What is the best whitetail state?

Illinois is another one of our most important agricultural states. Again, where we find the fertile soil that produces large yields for crops, we find big bucks. Illinois ranks in the top 3 almost every year for total crop production and is usually in a very close battle with Iowa on which state can lead the nation in both soybean and corn production. In addition, Illinois usually is a top 3 producing state of Grains, oilseeds, dry beans, and dry peas.

#4 Texas

The Lonestar State is a mecca for deer hunting. There are multitude of different ecosystems and geography one can hunt in. In addition, there are vast differences of whitetail densities, body and antler size across the state. One has to remember the vast amount of landmass in the state. The distance from the most western point of Texas (El Paso) to the most eastern point (Beaumont) is 824 miles. The distance from Dallas, TX to Sioux Falls, SD is 841 miles to help you put that into perspective.

For this articles purpose, we will focus on South Texas and the big bucks that roam the brush down there. The state of Texas as whole ranks #9 for total typical entries and #11 for non- typical. Pretty respectable overall but when it comes to Boone & Crockett style bucks there is a small pocket of huge chocolate antlers roaming that brush. 6 counties – Webb, Maverick, Dimmit, La Salle, Kleberg and Zavala stand out. In those counties, Texas boasts the #2 (Webb), #3 (Maverick), #5 (Dimmit) and #6 (La Salle) Boone & Crockett typical entries per county in the entire nation. For non-typical entries, Texas owns 3 of the top 20 - #11 (Maverick), #19 (Webb) and #20 (La Salle). Texas has 254 counties and, the state that ranks #9 in the nation for those typical entries – has 57% of those bucks coming from 6 South Texas counties along with 37% of all of Texas’ non-typical entries. Both Webb County and Maverick County individually against other stats Webb would rank #29 and Maverick would be #30 all-time. Each would have more B&C typical entries as individual counties as do the entire states such as Louisiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama. Measuring what has gone on in the last 10 years you still get similar results – Typical B&C entries by TX county ranking since 2008 in U.S. - #2. Maverick, #3. Webb, #5. La Salle, #10. Dimmit.

This distinct pocket of big bucks is often referred to as the Golden Triangle. There are many reasons for this. Ranches are still large and contiguous. Unlike the other states where we connect agriculture with big bucks, that isn’t the case exactly. In this arid region, there are very decent soils that a lot of thorny, rough looking brush exists. To the passer by, it looks like junk but to a whitetail it is a protein buffet. This diversity of plants like Kidneywood, Catclaw Acacia, Guajillo, Huisache, Texas Ebony, Granejo and many more provide the deer in these counties with a year-round rotation of proteins as high as 30%. This nutritious brush combined with soils with high mineral content, extremely mild winters, management programs that have been in place for decades and a game department that works great with private landowners in helping manage the herds makes for a perfect blend in giving bucks what they need. The rest of the state has great hunting opportunities and in many of the areas that don’t have as many of the Muy Grandes that South Texas have are filled to the brim with some of the high deer densities in the country. But when talking about big bucks, Texas has a pocket is only outdone by the pocket where Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin come together.

#5 Ohio

In the last ten years – which state has had the most 200” plus deer turned into Boone & Crocket? That crown would go to the great state of Ohio. (*watch for a future blog specifically on 200” + deer and where they are coming from) As a matter of fact, one of the most

interesting facts about that number is that Ohio, in the history of Boone & Crockett record keeping has had 199 deer entered that were over 200”. Over half of those (105) have been turned in just in the last 10 years. Since 2008, Ohio is also ranked #1 for non-typical entries and #3 for typical. Ohio seems to be on the rise for sure.

When it comes to all time big boys, Ohio has a slew of them. The state owns the #2, #8, and #11 all time non-typical. Similar to Kansas in its even distribution of booners, Ohio seems to be an equal opportunity employer for big bucks across the state.
Non-Typical entries by county – 7 Ohio counties Top 100 U.S. (highest – Licking County, #10) Typical entries by county – 6 Ohio counties in Top 100 U.S. (highest - Adams County, #47)

When you go back up to the top of the article and look at that map that QDMA did, this points to a whole state that is producing big whitetail bucks. That also falls in line with their agriculture map. The only section of Ohio that is less dense in farmland is the Southeastern border with West Virginia and that gets into the hillier terrain that, according to B&C and P&Y entries, is still a mighty good place to hang a stand and is still producing a good bit of agricultural products for terrain like that. Ohio, in landmass terms is only the 34th largest state in America so keep that in mind when hearing their B&C, P&Y and ag rankings - #13 in overall agricultural products sold, #8 in dry beans, grains and peas, #9 in soybeans, #8 in corn (*based off 2018 USDA data). Not bad for a state that is just over half the size of Kansas.