Best Whitetail State: Wisconsin vs. Iowa

Whitetail hunters love to argue about which state holds the biggest and baddest bucks. But which one is reallythe best?

Well, a lot of what makes hunting ground “the best” depends on your personal preferences. Do you like big bucks, and you cannot lie? Maybe you just like to hunt around fewer people. Or maybe you like to feel like a kid in a candy shop, surrounded by opportunities for deer of all ages. Do you prefer to travel or are you more of a homebody? Maybe you like to manage a food plot and be able to set up trail cams.

There is no real definitive answer for the best whitetail state, so we asked the crew what their favorites are. And ultimately, we want you to determine which state will be crowned the Best Whitetail State by voting below. Did your favorite whitetail state not get included? Sound off in the comments!

We’re on the second round! Jake’s pick of Iowa beat out Spencer’s pick of Kentucky with a close 57%. Janis’ choice, Wisconsin, smoked Steve’s choice, Alaska, with a whopping 97% of the votes (to the great surprise of all the dedicated whitetailers of Alaska). Who will come out on top in this round? That’s up to you to decide.

Wisconsin

“My favorite whitetail state is Wisconsin. It's got the hardcore deer culture of Michigan AND big bucks. It's also where I own deer hunting land, which I love to manage the habitat on. My connection to that 40 acres is stronger than ever. I can smell it just thinking about it. And although I grew up hunting Michigan and Wisconsin, Wisconsin is where we had our real deer camp. A deer camp is a special thing; I wouldn't be who I am today without that camp.” - Janis Putelis

Deer Population Estimate: 1.6 MillionPublic Lands: 6.6 million acres or 17% of the state’s landAvg. Annual Antlered Bucks Harvest: 153,678Avg. Annual Antlerless Harvest:165,389Bucks Harvested Per 100 Hunters: 27Tag Price: $24 resident, $200 nonresident

Iowa

“This list wouldn’t be complete without Iowa. There’s a long line to draw an archery tag (anywhere from 3-6 years, depending on the zone), and for good reason. Strict regulations protect the resource, and the line just keeps getting longer. If you love bowhunting whitetails and having an opportunity of a mature whitetail—Iowa is the top of the list for me.” - Jake Hofer

Deer Population Estimate: 445,000Public Lands: 1,576 square miles or about 2.8% of the state’s landAvg. Annual Antlered Bucks Harvest: 46,725Avg. Annual Antlerless Harvest: 58,432Bucks Harvested Per 100 Hunters: 28Deer Tag Price: $33 resident, $498 non-resident

(Harvest data via theNational Deer Association’s 2024 Deer Report.)

Note: Votes will not be counted from the comment section, so please use the voting box below to select your favorite state and ensure it advances to the next bracket!

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