Top Deer Hunting Travel Destinations | Mark Smith

South Carolina offers bountiful hunting game, from wild hogs to coyotes to waterfowl, appealing to most any hunter’s preference. White-tailed deer are among the most commonly hunted game in the United States, and they are abundant from coast to coast. While I like to intersperse variety into my hunting escapades each season, like black bear hunting in Maine, I still enjoy the familiarity of hunting deer.

I have lived in and traveled to many states along the east coast and midwest, and I have experienced hunting them all. Although the target may remain consistent across state borders, I enjoy changing up the scenery and traveling to new locations to shoot. If you are looking for ways to spruce up your annual hunting trips, I recommend going to a new place, solo or with companions, and fully immersing yourself in the new surroundings.

Texas – Over 5 million deer parade across the 1.6 million acres of public land in the Lonestar State. The southern region of the Texas Plains is known for the dense population of older bucks, ranging between 3 to 5 years old.

Wisconsin – Wisconsin is regarded as one of the most affordable states for non-residents to hunt in, making it an ideal location for an out of town hunting destination. There are over 7 million acres of public land, home to a nimiety of white-tailed deer.

Iowa – Iowa poses challenges that some deer hunters are eager to accept. The fee for a license and tags can be steep, as there are very few acreages open to public hunting in comparison to other states. However, for those lucky enough to have access to private hunting property or willing to pay the fees, you could get a great shot with less competition. The climate and terrain are ideal for breeding trophy deer – and a lot of them.

Kentucky – Kentucky’s continental location provides the state with a more extended hunting season. Due to its popularity with out of state hunters, the regulations and license fees are more relaxed than other states. With a lot of public hunting land and a flourishing population of white-tails, Kentucky is a prime destination for your next hunting trip.

Mississippi – Mississippi is an excellent location for deer hunting if you are more focused on gaining experience over a trophy buck. There is plenty of public hunting land accessible for hunters both in and out of state, with most of the deer on record killed at older than three and a half years in age.

This article was originally published on MarkSmithCIU.org