Guest Tatonka Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Where do you all think the next "hotspot" for big bucks will be? It seems like that once a place is "discovered", the outfitters move in, pay to hunt and lease hunting rear their ugly heads, and before long the hunting deteriorates (either from overkill or lack of access)...... It basically becomes a rich man's game. There will always be great bucks in places like Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Wisconsin, Kansas, the Western Canadian Provinces, etc., but unless you have a fat wallet hunting in those places is a tough proposition (and of course in all of the Canadian Provinces except Ontario, a guide is required for U.S. Hunters). So, what areas might be a "Sleeper"? By "Sleeper", I mean an area a lot of us don't think about when we think about big whitetails. NW Ontario is/was, but from what I've been reading it's been found. I'm sure there are still some great places and great bucks there, but the hunting pressure by U.S. hunters has increased tremendously there in the past couple of years. Montana was a sleeper about 20 years ago, but it's definitely been "Found". There is still huge bucks taken west of the mountains on public land (it's extremely steep and rugged), but the majority of the prime riverbottom property in the Eastern 2/3 of the state is either leased up by outfitters or just plain closed to hunting. From what I've read and seen, some surprisingly good bucks are coming out of Oklahoma. I also think Nebraska is somewhat of a Sleeper. Idaho is another.....lots of public land, but like Western Montana it's rough country.... The Dakotas don't receive a tremendous amount of publicity, but they grow some big bucks there.... I don't know about access. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cj104 Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 i'd say Kentucky is a sleeper state. also the eastern part of colorado and wyoming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 From what I've read and seen, some surprisingly good bucks are coming out of Oklahoma. I also think Nebraska is somewhat of a Sleeper........................The Dakotas don't receive a tremendous amount of publicity, but they grow some big bucks there.... I don't know about access. Oklahoma seems to be where it is at here lately for great deer in a place that does not get all that much attention. Kentucky is no secret really, dont think I consider Kentucky a sleeper state really. Would agree that the Dakotas are overlooked too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 I think PA is an up and coming state for big bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Oklahoma. Hands down, no doubt in my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QDMAworks4me Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 I think PA is an up and coming state for big bucks. Do you think this is because they have implemented AR's and are trying to grow bigger bucks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tatonka Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 I think PA is an up and coming state for big bucks. PA could be....I've never hunted there, but maybe with the new antler restrictions more bucks will have a chance to grow up. I've talked to some people who have hunted there (this year as well as in the past). From what they tell me, there is no shortage of deer, but there's no shortage of hunters either. Bigger bucks will no doubt start showing up more often on larger properties with limited hunting, but I'm not sure how many opportunities the average "Working Joe" will have on public ground or private property that allows hunting. I've always wondered why Indiana hasn't produced more top end bucks. It's right in the middle between Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky. It's certainly produced some big bucks, but not the numbers a person would expect. It's not a state you hear mentioned all that often when people talk about monster bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinch314 Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 What Are Yall Talking About!?!?! Oklahoma Doesnt Have Any Deer. No Deer At All. It Is A Myth A Lie. No Deer Are Here Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okiedog Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Oklahoma. Hands down, no doubt in my mind. No doubt there have been some nice deer taken in Oklahoma this year, but it is far from the normal. I think they were just in the state this year for the Oklahoma Centennial Celebration:rolleyes::D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tatonka Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 No doubt there have been some nice deer taken in Oklahoma this year, but it is far from the normal. I think they were just in the state this year for the Oklahoma Centennial Celebration:rolleyes::D I hear ya and understand completely!!! they've probably continued on west and are now in New Mexico....probably the next new Whitetail hotspot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Mississippi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfletch7441 Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 I'd saaaaaaaay Rhode Island. Yeah that's it! All the big deer are in Rhode Island. Everybody sell me your hunting lands and head to Rhode Island, that place is full of monster deer. Granted, only 5 or 6 will even fit in the whole state, but I'd bet they're all huuuuuuuuge! I have no idea, but I do know they're not on our place in Oklahoma. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Western Oklahoma, Eastern Colorado and the biggest sleeper of all..... Mexico. There are hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of acres that have never ever been hunted. There is absolutely no telling how many monster bucks live out their entire lives down there and never see a human. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinch314 Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Id have to say New Mexico Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airman312 Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Where do you all think the next "hotspot" for big bucks will be? It seems like that once a place is "discovered", the outfitters move in, pay to hunt and lease hunting rear their ugly heads, and before long the hunting deteriorates (either from overkill or lack of access)...... It basically becomes a rich man's game. There will always be great bucks in places like Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Wisconsin, Kansas, the Western Canadian Provinces, etc., but unless you have a fat wallet hunting in those places is a tough proposition (and of course in all of the Canadian Provinces except Ontario, a guide is required for U.S. Hunters). So, what areas might be a "Sleeper"? By "Sleeper", I mean an area a lot of us don't think about when we think about big whitetails. NW Ontario is/was, but from what I've been reading it's been found. I'm sure there are still some great places and great bucks there, but the hunting pressure by U.S. hunters has increased tremendously there in the past couple of years. Montana was a sleeper about 20 years ago, but it's definitely been "Found". There is still huge bucks taken west of the mountains on public land (it's extremely steep and rugged), but the majority of the prime riverbottom property in the Eastern 2/3 of the state is either leased up by outfitters or just plain closed to hunting. From what I've read and seen, some surprisingly good bucks are coming out of Oklahoma. I also think Nebraska is somewhat of a Sleeper. Idaho is another.....lots of public land, but like Western Montana it's rough country.... The Dakotas don't receive a tremendous amount of publicity, but they grow some big bucks there.... I don't know about access. It ain't gonna be here...that's for sure!!!:D:D:rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Wyoming or Colorado. In order for it to be "found" it has to be easily hunted and leased by outfitters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonLester Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 What Are Yall Talking About!?!?! Oklahoma Doesnt Have Any Deer. No Deer At All. It Is A Myth A Lie. No Deer Are Here Lol. Same thing in Ohio. No deer. They've all been shot. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Oklahoma. Hands down, no doubt in my mind. I've heard from a friend that Oklahoma has almost no public land for hunting. Is that true?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinch314 Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 I would have to say that is not true. BUT IM STILL SAYING OKLAHOMA DOESNT HAVE ANY DEER!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okiedog Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 I've heard from a friend that Oklahoma has almost no public land for hunting. Is that true?? NO COMMENT! Accually, Oklahoma has over 1.6 million acres of Wildlife Managment Areas:cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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