thing we don't have over all other states is body weight. And since we can kill an unlimited amout of deer, why would anyone really care how big the body is?
Last edited by therancher; 07/08/14 12:44 AM.
Crotchety old bastidge
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: chk]
#5190893
07/08/14 01:14 AM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 666
chk
OP
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OP
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 666 |
Big heavy racks is what im talking about.
All of the states I listed including the Canadian deer are going to have 250 + pound bodies as you know.
Really, im looking at what state would have the best racks and its OK if y'all want to add additional states like therancher did here.
Thanks
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: chk]
#5190990
07/08/14 01:55 AM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Here is a WT shed from a typical 8 pt from Western Kansas. If his other side matched(and it did) he would have grossed mid to upper 170's as an 8point. This side has 24" of mass. He was killed the next year with more mass and a droptine and grossed just under 190. There are big deer in any of the states listed above for sure. The states managed to keep big deer. If you go with a goal to kill a big deer that is over 180 then you have to be able to eat a tag sandwich on a 160 or 170 type deer. Like posted above don't go expecting to see a big deer on every trip out.  
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: chk]
#5191000
07/08/14 02:06 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,398
Pittstate
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,398 |
All those northern states can grow big deer, the key is pressure and season lengths. And don't read into how many B&C bucks are checked in each year. I come from a town of 3K people and there are several guys/girls there with 180+ bucks that have never been entered and never will.
Looking at ease of tag and available public land, I would do Kansas or Nebraska. I would also put in for special tags in Oklahoma and Missouri.
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: chk]
#5191096
07/08/14 03:19 AM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,985
TonyinVA
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,985 |
chk, I vote Iowa ..... I've hunt there 5 of the last 6 years and the bodies are big,,,250 plus on a mature buck ....and 150 " deer are not uncommon and you get the occasional 180 -190 typical and 200 plus non-typical deer every year.s
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: chk]
#5191101
07/08/14 03:27 AM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 666
chk
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 666 |
Thanks. Only reason I left Iowa off the list is how hard it is to get a tag. I'm headed back to Alberta but wanted to add a additional hunt. I've hunted Kansas bf but my dates would need to be end of Oct or December. I know they kill some great bucks in Kansas in October but man it was hot. Just thinking about ease of tags as well bc I know kansas is already sold out in multiple units. OK has great hunting but I'm from OK. Just wanted to try a new state.
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: chk]
#5191919
07/08/14 08:30 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 170
Mikel H
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 170 |
I am going for my first hunt to Western Kansas this year. I chose this area for big deer and the fact that a friend's uncle invited me to hunt on his 19 sections there.
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: jdickey]
#5192501
07/09/14 02:38 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179
therancher
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179 |
Any "study" that doesn't list Texas as the best opportunity for a big buck is just flat out designed to mislead. There are more 200+" bucks killed here (as well as all other sizes). The measurements in that study are obviously designed to promote certain states over others. The state with the best opportunity at a "big buck", to quote you, is obviously the state that produces and harvests the most per hunter per year. Since 90+ % of Texas bucks are never entered in B&C (thank God), we aren't listed, and it can never be proven how many B&C SIZE bucks are killed here. But obviously, since in any one season I (by chance) see several truck beds with six or eight bucks scoring in the high hundreds to the mid 200's, the number of B&C SIZE bucks killed in Texas can't be measured in the low hundreds (like the other "leader states"). The B&C club doesn't determine how big a buck is. Just whether or not their irrelevant club recognizes it.
Crotchety old bastidge
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: therancher]
#5192808
07/09/14 12:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358
jshouse
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358 |
Any "study" that doesn't list Texas as the best opportunity for a big buck is just flat out designed to mislead. There are more 200+" bucks killed here (as well as all other sizes). The measurements in that study are obviously designed to promote certain states over others. The state with the best opportunity at a "big buck", to quote you, is obviously the state that produces and harvests the most per hunter per year. Since 90+ % of Texas bucks are never entered in B&C (thank God), we aren't listed, and it can never be proven how many B&C SIZE bucks are killed here. But obviously, since in any one season I (by chance) see several truck beds with six or eight bucks scoring in the high hundreds to the mid 200's, the number of B&C SIZE bucks killed in Texas can't be measured in the low hundreds (like the other "leader states"). The B&C club doesn't determine how big a buck is. Just whether or not their irrelevant club recognizes it. do these "oppurtunities at big bucks" come from free range properties? how many of the 90% of bucks that are never entered just arent eligible to be entered? i am not taking sides and could care less about B&C as well, but if we were speaking of only "free range" oppurtunities at big bucks, do you still think texas ranks as high?
If I send my neighbors a text and ask them to give me feedback on my lawn and plant rye into a giant dong pattern, I'm probably going to get some less than positive feedback. Same goes here.
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: chk]
#5193506
07/09/14 08:07 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,985
TonyinVA
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,985 |
chk, I have drawn a tag in Kansas 6 of the last 7 years. The trick is to go for a late Muzzleloader tag. Weather is cold but the deer are predictable as theuy are hitting the food sources. Here are pics og my last two Iowa deer  
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: chk]
#5193805
07/10/14 12:24 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,398
Pittstate
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,398 |
Are you thinking of a different state than Kansas? Kansas only has one Muzzle Loader season and it is in the first two weeks of bow season (Sept 15 to 28). The rifle season is after the rut for 12 days (Dec 3- 14).
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: chk]
#5193815
07/10/14 12:26 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,398
Pittstate
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,398 |
Or, are you using a muzzleloader in rifle season?
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: Pittstate]
#5193844
07/10/14 12:40 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 35,896
txshntr
T-Rex Arms
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T-Rex Arms
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 35,896 |
Are you thinking of a different state than Kansas? Kansas only has one Muzzle Loader season and it is in the first two weeks of bow season (Sept 15 to 28). The rifle season is after the rut for 12 days (Dec 3- 14). But you can hunt with the ML in the later rifle season. My vote is Kansas, but I am biased. 189" main frame 8 pointer (not mine, just so there is no misunderstanding  ) 
Last edited by txshntr; 07/10/14 12:41 AM.
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: Pittstate]
#5194079
07/10/14 03:00 AM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Or, are you using a muzzleloader in rifle season? If drawn for the early season the non-res can hunt the early ML season and if not successful then come back in rifle season but have to use the ML again. I am sure this is what he means by his post.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: stxranchman]
#5194414
07/10/14 12:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358
jshouse
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358 |
Or, are you using a muzzleloader in rifle season? If drawn for the early season the non-res can hunt the early ML season and if not successful then come back in rifle season but have to use the ML again. I am sure this is what he means by his post. he referenced both iowa and kansas in his post, maybe he meant iowa in his first sentence.
If I send my neighbors a text and ask them to give me feedback on my lawn and plant rye into a giant dong pattern, I'm probably going to get some less than positive feedback. Same goes here.
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: jshouse]
#5194435
07/10/14 12:29 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Or, are you using a muzzleloader in rifle season? If drawn for the early season the non-res can hunt the early ML season and if not successful then come back in rifle season but have to use the ML again. I am sure this is what he means by his post. he referenced both iowa and kansas in his post, maybe he meant iowa in his first sentence. I hunted both the early ML season and the rifle season with my ML the first year I went to Kansas. Would have done the same last year but opted to stay and hunt my West Texas Mule Deer lease.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Ohio, Illinois or Kansas for whitetails?
[Re: jshouse]
#5194473
07/10/14 12:57 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179
therancher
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179 |
Any "study" that doesn't list Texas as the best opportunity for a big buck is just flat out designed to mislead. There are more 200+" bucks killed here (as well as all other sizes). The measurements in that study are obviously designed to promote certain states over others. The state with the best opportunity at a "big buck", to quote you, is obviously the state that produces and harvests the most per hunter per year. Since 90+ % of Texas bucks are never entered in B&C (thank God), we aren't listed, and it can never be proven how many B&C SIZE bucks are killed here. But obviously, since in any one season I (by chance) see several truck beds with six or eight bucks scoring in the high hundreds to the mid 200's, the number of B&C SIZE bucks killed in Texas can't be measured in the low hundreds (like the other "leader states"). The B&C club doesn't determine how big a buck is. Just whether or not their irrelevant club recognizes it. do these "oppurtunities at big bucks" come from free range properties? how many of the 90% of bucks that are never entered just arent eligible to be entered? i am not taking sides and could care less about B&C as well, but if we were speaking of only "free range" oppurtunities at big bucks, do you still think texas ranks as high? The OP just asked which state you'd rather hunt and which in your opinion has the biggest deer. My point is (once it was established by "bigger" he meant antlers) Texas has to be at the top of that list. Of course I'm not talking about free range. But the OP never mentioned it either.
Crotchety old bastidge
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