Hunting/Fishing
Whitetail Hunting by State 2025
Hunting Rank
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State | Hunting Rank↑ | Additional Info | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Wisconsin | 1st | Wisconsin is the #1 ranked state with 1,822 total entries and six counties in the top 20 U.S. counties with the most records produced. |
 | Illinois | 2nd | Illinois is the #2 state overall with 1,445 total entries and has four counties in the top 20 U.S. counties |
 | Iowa | 3rd | Iowa continues to rank #3 for Boone and Crockett Club trophy whitetail with 1,330 total entries. |
 | Minnesota | 4th | Minnesota comes in #4 in the overall state rankings with 1,194 total entries and four counties in the top 20 U.S. counties |
 | Ohio | 5th | Ohio moved up in rank to #5 with 1,049 total entries |
 | Kentucky | 6th | #6 position is Kentucky with 1,048 total entries |
 | Missouri | 7th | Missouri ranks #7 overall with 896 total entries and two of the state’s best whitetail bucks were honored in 2019 as part of the 30th Big Game Awards in Springfield. |
 | Kansas | 8th | Kansas moved up in rank to #8 with 867 total entries and Gerald E. Rightmyer’s 2006 non-typical buck from Morris County was part of the 21st Century Whitetails section. |
 | Arkansas | 9th | Arkansas rounds out the top of the special state stats thanks to William L. Loyd’s 2018 typical buck from Lee County that scored 200-1/8 points and ranks #17 All-time and #1 in the state, pending review by the Judges Panel for the 31st Big Game Awards in 2022. |
 | Tennessee | 10th | Stephen L. Tucker’s 2016 buck from Sumner County helped to land Tennessee into the top state stats as a bonus state. Tucker’s non-typical buck scored 315-1/8 inches and is the new state record as well as #4 on the All-time list. |
 | Texas | 11th | The Texas counties of Maverick, Webb, La Salle, and Dimmit are four of the top six deer-hunting counties in the nation. |
How Do You Determine the Best State for Whitetail Hunting?
If you are someone who loves to go hunting, you might be thinking about going whitetail hunting. There are lots of criteria to consider when you are planning on hunting whitetail deer, including the success rate of hunters, the total harvest numbers, the average age of the bucks in the area, and the weather in the region. Even though this is a matter of personal preference, there are a few states that are clearly popular among whitetail hunters for many of the reasons listed above. In particular, you need to find a location that has a strong, healthy whitetail deer population along with rules and regulations that are friendly to hunters.
What Is the Best State for Whitetail Hunting?
Right now, the best state for whitetail hunting is widely considered to be Wisconsin. Wisconsin is also a haven for people who want to go whitetail hunting. In general, this is a state that is popular because of the large population it has available. For many years, Wisconsin has been friendly to hunters, and it has a tremendous amount of public hunting land. In addition, Wisconsin is a relatively diverse landscape, meaning that the hunting situation can change depending on where you are located. Even if you are not a resident of Wisconsin, it is still relatively affordable to hunt here. Keep in mind the regulations can change depending on what you want to hunt, so always take a look at what the authorities have to say about hunting whitetail in Wisconsin before you get started.
What Are Other States That Are Great for Whitetail Hunting?
There are plenty of other states that are great for whitetail hunting as well. For example, Missouri has become popular among people who love the outdoors, and it could provide you with a new landscape to go whitetail hunting. There is a significant amount of public land available, and the age structure of the population in Missouri is healthy. Other Midwest states like Iowa, Minnesota, and Ohio have large whitetail populations and are popular locations for whitetail hunters. Finally, do not forget to take a closer look at Illinois and Kansas, as they could be great places to hunt whitetail as well.
