Best Deer Hunting States [Complete Guide]

best deer hunting states main image

Deer hunting is legal in around 30 of the United States (FSW), with these states offering a broad range of choices for the hunter. It is important to know that in most cases, a hunting license is required before you roam the vast expanses of the wilderness, and it is worthwhile to know what the requirements could be before heading out into the wild. In addition to this, you might feel compelled to ensure beforehand that your own deer hunting gear is in excellent working order before going on a game hunt.

Several factors will be included in this article that will be used to identify the top deer hunting states, including population density, rifle waiting periods, and well-managed habitats. There are so many different states that it is impossible to mention all of them in this article, but hopefully this can serve as a general guideline when you start your search of the best states for deer hunting.

By choosing the best states for deer hunting you will be able to find the best spots to hunt deer and have the most enjoyable experience possible.

Best Deer Hunting States 

1. Texas

There are many benefits of living in Texas. One of them is having the opportunity to go deer hunting as the state of Texas has a large amount of public land, with over two million acres being set aside for the purpose. There is also another reason why hunters are drawn to Texas: the rifle waiting period here is only 24 hours after purchasing or picking up a gun. Due to this, many hunters visit Texas during the off-season in order to increase their chances of bagging big bucks!

2. North Carolina

North Carolina is one of the best states for deer hunters in the United States because it offers a wide range of established hunting areas. Deer hunters also abound in the state, which is popular among residents due to its population density by the number. Although North Carolina allows Sunday hunting, it’s also worth pointing out that certain areas have restrictions on this practice. However, most of these are confined to cities or residential areas.

3. Georgia

Georgia is one of the most popular states for deer hunting because it offers a number of benefits that most other states on this list don’t have. These benefits are mainly the fact that Georgia allows hunting year-round, but also the fact that it is a good option for hunters who want to hunt in an environment where they are not likely to encounter other hunters. Although there is a waiting period in Georgia when purchasing firearms, the waiting period here is only 12 days. For those deer hunting in this state, this can be more than enough time!

4. Missouri

This is an ideal state for deer hunter’s thanks to the fact that it gives the opportunity for a number of different hunting options, including fall and/or spring hunts, as well as late season hunts. It also provides the advantage of relatively large game sightless areas, one of the reasons Missouri is one of the best states for hunting deer.

You May Also Like: Best Time Of Day To Hunt Deer

5. Tennessee

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of deer hunters in Tennessee since 1988. This is also a state with the most dense population of deer, out of all states on this list. (TN.gov) Because of the huge population, there are also plenty of turkey, quail, and coyotes throughout Tennessee, making it one of the best states for those hunter who want to cover a lot of ground in one hunting trip.

6. Kentucky

One of the reasons Kentucky is one of the most desirable states for hunters in the United States is because obtaining licenses and permits is not too difficult. As a result, the state is an outstanding choice for any deer hunter, regardless of their previous experience with sport hunting. There is still a large amount of public land available open to public hunting. Moreover, Kentucky permits public deer hunting in the fall months. (FW.KY.gov) In most states, deer hunting isn’t permitted in the fall.

Conclusion

I think that it is fair to say that there is more than one good state available for deer hunts and there is an array of options, no matter where you are based in the USA. No matter which state you choose, you’ll be able to enjoy excellent hunting conditions  if you do your deer hunting preparation right. A lot of this can be attributed to picking out certain tools and equipment such as deer hunting decoys or broadheads for hunting deer