Where To
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Jason from NC asks:Hello Bill, I have some friends that are interested in purchasing some land in Kentucky. Do you know of anyone to contact with information on some quality hunting land? My brother and I enjoy your weekly show and your daily blog. We call each other and discuss your hunting strategies and how blessed you are. Thanks for sharing you hunting experiences with us!Winke Responds:Jason, No doubt I am blessed. Thanks for your support. I am not too sure who to call in KY. I am sure you first need to settle on an area. Again, I am not sure where to start. I would start with a call to the state game departmemnt and ask which areas produce the most mature bucks and where there is the most deer management taking place. You need a good county and then a good neighborhood (other people doing some deer management) to be really successful, but if you do the research you will find it. That is actually the fun part. I love figuring out where the best hunting can be found. Good luck.
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Grant Steiner from SD asks:Bill, First off I would just like to say that I love your show! I have a break from school October 14th through the 23th and will try to be in the woods most of the time. What would be the best strategies for this time of year in Northeastern South Dakota? The terrain is mostly agriculture with small woodlots and shelter belts. Thanks, GrantWinke Responds:Grant, Thanks for your support Grant. I appreciate it. That is still a tough time to be hunting, not quite the rut. I would be focused on food sources, probably something green like alfalfa if you have it. Then I would hunt back in the center of the wood lots in the AM, near oak trees dropping acorns if you have them. Good luck.
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philip from ON asks:hi here in Ontario turkey hunting starts at the end of april and i was wondering where would be the best place to hunt them thanksWinke Responds:Philip, I am not a great turkey hunter. I have shot a number of them, but now I would rather guide family and friends than hunt them myself. There is no substitute for knowing the area you hunt well, and how turkeys relate to the terrain. Once I hear where the birds are on the roost in the morning, I can pretty much tell you where they will end up. There are historic spots where toms like to strut before the hens are ready for breeding and after the morning breeding is done. These are good early season and mid-day locations. There are plces where the flock likes to go to feed. These are good mid-season and morning spots. It will take time for them to get there, but that is where you can expect the action to ultimately take place. It is one thing to call a tom to where he wants to go anywhere (or to lure a flock into range when you are set up near their feeding area) it is quite another to try to pull them where they normally would not tend to go. So, spend time scouting. Learn what the turkeys do where you hunt. Where are they at various times of the day. It is like deer hunting, you just need to get there before them, offer a few soft calls and you are in the action. That is over-simplifying the hunt, but it is a good starting point. There are more aggressive things you can do too, like trying to calling in the dominant hen, etc. but stick with the woodsmanship and you will do fine.
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James from MN asks:Hi Bill, another question for you. I am a chiropractic student about to graduate in a year. I am looking to start a practice in Kansas somewhere. Any place that I set up must have good hunting land with big bucks. Do you know of a county, or even region of the state that produces the best bucks? Also, I have been looking at some land for sale down there and alot of it seems to be tillable farmland with only a third of the acrage being woods. Is that normal or should I look for places with a larger percentage of woods? Thanks again for your time.Winke Responds:James, There are definitely some areas that are better than others, like in all states. My personal preference would be to find a peice of land with more timber than 30%. That exists in many parts of the eastern 1/3 of Kansas. I won't tell you which counties to focus on, but I have traveled that area quite a bit over the years and there are definitely areas with large amounts of habitat. Mostly they will be near river and creek drainages, just as they are in other parts of the Midwest. Fortunately, the eastern portion of KS has enough large towns and cities that you should be able to find what you are looking for - good hutning within a reasonable drive of your office. Good luck.
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William from AL asks:I have been putting in for an Iowa tag for a few years now and feel that my time is coming. Any advice on the best public hunting grounds in Iowa? Can't ever start researching too early...Winke Responds:William, I like the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge in NE Iowa. That is basically unhunted. On years when the water is high, it won't be much good. There are also good public lands scattered all across southern Iowa that are quite good. I also understand that Red Rock Reservior has some good spots if you are willing to work to get to them. The small blocks of public in parts of southern Iowa don't get hunted too much either. I would look for the small overlooked spots just as much as the ones that are hard to access. Those are a few of the better options. Finally, there are some good spots in the Loess Hills in western Iowa too. I would invest in a good Sportsman Atlas to find all the public areas. Good luck.
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Jeff from AL asks:Hey Bill, What would be your top three choices in midwest outfitters for muzzle-loader or rifle, considering outfitter commitment, deer size, and prices around $3,000 to $3,500. We travel to Saskatchewan about every year and are looking to mix things up with something a bit closer to Alabama. Any suggestions? Thanks.Winke Responds:Jeff, Man, I hate giving outfitter recommendations. I have not hunted with an outfitter for whitetails since the early 90s. Even then I usually just hunted areas they weren't hunting and hung my own stands. Not that I felt superior, I just like doing it myself. It is just the way I gain the most satsifaction from deer hunting. So I am not very good at giving first-hand recommendations. So I just stay out of that. I wish I could help you. Maybe at some point I can find a way on the site for visitors to rate outfitters so hunters can find good ones. Even that, I suspect, can be skewed. I would do a lot of searching on the web, make a lot of phone calls, talk to a lot of references and I'm sure you will be fine. Good luck.
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Jim from MI asks:Bill, My buddy and I are heading down to Southern OH for a late season muzzleloader hunt. Wondering if you have ever hunted down there this time of year (Jan)? We will be hunting public land. Either the Wayne Nat'l Forest or possibly Shawnee Nat'l Forest. Didn't know if this would be a trip worth taking or not...? Do these areas get much hunting pressure this much time of year? I realize that the WNF is a huge tract of land, and this is our "Maiden Voyage." I have done some research and gotten some maps from the WNF. Looks like the Western side of the Wayne may be a better option? Just wondering if you had any kind of beneficial info about the area? Thanks for your time, JimWinke Responds:Jim, I don't know much about the Wayne, probably not any more than you do already. The main thing is to find the food once you get there. Try to figure out as fast as possible what the deer in the area you select are eating. You may need to hug the fringes near agriculutural fields or find browse patterns or possibly even acorns. The only way to know is to cover ground. If you can find a number for an OH DNR biologist who covers that region (try their website) you can likely learn a lot about what the deer are likely to be eating and that will help you to narrow down the hunt. That would be my plan. Expect to burn some boot leather figuring things out. Good luck.
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Heath from AL asks:First, let me say I enjoy watching your show and I'm jealous that you get to hunt for a living. Ha Ha Let me start by saying that I am bless way beyond what I will ever deserve. I live in a small community in central Alabama, and love to deer hunt and spend time doing things for the wildlife every chance I get. I would not change anything about growing up where I live, because it has made me the person that I am, but also understand that I will probably never get the chance to hunt big deer, like people in the midwest get to do. I am a public school teacher, with a stay at home wife and 3 small children, so money to take big trips doesn't appear to be in my future. Again, not griping, because God has truly blessed me. I just wondered if it is hard to find places to hunt in the areas where you do. It would probably take me a couple of years to even save up the money for a tag/license, gas, etc... just to hunt in another state, so paid hunts are not possible. I know that in most stWinke Responds:Heath, I appreciate your support and understand your dream. It is definitely possible to have quality hunting on public land in the Midwest. I even know locals who hunt public land though they permission to good tracts of private land because sometimes the biggest bucks are on or near public lands. Specifically, I would look to southern IL, northern MO or southern IA. Iowa has a drawing with preference points so you may want to start entering the draw now to build up points for when you can afford it. Almost all of the public areas are at least decent in these states with the larger, less accessible ones and the very small overlooked ones being the best. Your goal is definitely achieveable. Good luck.
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Jeff from MO asks:Bill, I love your website to the point I am addicted to it. The television show is also great. I have a random question. My dad and two brothers and I are trying to arrange a mule deer hunt. My dad would prefer a gun hunt even though my brothers and I would prefer a gun hunt. My question is whether or not you have been mule deer hunting or know of a good guide service to use. We ideally would like a 180+ mule deer. I am running into the same websites over and over when trying to search and I don't know which ones to believe. If you have any input I would appreciate it because I know you would have done plenty of research before hunting and have all the right connections. Once again thanks for such a great website. Thanks, JeffWinke Responds:Jeff, Thanks for your support. I appreciate it. I did mule deer hunt a lot back when I was traveling much more to hunt. I am sticking much closer to home now until our kids get either old enough to go with or until they go off to college (they are 10 and 12 so it will be a few more years). I had great success in eastern Colorado with a bow. In a five year stretch I shot four bucks (three mule deer and one whitetail) with an average gross score of 190 inches! There are a number of outfitters in that area. I hunted the Kiowa/Elbert/Limon area with three different outfitters. Actualy, I kept hunting the same ranches, it was just that three different outfitters ended up having the leases. The most recent outfitter to operate on these ranches is Dan Ardrey. I am not sure of his recent success rate. You will have to check with him. He operates Kiowa Creek Outfitters. He has a website: huntkiowacreek.com. Like I said, I am not sure how things have been going out there recently. I have not hunted the area in about four years. Good luck.
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clif from IN asks:Mr. Winke, Do you provide a guide service on your property? Can you recommend a guide/outfitter? Thank you for your time. Clif,Winke Responds:Clif, No we don't take any commercial hunts. I hate to recommend outfitters because I have no control over the quality of the experience you recieve so I have just made it my policy not to do that. I am sorry. I realize everyone wants me to point them toward a great hunting spot, but whitetail hunting is very unpredictable. Even good outfitters sometime struggle and I don't want someone to spend that much money on my suggestion and then have a rough hunt. You can find a lot of outfitters listed if you do a google search under "Iowa Whitetail Guides" or "Illinois Whitetail Hunting" or any similar combination of search terms and then do your own research. Good luck.
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Mike from OH asks:Hey Bill, I'm looking to buy a farm in SE Ohio, and want to manage for bucks in a similar fashion as you do on yours. What amount of acerage do you advise in order to be effective? For example, how big is yours? I want to be able to hunt unpressured bucks. I understand it is more than just the amount of acerage, other factors such as food and sanctuaries come into play as well. Just looking for a starting point... Love this website! I never buy a magazine either unless you have an article in it. Keep up the good work, thanks alot! Mike BruderlyWinke Responds:Mike, To hunt unpressured deer, the neighborhood where you buy is more important than the size. Spend the time (as long as it takes) to find an area where the owners share your goals and then buy as much as you can afford. That is the only winning plan over the long-run. The neighborhood is key. We have seen that over and over. You buy something, set to work managing it and then the neighbors clean out all the nice young bucks every year and all you have left are management bucks to grow older. Not that this is horrible, you are still deer hunting, but to achieve the final goal of top end deer management, you need neighbors who do the same thing. That is what holds me back here. I have some neighbors who agree with my approach and some who don't care. That is life, but you have the ability to solve that problem before it ever starts by purchasing in the right neighborhood. Good luck.
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brandon from IA asks:I am going to be hunting my uncles property in southern iowa 2nd season shotgun. I have not hunted it in a few years nor have i really scouted it. The plan is to set up a couple ladder stands and just sit. I was wondering since i have not been down there to scout what kind of signs should i look for. It is a heavy thick creek that runs from the cedar river to a thick wood lot. It has ag fields on both sides of it.Winke Responds:Brandon, I would try to find a place where you can cover the entire creek bottom and then let other hunters in the area move the deer around causing them to come through the creek bottom. I would find an area where you can see well, but near thick cover. I think that would be solid plan. If there is no other hunting in the area, consider getting close to a food source for the evening hunts. Good luck.
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Conner from WI asks:Winke, Hello there. Huge fan of your show and I agree with you that it was an extremely difficult season bowhunting during the rut in 2010, especially in central Wisconsin. I was fortunate to harvest a really nice 9 ptr. on October 28th after many hours on stand! Anyway, my question was regarding Midwest area guided hunts. I'm really interested in potentially investing in a guiied hunt with a reputable Outfit in the Midwest with a proven track record. Would you be able to point me in the right direction of some outfitters that you might recommend to try and harvest a trophy whitetail in 2011. I also wanted to take advantage of the fact that guided hunts seem to be more affordable in recent times with the struggling economy. I would really appreciate your input and Good Luck the rest of the season!!!Winke Responds:Conner, I think that was the general concensus this year. I have never been guided on a whitetail hunt. I have shot a few bucks over the years (mostly back in the mid-90s) hunting with outfitters, but I always did my own thing on properties they weren't hunting. At this time, I choose not to recommend any guided hunts. I am sure there are some very good outfitters out there, but I would rather you do your own research. I just don't have enough experience in various camps to know which ones will give you the best value. I would hate for someone to spend that much money on a hunt I suggested and then have the hunt turn out poorly. I would rather just stay out of that one. I am sorry, but that is my policy on guided whitetail hunts.
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george from AL asks:Going to ohio for bow hunt is there a place you know of that holds a lot of deer on pulic land if so where would you hunt thank you so muchWinke Responds:George, I think I answered this one before, but the Wayne Forest would be my starting point and then work out from there. It has a good reputation (at least it did a few years ago when I did the research) for producing good numbers of mature bucks. Good luck.
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Matt from ME asks:Here in Southeast Nebraska i have not noticed any bucks cruising with there nose to the ground in search of hot does. You hunt in Iowa, which is close to here, so my question to you is what date give or take a few days does this usually begin to occur and what dates should i take my 4 day vacation for deer hunting this year??Winke Responds:Matt, You should start to see that behavior in early November, around November 3. I have been hunting hard since Oct. 25 and have not seen much in the way of bucks cruising either. It is a very strange rut this year. Many in my area are struggling to see bucks. We know they are here based on cam photos, but they are not moving much during the day. Not sure exactly what is happening. Good luck.
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Frank from TX asks:I'm hunting in southern Ohio and want to know what dates you think the Per-rut, chase, rut and post-rut will occur this year? Thank you!Winke Responds:Frank, I may have gottent to your question too late to do you much good this time around. Sorry about that. I have gotten swamped with the questions and spend about an hour per day answering them, but I don't seem to be catching up. I am hunting too much I guess! Most years I would say the real rut starts Oct. 25 and the best movement occurs around November 7 and stays good for several days after. Breeding occurs throughout the rut, but peaks in mid-November. Generally most breeding is done by November 20 and the wind down of buck movement usually runs until roughly Nov. 26 and that is typically when we see the end of all cruising and rut related activity. It can change from year to year based on weather patterns and other factors I don't understand, but that will get you pretty close. Good luck.
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jacob from MO asks:Bill, a area where i hunt often is mainly all bedding area. little thickets and openings with a few halfway clear spots all of it is locust trees and cedars but it isnt real thick. I can never walk through there without bumping 6 or 7 deer. The land is surrounded by town on all sides so the deer have no where else to go. how do i pattern the deer inside this bedding area and know where to set up on them? also how do i get in to this area without bumping the deer?Winke Responds:Jacob, It is real hard to answer that question without looking at a map, but generally there is a way to get to the downwind edge of the property before light and slip in a short distance from that side. I would have stands located on the fringe of the bedding area on all the sides from which you can gain permission to access it. I would then only hunt there when you can slip in with the wind in your face. Forget about hunting there on any other winds if don't have access to approach to a fringe stand into the wind. Good luck.
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bowtech hunter from TN asks:I am heading to northwest missouri Oct.30-Nov.9. I have seven farms I can hunt. How do I pick which one to start with and how many days should I give one farm. Its hard living so far away and trying to scout and hunt a good deer in ten days. What would you look for and key in on. Thanks.Winke Responds:Bowtech, I would probably narrow it down based on track size and freshness of deer sign. It would be nice to have some trail cameras on the place, but by the time you get there it is too late to do that. Focus on tracks, that is the best indicator of the size of the deer on the farm (big tracks are using from big deer and those are usually mature bucks). I realize that is not going to be easy, but it is at least some kind of guide. I would hunt only three or four of the farms (the best ones) and forget the rest. If you get spread too thin you won't be able to learn enough to hunt any of them successfully.
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Bill from WY asks:Hey Winke hope all is well. Hey I'm done hunting in Wyoming and getting ready to head east to Iowa and Wisconsin for deer. I'm thinking October 25th through November 2nd in Iowa, and the 3rd of November through the 10th in Wisconsin. What do you think of the timing. I will be in Southeast Iowa, and Southeast Wisconsin. Thanks BillWinke Responds:Bill, Sorry to get to this late, but that timing sounds good. I would be in my best areas (wherever they are) on the 3rd through the 10th. Good luck.
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Kodey from OH asks:Dear Mr. Bill Winke, First of off I am a huge fan of the website and what you and your prostaffs are doing to manage a better deer herd. I am an avid bowhunter myself and love being outdoors. I have permission on 4 different farms owned by the same farmer. I have a stand set-up at each farm. I have got a few good pics of nice bucks at each farm of the farm. It seems like everytime I hunt one of the farms I end up only seeing a few deer but no shooters seem to present themselves. But after geting in from the hunt I talk to the landowner and he tells me that i hunted the wrong farm that hunt because he saw a nice buck out in the field. so and so...on and on the same thing happens everytime. So my question to you is how do i know when to hunt each farms with the same amount of action, scrapes, rubs, etc?Winke Responds:Kodey, That is where luck comes in. Sometimes you aren't in the right place at the right time. You have to put in your time until you are. You can go with fresh tracks or even recent trail cam photos to guide you, but the deer still has to come out where you are. They aren't that programmable that we can expect them to do that. In other words, you can't eliminate luck from deer hunting and I actually like that. Luck can also work for you, so spend as much time as possible hunting good stands as smart as you can and eventually you will be in the right place at the right time. Good luck.
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John from WI asks:Bill, I am heading to eastern Kansas from November 6th to 12th. What should I expect and where should I set up my stand,[mornings and evenings] what kind of funnels should I look for. Is it worth a try to bring a decoy? Love the show and still patiently waiting for Midwest Whitetail decals! Thanks BillWinke Responds:John, I actually have some nice decals here but I have been too busy to get them on the site. These are larger ones that I have to charge for. I had some small ones back in 2009 (I gave away 10,000 of them) and never replenished my stock. I need to get some more of those to give away with every order at some point. Keep watching for the decals. I'll get to it soon. I would focus on keeping it simple. Where are the does? Find the doe concentration areas and then look for funnels between them. Mostly you should be looking for doe bedding areas (and the funnels between them). Mornings tend to be better near bedding areas and evenings better near feeding areas. Also, in that area, look for brushy fence lines connecting areas with cover. These serve as buck highways during the rut. The decoy is a good idea when hunting in open areas but not when hunting in the woods.
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JD from MD asks:hey bill, im an avid hunter in mid MD. i was just wondering whats better morning or evening hunts and what is the difference or what are the deer miostly doing at these certain times? should i hunt each time as frequently or not?Winke Responds:JD, Obviously, success can come at any time so you nee to be out there as much as possible. Breaking down my buck kills over the years, I would say that the mornings have produced slightly more action for me. You need to hunt closer to the bedding areas at that time meaning that you will have deer around you and on their feet for a longer part of the day, that increases the chances for one coming within bow range. I also think it is cooler most days in the morning than the evening, so I believe that also plays into it. I would say my choice would be 60% toward morning and 40% toward evening if I had to put a number to it. Good luck.
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Josh from OK asks:I am a bow hunter from oklahoma. I live in the south eastern part of the state. I was wondering where a good place to hunt in south eastern oklahoma would be.Winke Responds:Josh, You are way outside of my area of knowledge now. I would suggest a call to the local game warden or to the local deer biologist. Most states have regional biologists who have access to information about deer densities. The local game warden can likely direct you toward landowners who are experiencing deer problems and want a few respectful hunters to remove some of them. Good luck.
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Steve from PA asks:If you had 1 week to hunt the rut in southern ohio, which week would you take this year.Winke Responds:Steve, I would take the same week every year: November 3 through November 10 (or roughly thereabouts). Good luck.
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thomas from AL asks:I am an avid bowhunter from sotuh alabama. i have been to illinios once on a pay hunt. it was unsucessful to say the least. i have been turkey hunting several times in missouri on the mark twain and i love the do it yourself part of it. i have been considering bowhunting deer on one of the walk in areas in kansas. they dont seem to get a lot of attention. would u recommend them for an out of state bowhunter and if so what part of state do u reccomend or is there a particular area u know of in kansas with some good public hunting. also i am open to any other area in midwest that u might suggest bowhunting otherwise. thanks for your help, thomasWinke Responds:Thomas, I think the public land in northern MO is pretty good, but not great. The walk-in areas of Kansas are probably your best bet. I like the areas that are well-removed from population centers but still have good amounts of cover. For example, consider the area in eastcentral KS, there is about a five county area there that I would focus on: Woodson, Coffey, Greenwood, Lyon, Elk, etc. That area looks good and doesn't get a ton of pressure. Good luck.
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Kyle from MI asks:Bill,im planning on a public land illnois rut hunt next year where would you prefer to go for public land in illnois??Winke Responds:Kyle, A lot of guys hunt the Shawnee Forest down in Southern IL, but I would investigate a couple of the limited areas. Site M is one of them - very large area with limited draw access. Another is Siloam Springs. That area also produces some good bucks. I am not an expert on IL public lands so I would search the web for sportsman atlases for Illinois that have public hunting area information in them. Also, try the DNR website to see what they have available on public lands.
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mike from PA asks:where is a good spot to hunt in paWinke Responds:Mike, I would start by looking for a sportsman's atlas for PA that shows all the public areas. Then find those within driving distance of your home and find out as much information about these places as possible. Maybe even call the local game warden to see which ones get the least pressure. That would be my starting point. Obviously, finding private land is better. Go through your list of family and friends and see if you can find anyone with land they will let you hunt. Good luck.
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eric from PA asks:hi bill, love your show, i live in pa, but i hunt 10 days in illinois each november, iv tried 4 yrs now for iowa non res tag w/no luck, would you happen to know how long it usually takes. thanks again ericWinke Responds:Eric, Four years should have been plenty. Are you sure you were in the draw all four years? I would say you will definitely draw next year.
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Kevin from PA asks:Bill, I really love your Midwest Whitetail show, I watch it more than the Outdoor Channel. I will have 4 points going in to next years drawing in Iowa and was wondering if you could steer me in the right direction for a place to hunt. I don't want to go on a outfitted hunt because I've went on a couple of bad outfitted hunts that were highly recomended by people like yourself, the outfitter put you in spots in accordance with how much extra money you handed him. I was looking at DeKalb WMA and was wondering if you could give me some information on it and maybe some place to start hunting. Or maybe you know a better place to hunt that I could check out? I would also like to know what kind of hunting pressure I could expect and what caliber of bucks are on the public ground.I would hate to pass a 130 if that is a good deer for the area. Thank you for you time and keep up the good work. Hopefully some day I can meet you in person, You have always been my number #1 archery hero.Winke Responds:Kevin, I am not familiar with that public area, that you reference. Almost all of the public areas are good. I have hunted several of them and know guys that hunt them all the time. I would think 135 to 140 (a good solid 3 year old) is realistic for those areas. Occassionally something bigger will come from them, but that would be a good size to shoot for. The larger areas in NE Iowa, SE Iowa and Southcentral Iowa are probably the best choice. A good sleeper, in low water years, is the 200,000 acre Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge up north. I used to duck hunt that all the time and it had some very good deer sign with limited hunting pressure. Use a boat and hunt the islands and you will pretty much have all the hunting you want without much competition. Good luck.
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steven from MN asks:What are the best public hunting in northern Minnesota for deer?Winke Responds:Steven, That one is outside of my expertise. I would contact the local deer biologist or a local game warden and ask for some good starting places. The local guys have a much better idea where the pressure is highest and can steer you clear of those spots. I believe there is a ton of public land up there so you may be looking for places with higher deer numbers. Some of that country can be pretty desolate when it comes to deer. Good luck.
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cameron from AB asks:Hi Bill I love the 2009 shows and im looking forward to future shows. I have seen every show on your site atleast 10 times and have noticed that you have some monster bucks in iowa. Here in alberta were known for monster bucks but it seems like you guys have more bigger bucks and deer than we do. What do you think? p.s If your ever in alberta look me up and we'll go hunting!!Winke Responds:Cameron, I have hunted Alberta a few times. We have more deer, but I think you have more big bucks per total number of deer than we do. I think your top end is better. More giants. I love hunting Alberta. It is beautiful. I hunted up in the Athabasca Valley. I will probably get back up there again next year. If everything goes as planned, I have a guy lined up to supply me with some shows from Alberta for us to air during the off-season. Should be fun.
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Will from TN asks:Bill, I have hunted Kansas 8 times and leave next Sunday morning for a 5 day hunt second muzzleloader season. I have passed up many 150 class bucks..... And have never connected on the magnum I dream about. The fact is I have never killed a buck in Kansas period. I have the patience of Jobe (obviouly or I would have quit long ago HAHA). I have no trouble sitting all day if I think it is a great spot. I always read that you should hunt the food source, but have not had very good results. What is your thoughts on how I should hunt during that season? The outfitter is non guided and basically leases the land and turns you loose. I tend to hug the timber and set up close to the food source. (within 300 yards) I am doing all the right things with scent and see does and smaller bucks with little or no trouble. just can not figure out how to get on a big ol good one or a good ol big one either! Please Advise BILL THANKS SO MUCH SIR !Winke Responds:Will, You are definitely doing the right things. Get close to the food, but be sure to determine what they are eating accurately. They may be browsing or eating acorns back in the timber and that is not as obvious. I hunted Kansas several years myself before the kids got old enough that I decided to spend all my hunting time around home. I never shot a big one there. I shot a couple of bucks but I never even saw one over 160 inches. They are there, of course, but I was just never lucky enough to see them. Also, some of that small cover is very sensitive to rifle hunting pressure. If the landowner doesn't practice some kind of restraint in the number of rifle hunters they let in, the bucks can get whacked pretty hard each season. So that may be part of it too. Just like in any state, there are good areas and good properties and some that are not as good. (I won't say bad.)
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Taylor from WI asks:Best methods for locating big bucks in the bluffs of NE Iowa?Winke Responds:Taylor, All that bluff country hunts about the same. It seems like it would be pretty complicated, but it is actually fairly easy. The terrain dictates everything. They generally bed on the points overlooking the bottoms and on the secondary points off these main points. They feed either back along the ridge on ridge top fields or they go down the bluff to feed at the bottom. I always hunted the ridges and points in the morning usually just over the lip of the ridge top on the downwind side. My scent then blew out over the valley below. I approached it from below to avoid any deer feeding in the ridgetop fields. For the evening hunts, I usually simply hunted out a short ways onto the ridges from the fields - far enough from the fields that I could get out after shooting time without spooking deer. I entered off the field on top and then exited by going down a draw. I usually had a way to swing back to the vehicle or had someone pick me up. I even stashed a bicycle a few times to ride back to the vehicle. It is all farily straightforward, but because of the terrain it is a lot of work.
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Jerod from TX asks:Hey Bill(or anyone else qualified to write about taking a dump on a stump), heading to a totally forested public area in the midwest, with maybe one day of scouting. What terrain features would you look for first to check out or set up on for some all day sits??? First week of November. thanks, JBWinke Responds:Jerod, Yes, I may never live that one down. It was funny though. To answer your question, I would try to sit on a funnel between two bedding areas used by does. For example, they often bed on points and if you can find a creek or ditch crossing between two bedding points, that would be a good choice. I would want to be as far from the access points as I can get and then just put in the time. Let the rut move them. You might also consider an oak ridge top, as well, as long as there are still acorns dropping. That is not a bad choice, especially where a draw comes up toward the top of the ridge to create contour lines that will tend to pinch the traveling deer down closer together.
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jeff from WI asks:bill did not draw an iowa bow tag. thinking about hunting southwest mo. what are the chances to shoot a pope n young buck in that part of mo.? do you think its worth a trip to hunt some private ground? thanks great show!Winke Responds:Jeff, Southern MO is not as good as Northern MO for big deer, but you can shoot a P & Y in the southern part of the state. And if you have access to decdent private land, I would definitely think it is worth the trip. Even the public down there, done right, can produce some nice bucks. One of our pro staffers is an expert on that public land hunting down there. Unfortunately, the land use policies require expensive permits to film on public land so Mike isn't going to hunt the public as much as he has in the past, but he will offer some tips through the course of the season on how to do it. Good luck.
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Jeremy. from IL asks:Hey. um i am living in Illinois right now, i live right on the tip of SO IL. im in Massac county. and it seems that no where around here has any good bucks. now where in Illinois would be a good place to have big bucks?. i was thinking pike county, but so many guys and gals hunt there, there are really no good bucks there anymore. so really what im getting to is, where in Illinois would be a good place to find big deer?Winke Responds:Jeremy, In the Midwest, it has been my experience that the big ones can show up anywhere. That means, they are where you find them. No doubt there are big bucks in your area. For sure there are big bucks (giant bucks) in every IL county unless it is all fields. They are rarely easy to find. You have to put in the time glassing fields, hang trail cameras, talk to people, etc. There are a few farms and a few neighborhoods that are good every year, but normally if it is not specifically managed for deer hunting, a farm can be good one year and then not so good the next. You have to keep your options open and keep looking. There are very few magic spots that are always good or that are way better than other areas. You have to find the bucks you will hunt each year from scratch. Good luck.
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Derel from GA asks:Hey Bill Winke, I am a fan of yours and enjoy your articles. I cut out all of your articles and save them in a notebook. I've have a tag for zone 4 this year in Iowa. I got a sportsman atlas and found the public land. I also called the game wardens and game biologist in the area. I got their views and information and would like to know if you have any area knowledge in zone 4 and where to go for a successful hunt. Thanks, DerelWinke Responds:Derel, I have not hunted there but I have traveled through that area a lot and talked to a lot of people in Zone 4. I have a good feel for it. I wouldn't hesitate to knock on a few doors. I would think you will find access to private ground too, if you need it. You will find that the deer can be relatively easy to pattern in that open country. There is limited cover and it is easy to find funnels like fence lines and narrow draws, etc. The bucks will live in non-traditional places to escape hunting pressure, so don't try to hunt using only the strategies that work in big woods. In other words, don't ignore the small cover, that is often where you will find them. Good luck.
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Zack from OH asks:Hey Bill i was just wondering what is the best way to bag a nice velvet buck at the start of bow season?Winke Responds:Zack, For sure you need to be around food or water. If it is really hot and dry, they will head to water shortly after they get up. If you can pattern them during the days leading up to the season by watching the fields where they feed, that is a definite bonus. Otherwise, set up in a conservative location where you can watch the areas you hunt and learn what the deer are doing before you blunder in and mess everything up. Also, deer shed their velvet early in September, so depending on where you are hunting (when the season opens), your bucks may have already shed their velvet. If you are set on a velvet buck, look for places to hunt that open in late August or very early September. Good luck. Bill
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neal from GA asks:Bill, just sent you an email about broadheads,and talked to a friend of mine that is going to zone 4 in Iowa this year to hunt publicland,he went 3 yrs ago and killed a 3.5 year old 138in, at the end when he had to leave,he saw several larger bucks but they were chasing to hard to narrow down, he would like your suggestion on which publicland,small tracts that he would best to start looking at from here,topos,aerials,he is 1000miles away and your help would be greatly appreciated! thankyou nealWinke Responds:Neal, If I am not mistaken, there aren't a huge number of public areas in Zone 4, so I would literally check them all out. Get a good sportsman's map for Iowa and study the access for all the public areas, large and small. Sometimes the small ones are better because other hunters ignore them. Look up "sportsman's map" or something like that on the search engine to get a few options. I would think that in Zone 4 he could find permission pretty easily. It is a long ways from any city and there are good deer numbers, meaning he should be able to find private land access without much trouble. Once he finds a farm, he can go to the NRCS/FSA office in the county seat and pick up aerials and get to work.
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Bob from MI asks:Hello Bill, I enjoy your site, and I enjoyed your hunts on Monster Bucks. That's why we all want to hunt in Iowa! My hunting partner and I just applied with 3 points each for a zone 7 archery hunt in Iowa Co. We will be hunting with an outfitter, but both of us are prepared to stay after the outfitted hunt and look for public land if we don't tag out. We need to get $550.00 bucks worth! The hunt is scheduled for the 1st week in November. Is there any good looking public land around Amana? Thank YouWinke Responds:Bob, I don't know Unit 7 real well, but if there is public land it is worth hunting. It is a huge unit with some decent sized public areas. I would get a Sportsman's Atlas with all the county roads and all the public areas and then spend some time studying that and making a few calls to the game dept and local game wardens first to try to narrow it down. Try www.sportsmanatlas.com. I assume they are still in business but I have not bought one for a long time.
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kaleb from IA asks:In Buckmasters latest issue they did an article stating the top ten big buck states in America, Iowa not being one of them. However Iowa is one of the most sought after states for people to hunt big bucks, and in my opinion should have been at least in the top five.My question is do you agree with them or would you put Iowa in the top ten and where at?Winke Responds:Kaleb, I am not sure what they based that on since I have not read the article. If they based it on P & & and B & C entries then it is hard to argue - or if they used some other measure such as trophy buck entries per hunter, etc. However, if they based it on opinion then it is always open for debate. I have hunted a lot of places and Iowa certainly has to be in the top five as you say. It always comes down to being on the right farm, but there are a lot of good farms in Iowa as there are in several other areas. If I had to shoot a P & Y to save my life, I would probably hunt Texas over a pile of corn. If I had to shoot a B & C to save my life, I would probably in Alberta with a .270. But to shoot a really nice buck consistently, it is very hard to beat the Midwest.
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Scott from MI asks:Hey bill, this is scott Withers I met you at a couple of shows this winter. I am planning on putting in for a non- resident tag in Iowa this year, and I had a few questions. I tried to get the answers from the Iowa dnr website but had little luck. 1. What would you say the chances are of drawing a tag the first time you put in for one? 2. I am planning on hunting state land is there a different category for that or is state land, and private land the same tag? 3. would I be better off putting in for a preference point? 4. If I do get a tag would I still be eligible for a tag next year? I have never been to Iowa but have always dreamed of hunting there, So I would like to go this year, do some hunting and talk to some land owners and farmers to see if I can get permision to hunt some private land. Maybe develope a relationship with a farmer, so in the future I will have a place to hunt there in Iowa. So in other words what would you do in my shoes. Thanks for the help ScottWinke Responds:Scott, 1. I would say your chances the first year are almost zero. They raised the price on non-residents so that might discourage some from applying, but it took three years in most zones to get a tag before. They give you a preference point when you are unsuccessful and many people have one or two preference points and they would draw before you. I would say you can forget it for this year. 2. No, same tag for public or private. 3. Probably, but who knows. If you don't mind your money being tied up for a while, you may as well put in for the tag. 4. Yes, there is no limit on the frequency you can draw. I would put in for the tag. Very low odds. Then when you draw you can spend the energy to find a good spot. It is just a tough draw. Some of the public land is quite good, and you can still find permission if you work at it. Good luck.
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Terry from NC asks:I don't know if you know the answer or not but here goes. I was on the DNR website for Iowa to apply for a tag and noticed the increase for non-res increased again, 555.00. With the state of the economy i just don't get it. First year i hunted there 1998 i paid 150.00 . I'm 49 now, if i only draw a tag every 3 yrs, I might get to come up 6 more times in my life if health holds up. Do you think They might ever sell tags over the counter? For that price they should. It would be more money for the state. Im not venting at you,just wondering if you might have heard anything about the increase. Keep up the good work!Winke Responds:Terry, I have heard about it. In fact, a number of people have complained about it to me. I don't think it will affect your chances for this year if you don't have preference points, because anyone with two points will just pay it and get their tag. However, it wouldn't surprise me if some people stop putting in and that means that you may be able to get tags more frequently. I don't know for sure on that, but it stands to reason that some will get priced out and there will be less people with multiple points to compete with. Who knows what the future will hold. This is a legislative issue in Iowa. The legislature sets these matters not the DNR, though the DNR often makes recommendations (that sometimes are followed). I know there were budget shortfalls in the department and something had to give. Either the residents or the non-residents had to pay more. You can see which way the axe fell.
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kevin from MN asks:Bill, great show loved ever bit of it. My question is how do I go about leasing hunting ground ? I Never have had to before but,the hunting pressure is getting tougher and my 17yr. old son & I are finding it very hard to have are own little refuge to bow hunt. So if you might have any input on this would be grateful!!! Where do I start,what $$$ amount on average do most hunters spend ?? THANKS AGAIN,KEVIN H. Harmony MN.Winke Responds:Kevin, Every area of the country has different rates. I am not sure what would be typical in Southern MN. I guess if I was going to lease land I would start with the very best hunting area and pick a farm that no one (or just family) is currently hunting. That way you aren't booting anyone out. Often, in lease deals you can get the rights for bowhunting cheaper if the family still gun hunts, for example. Sometimes you will have to accomodate one family member. Again, that is common. If the total buck kill gets much over one per 100 acres, then the management setting is not ideal. Look somewhere else. However, if the total buck harvest by everyone (including you) is reasonable then accomodating a family member is no big deal. Set up some kind of rules for everyone so the other parties don't ruin your season. Get it all in writing. I guess I would think that a local outfitter can give you some idea what land is leasing for in your area. I am not sure if there are many outfitters in that area (I used to hunt NE Iowa) but if you can find one, they would know. They might also know of a good farm that can be leased that they can't afford or don't need. Some people run ads in the paper, but that seems too generic for me. I would rather choose the neighborhood and then go from there trying to find ground to hunt. I know that is not much help, but leasing is kind of like getting permission. You have to get your feet wet and your hands dirty and wade right into by simply asking people. There really is no other way. Good luck.
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Jason from WI asks:Hi bill im Jason and I hunt public property in Marquette county, Wisconsin. I dont see the deer I used to see, I personally think it's because of the t-zone and earn a buck, but dont tell the dnr that. My question is what do you find to be the easiest way to approach land owners for permission to hunt their land? Because that seems to be where the deer are.Winke Responds:Jason, I think you are right. From everything I have heard from my Wisconsin friends and at the WI Deer Classic, the numbers are way down. The best approach is to offer to work and then follow-through. Back before I bought land I baled hay and built fence to hunting rights. When farmers heard about it, I was getting calls asking me if I wanted another place to hunt because they needed some help! It got so that I was spending every extra minute farming (something I enjoyed) but eventually I realized that I needed to buy something when I could finally afford it. Anyway, offering to work will definitely open doors. Good luck. Bill
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Cody from MN asks:Bill, your show is great! I live in MN and just recently graduated college. I'm looking to hunt out of state possibly MO or WI. Looking at getting hooked up with an outfitter for a decent rate (not 3K+). I'm not looking to shoot a whopper B&C Deer. I would like to get one in the 120-150 category. Any suggestions on outfitters? Or how do I get hooked up with the right outfitter for my wants, while not having to break my budget for something like this.Winke Responds:Cody, Thanks for your support. The best way to find what you are looking for, is to search the web for outfitters in the areas you want to hunt. Then you can narrow down the search based on price and buck size. Finally, call the outfitter and ask for references. I would still want to run the name of the outfitter past anyone you know in each of these areas to see what kind of reputation they have. However, for the size bucks you are looking for, you can probably get permission by knocking on doors, especially in MO. Even public land in Iowa, MO, IL and KS can produce bucks of that caliber pretty regularly. One long weekend spent driving around northern MO would likely yield just what you are looking for. I hope that helps. Good luck.
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Larry from CO asks:In Colorado, even as a resident it is extremely tough to draw a tag in whitetail territory, especially for bucks. In most cases you need at least three preference points. I watch alot of hunting shows and keep thinking why not try to buy a small farm in Iowa; it comes up alot as a state with big bucks and lots of deer in general. After reading through some of your answers to several questions pertaining to where to hunt in the midwest I have still have several questions of my own. First, if I were to purchase land in Iowa, what county or counties would you suggest. Second, you mentioned reasonably priced land; what is considered reasonbly priced land in Iowa? Third, how many acres would you need to have reasonable success on a yearly basis, many variables, I know. Fourth, do you need to own a certain amount of land to qualify for a landowner tag, could you just purchase a tag or does owning land as a non-resident matter at all. Thanks for your help with these questions.Winke Responds:Larry, Given your situation, I would point you toward Kansas instead. In Iowa, even if you own land you don't get a landowner tag if you live out of state. To do things totally above boards, you would only get to hunt it every third year, roughly. In Kansas, they have a certain acre number (I think it is 160) so that if you own that much you can hunt it every year with a landowner tag even if you live out of state. It is also much closer to where you live and could well be within driving distance depending on where you live in CO. I would shoot for 160 minimum if it is at least mostly timbered. It can be hard to find really good looking whitetail habitat in Kansas because a lot of the places they live are pasture draws and CRP, etc. Obviously, you don't want to buy 160 acres of CRP, so look for the property in parts of eastern KS and even a few isolated areas in other parts of the state where there is more cover so you have more stand options. By the way, the biggest whitetail I have ever shot came from Unit 105 or 104 (cant't remember which actual unit) in eastern Colorado. It grossed 191 as a typical 6X5. You should be able to draw that tag for bow nearly every year. Not so for gun. There are pockets in the creeks in this unit (as I'm sure there are in other units) where the whitetails have proliferated and the locals would love for you to shoot them (they favor mule deer and the more aggressive whitetail tend to push mule deer out). But I guess I don't need to tell you this. Good luck. I would probably look at KS and possibly NE before IA given your situation. Bill
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Jason from IN asks:Bill, Enjoying the website! In your opinion, where is the best place in the Midwest to hunt mature bucks in a low pressure situation. Over the past 10 to 12 years, I have been able to take several 3.5 year old bucks with a bow in Indiana (public & private land). The last few years I have been holding out for bucks in the 4.5 year old age class. I have come to the conclusion that very few, if any, exist on the properties I hunt. I am a recent dental school graduate looking for the best place in the Midwest to live a whitetail bowhunting lifestyle. To say that I am addicted would be an understatement. I have been focusing my research on Northeast and Southern Iowa due to the low human population, high B&C entries, and no firearm season in the month of November. I am seriously considering a move to one of these areas. I have dental opportunites in Davis, Monroe, Decatur, and Clayton counties. Any advice from a native Hawkeye would be greatly appreciateWinke Responds:Jason, Without a doubt, go with Decatur. It is pretty isolated, but it produces some amazing deer every year. Land is reasonable except in the very best neighborhoods and getting permission again is reasonable except in those same high profile neighborhoods. I have lived in NE and Southern Iowa. I think NE is beautiful and I grew up there. The Mississippi River offers great public land duck hunting, but for deer, I would be hunting Decatur. I don't live in Decatur, so I don't hunt there, but I have owned land there and know what it can produce. Good luck. Bill
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MIK from GA asks:Hi Bill I have really enjoyed you show this season. I did not know about your website until I starting catching your episodes on Realtree.com. my question is I am from Georgia and absolutely love whitetail hunting. My problem is i would like to hunt the midwest as close to Ga as i can, Kansas being one of the nearest states. But we are a single income family and i have two wonderful children and a wonderful wife but cannot afford to pay an outfitter so i was wondering if you know of good hunting spots on public land that i might have an opportunity at. I am open to any and all states not just Kansas. Thanks for your time as any advice is greatly appreciated. thanks Mik BoydWinke Responds:Mik, I am going to tell you something that was kind of a secret. The best public land deer hunting in the Midwest is the Mississippi River bottom between Iowa and IL and Iowa and WI. I would get the Iowa tag. You will have to wait a while for it, but there is good hunting on those islands and bottom land as long as the river levels are stable. Sometimes the corp or Engineers plays with the levels at the locks and that mess things up, so it is not a guarantee. We use to duck hunt that area and there were always lots of deer trails, tons of good funnels and very few deer hunters. I doubt that has changed much because the access is tough - you need a boat or waders to get anywhere. Other options would include northern MO - some decent spots and really just knocking on doors in MO and Iowa. You can still find some decent hunting doing that, but again, it is far from a guarantee. Good luck. Bill
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Shan from IA asks:Hi Bill, First of all, love the show. Great job! I wanted to ask you about hunting in northern MO. I grew up in northern WI and have bow hunted there with relatives and friends from MI for the past 10 years or so. The hunting there seems to be getting worse every year due to a number of factors. I now live in IA but can't hunt with them here every year due to the difficulty of drawing tags. One of my thoughts was to try and hunt with them in northern MO because it is close to IA and has tags available over the counter. I was wondering what you could tell me about the hunting in northern MO as far as the quality of deer and hunting pressure? Any tips for going door to door to gain access to private land? Is public land a good option? I would prefer to hunt private land and develop a good relationship with a farmer where we harvest an adequate number of does and shoot only mature bucks. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work on Midwest Whitetail. ThanksWinke Responds:Shan, I have hunted northern MO some. It all comes down to having access on a good farm, as you might suspect. However, there are plenty of nice 130 - 155 class bucks running aroung - solid 3 year old bucks. I have seen some very good farms in N. MO but in general the typical farm is not as good as the average farm in Iowa due to hunting pressure which is higher in MO. I suspect you will find permission if you knock on doors. Your approach is a good one. Make sure the famer knows you are willing to help out with doe shooting and even offer to help out with any tasks he may have around the farm that needs doing. That, combined with a courteous approach should be enough to get you in the door in N MO. Good luck and thanks for the support. Bill
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Terry from IA asks:Bill, I just found out about the website and I love it! Watched all of the video entries looking forward to more. Here's my question. I live in Scott county and only have access to hunt public lands and I kill some descent bucks sometimes but I would like to get some private property to lease and I don't have the slightest idea how to go about finding some. I don't know anyone with farmland to even ask. Can you give me some ideas? Also if I do try to lease, where would I get a lease document copy to use? Any help would be great, thanks. Can't wait till late muzz. season! TerryWinke Responds:Terry, I would probably pick an area that you think would be good and run a short ad in a local newspaper. You will likely get some interest that way. In fact, I can't think of a better way. You might also be surprised what you can come up with simply by getting out and knocking on doors within a half hour of your home. If you are skilled in a particular trade, such as building or welding, etc. you can often trade work for hunting rights. I used to bale hay for farmers in order to get permission. I was swamped with baling work and with hunting land. I have never used any kind of lease agreement, so I don't know the best source. I would say you likely find one online by searching under "hunting lease agreement" or something like that. Good luck. Bill
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jeff from WI asks:bill i am planning a hunting trip to montana,agusta area,west of great falls. i would love to shoot a whitetail in velvet, and also would like to go for elk too. are you familar with that area at all? what is the whitetail,elk population in that area compared to helena, milk river? thanks jeff...Winke Responds:Jeff, I am not familiar with that area specifically. Sorry. I have hunted the Milk River a few times and I have elk hunted down near Yellowstone (south of Livingston). I have flown in and out of Great Falls a few times, but I have not hunted the area you refer to. I'm sure there are great pockets of elk and deer hunting in that country, but like everywhere else, you really need to be an insider to know exactly where they are. I would go through my rolodex and try to find a friend of a friend who has an uncle that lives out there. You get the idea. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Good luck. Bill
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Joey from MS asks:I am a great distance away from the whitetail mecca that I so wish I was apart of, but what inside track could you give me on public ground in Northern Missouri and Illionis that is most likely to produce something close to the animals that you are taking? Does the knock on doors method still exist up there? This is a man who has never been, only dreamed.Winke Responds:You can knock on doors and sometimes find a good farm. Your chances of knocking on doors is actually better in Iowa, but the tag is much harder to draw. Generally, the best farms are tied up - that is why they are good. Many of our pro staff are still hunting on permission, so it can be done. I'm not. We own land, but I grew up doing it. I think one overlooked area that you might really enjoy hunting is the Upper Mississippi Wildlife Refuge - 250,000 acres of public land along the Iowa side of the Mississippi River in NE Iowa. I duck hunted this extensively as a boy and with a boat and a little hard work, you can find some untapped hunting in the bottoms along the river. Beautiful country too. I miss it. That is my inside tip of the day. Good luck.
