Thanks y'all, I will start to see if there is any availability in state and if not try my hand at the public land game.
Go where the big deer are. My money would be on Kansas or Iowa, possibly southern Illinois or northern Missouri. I've taken two 150s in Kansas on private, non-outfitter land, and have pics of larger. For public land, I'd look at some of the midwest military installations like Fort Campbell or Fort Riley. I took a B&C from Campbell. Outfitters should be well-researched and trustworthy, with solid references. If you can, hunt the rut with a rifle, but think like a bowhunter.
"Hunt with a rifle, but think like a bowhunter" - will do.
You have to go to where there are a larger percent of those the deer.
For example, a guy w a modest budget could pull this off in Kansas on public land w a bow
I know of 2 guys who have done it in the last few years, they both are Kansas regulars and they have been going for prob around 10 years
Draw, public land, take a week of vacation and go
And that would be my opinion be the best way to take a 160-170 deer, LF on a budget...
I will check Kansas out, thank you.
To shoot a gross book deer, find a ranch in Maverick county and book a hunt. I know a ranch where you have an extremely good chance to kill a gross book (170”+) deer in 3-5 days. Seen them with my own eyes.
If you’re more on a budget, Wisconsin, Kansas, Ohio, Illinois, on a rut bowhunt. Eastern Colorado also has some big whitetail.
Kansas x2, I'll certainly take a look. I did some hunting in Colorado years ago, maybe I need to head back out there.