Best Home Field Advantage!

[DHaffner]

Even though New Mexico doesn't have OTC tags for residents they don't give out many tags to NR so you still stand a good chance at getting tags since there are not many people living there. I think Albuquerque is about the only sizeable population and that 's not saying much compared to competing against all the folks who live in Phoenix, Denver, or Salt Lake metro areas. Wyoming and MT have less competetion from residents as well with few people in the state. Every year NM produces some 180" rocky mtn rams and the opportunity for Desert sheep as well. The antelope hunting is definetly one of the best for trohy quality. Not to mention the Ibex, Oryx, and Barbaray Sheep that nowhere else can offer.

On Deer B+C entries since 1986
Colorado 112, ID 83, NM 65, Wy 61, UT 59, AZ 44, NV 19 , MT 14

On B+C elk in the last 10 years
AZ 75, UT 69, NM 33, NV 31, WY 20, CO 12, ID 9, MT 6

As you see MT is a quantity not quality state except for Sheep which they are the hands down the best.

Colorado is the best trophy quality on deer but a quantity state on elk due to the the OTC tags for NR's.

I'd say on trophy quality NM and WY are propably the best based on data but the huge difference is the amount of tags WY gives to NR's versus NM who barely gives any. Thats what I see whan I look at the data and say NM is the best trophy state for residents. I definelty don't see MT close to the top in trophy quality at anything but sheep and thats a once in a lifetime if your lucky.

I guess I forgot to go over UT. Way too many mormons for me.
And ID. I truthfull don't know much about ID but it would appear a good quality state for trophies with few resident to compete aginst for tags.
Propably 3rd behind NM and WY IMO. Remember to take this opinion like a grain of salt since I am an idiot who lives in Oklahoma, arguably one of the dumbest and most overweight states in the country .

Great post thanks!

 

[----]

6 BC elk from MT in the last ten years?
I`d all but guarantee there was more than that killed on Thanksgiving week this year alone.

 

[wyoming556]

Randy I mistyped that data, 6 bulls over 400" and 26 over 375" and the book that came form was a few years old so the data could be slightly different now. My bad.

The real problem with MT is the lack of good trophy Antelope like WY, NM, and AZ.

 

[trevore]

Man that's a tough question. I know a lot of folks aren't too keen on Texas, but I had a great time growing up here. As much as I love to hunt the mountains, I've enjoyed the heck out of hunting whitetail and exotics here. That and I can be in the surf in about 3 hours.

 

[wyoming556]

I'm not sure hunting trained whitetails from blinds over feeders is what people call OYO adventures here. I mean when the feeders go off and the deer step out i't just not the same. And exotic hunting in high fence areas? come on, wheres the adventure. I know there are a few desert sheep tags you can buy for $50,000 a tag and a few antelope and mule deer and lots of hogs but I just don't see Texas even on a top 10 list quite frankly. I hunt private land deer over feeders in Oklahoma and can tell you from experience its not really comparable hunting in Wyoming or Montana. Am I missing something?

 

[Antler King]

I would have to say AK.

I agree with mtmiller. If I had it to do over again I would choose Alaska and get the Sheep, goat, moose and bears out of the way before I got too old and it would save a person a pile of money by being a reisdent. Eventhough I love the Whitetails I think I could have waited to do that untill later in life.

 

[onpoint]

I was thinking about being that age again.....when I was that age, ranchers welcomed you on to hunt, if the ground wasn't posted-you could walk right out there to bird hunt, horses-not four wheelers filled horse trailers, hardly any guides on the rivers........and that was only 30 years age. These are the good old days. If you are 18 or 55, enjoy what you got wherever you are right now.

 

[onpoint]

I meant 30 years AGO.....once again my college degree fails me....

 

[Mikeflies]

At 18 I was still hunting Whitetails year round. In the winter in the woods & summer time at the Beach. Texas had my vote then, but that I am older, slower, & wiser it would have to be Wyoming. Once a Cowboy, always a Cowboy.