I realize it is late in the day to apply for deer tags in most of the mid-western states, but I've just come into a windfall and would like to schedule a whitetail hunt. I'm thinking Wisconsin or Missouri. I'm looking for an opportunity at a 150- class buck and have about 5k to spend. I've done the Sask. thing and darn near froze to death. Any suggestions?
Stoney if you got 5K I'd go to Kansas...period! A 250lb deer is pretty typical(LIVE WEIGHT) and the locals call a 150 class buck a young one. I hunted in southeast Kansas from 91-95 and killed one nice 135 class 9 pt. but missed a monster and saw one nearly every year. There are pockets on both sides of the state that have good hunting. They are protecting their resource now better so hunting should be better and most of the state has excellent hunting for quality bucks. Just my opinion. You can't hardly go wrong going to a state with a track record like Kansas has over the last decade or so.
If you're going to hunt with a rifle, I'd pick Kansas. The area bounded by I-70 on the North, Missouri on the East/Southeast, Oklahoma on the South, and Highway 81 on the west is big whitetail country. There aren't many people in the Flint Hills area, south of a line from Topeka to Abilene, but plenty of nice bucks. $5K should buy a heck of a hunt! Please let us know what outfitter you go with.
If you don't mind using a shotgun, I'd suggest Iowa. I've seen more big buck in southern Iowa, south of I-80, than in all other places combined. Sometimes it can get frustrating, since what would be an easy rifle shot is often beyond ethical shotgun range. A good rifled shotgun, with a good scope, using sabot slugs is deadly if you can shoot.
Jeff
Shhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Now repeat after me....."there are no big bucks in Iowa" , "there are no big bucks in Iowa". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
We have good bucks since the whole state is a shotgun only state...........sorta. You can also use muzzleloaders and handguns using straight wall cases. Consider a good Knight or Savage (love that smokeless!!!) MZ for a good bit more range than most slug guns will provide. Same with the right handgun in the right hand (or right left hand, I suppose <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)
But why ????........."there are no big bucks in Iowa!" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
BTW: congrats on your windfall!
I too would go to buffalo country Wisconsin if all you want to do is shoot a big free ranging trophy buck. Now if you want to shoot a good deer but have to work for it go on some public land without farms and go shoot a big woods deer.
One advantage to Wisconsin is the nonresident tags are over the counter.. You need to buy it before the season starts though..
Lots of good deer in that class in the Texas Panhandle and the cost should be a lot less than 5K depending on who you hunt with.
Droptine
If you are planning on hunting with a gun, then Wisconsin is not for you. Hunting pressure is intense and opening day on public land is scary. A private land lease is an option, but they are hard to come by, especially if you can't react quickly. A lot of the leases are done "sight unseen" which I refuse to do.
There is little public land in Buffalo county and the leases that come on the market are either very expensive or go quickly.
The "guide" business is not well developed here as it is just not part of our heritage.
If you want to bowhunt, you may have a better opportunity here in Wisconsin.
Well, I live a few miles north of Buffalo County and most of the leases there used by the dozen or so guide outfits have been under QDM for twenty years. If you have the money and want a wall hanger, using one of the Buffalo County guides is a much better bet than trying to find old mossyhorns deep in the swamps of the public land in northern Wisconsin. If you have the time, then you can bowhunt the large tracts of public land in the north and use that time to scout for the nine-day gun season. But most people from out of state don't have that kind of time.
I don't know where some of you Wisconsin hunters hunt public land, but where I hunt in northern Wisconsin after my 40 minute walk to my stand I haven't seen much more than a dozen hunters outside of my party in 10 years.
If I'm right, Kansas and Iowa ard draw stated where you have to apply for tags. I think you have to apply before April and you have to accru points to be chosen. then it is area specific. Wisconsin is over the counter though.