Where would you go to chase big bucks? Trying to book my trip for this year and just can't decide. Would love some opinions from those who have been.

Not sure you can go wrong with either one. I have not hunted in Illinois, but some of the guys that I hunt in Kansas with do. They prefer Kansas, and a few even gave up the Illinois lease to hunt in Kansas.

They see more total deer in Kansas and the drive is shorter, so more trips are possible. IMO, the oppurtunity between the two is about the same.

I kinda like Texas for big bucks. Just have to pick the right area and your chances are just as good. But of the 2 listed I would take Kansas for the reasons txshntr listed.

I agree that there are places in Texas that offer the same chance, but I haven't been able to find anywhere that offered the same chance for the same amount of $$$$.

By the time you add in all you travel time, lease costs, feeders, etc you might not be that far off. But then again it depends on the definition of "big buck" also.

Many of the cost aren't much different than the places in Texas. It also comes down to what you decide to hunt with. In both Kansas and Illinois, I would choose a bow. If I was going to use a rifle, I would probably stick to the Texas Panhandle due to the season length and the timing of the rifle season in the 2 northern states. Muzzle loader wouldn't be bad up north though.

If I was looking for something comparable to the Kansas/Illinois hunts, I would look at the panhandle but the price is climbing quickly there. I still know of a few ranches that are reasonable, but my places in Kansas are still cheaper and the drive is pretty comparable. Also, I believe that the oppurtunity of a 160"+ is greater in Kansas than most places in the panhandle.

There are other counties that provide great oppurtunities in Texas, but the price starts jumping quickly to $15-$20/acre.

I would rather hunt a "good" spot in Il over a "bad" spot in Ks and vice versa. I like to hunt the deer that I have scouted and worked for (put up stands, etc). Depending on what you are looking for, there are a lot of states that have 180" deer.

What I don't like is scouting for something that isn't there.....

Agreed. But there are good and bad in every state. How do you know what is there unless you were referred to the place or you scout it?

It is pretty easy to use google earth to verify places that "shouldn't" be any good. Once you find a place that shows promise (topo wise), then you have scout.

I am lucky to have access to a lot of land in Kansas. One of the farmers or my Dad tells me they saw a nice buck and then I start my scouting.

I have more fun scouting than I do actually harvesting the deer.

This ^^^^^^ is what makes it hunting.

I would also not over look eastern Colorado or into parts of Nebraska or Oklahoma for a chance at a great buck within driving distance.

True, but I have seen places up there that look like they would be pitiful, yet they produce 180"+ deer. I think that it would especially be difficult for someone that has only hunted in Texas to see some of the terrain up there and think "that should be a good spot." Different terrain and the deer (from my experience) travel and act much different than the ones here.

I love the off season up there!!! Have a few Spring trips planned and also end up making more trips in the Summer than I planned.

txshntr, if I remember, you also like sitting in the tree stands with 20+ mph winds

20+ my rear...had to be 60+!!!! Bought a new ladder stand instead of that pitiful chain on thing...much better and didn't feel like I was on the Santa Maria in the middle of Hurricane

And, if you hunt out a little more west, past Pratt.....it seems that wind never stops

I have no desire for MORE wind...if the wind drops to 15mph up there, I feel like I got lucky

I've hunted Pike County Illinois a lot. I am going to KS this year for the 1st time. I know what kind of deer are in both states. I really like Illinois a lot but I have to check KS out and see what all fo the hype is about. I would say that you cant go wrong with either.

BTW, The place in KS that we are hunting is only 150 miles closer then the farm that we hunt in Illinois. So we really are nto going to save all that much on fuel.

Thanks for the input. I have hunted some in Texas and once the kids get a little older I will be getting a lease here. I love Texas. Right now I am at that age where I am not getting any younger and while the kids are not quite old enough to hunt as hard as me I have decided to do some traveling and experience what "all the fuss" is about while I can.

I will be hunting with an outfitter and using a bow.

Exact same situation as me although I do have a lease here but I dont pay for it.

The northern neighbors of our Kent Co lease also hunt Kansas 15-20 miles east of Whichita. He says the land looks like there's no way it could hold any deer. These deer just appear out of nowhere according to him. Can be flat for as far as the eye can see and all of a sudden you have a 175" buck up on you.

They are pretty close to me. Bottom lands are thick around the fields. Stretch of woods 100 yards wide is a lot of woods up there