The Best & Worst parts of the state(s) you hunt in most

[gjs4]

Stealing this thread idea from ArcheryTalk where the thread has gone viral (lol). What are the best and worst parts of the state(s) you hunt the most.

I have two

NY-
Pros-
I personally have a good amount of access (its part of why i stay)- own a gorgeous house, nice hunting land, have a family farm
The weather is mild(ish)*- tornados, droughts, earthquakes, fires....nah. Blizzards-given
There are good deer here*
EHD and CWD arent big concerns
Its aesthetically a pretty state and very diverse
If i was into fishing- this is a great state for it

Cons-
Upstate is owned by NYC- horrid politics and taxes (4500$ for 40 vacant ac with only electric @rd)
Politically its going more far left everyday with more trash present everyday- Workers get overworked, lemmings get coddled
The hunting culture blows- cheaters galore, brown and down, DEC is another Albany joke
Deer are THE big game species - turkeys are pocketed and bears arent really a thing for my areas
While good, and trophies can exist- the culture will always be quantity, not trophy quality. Big gun focus
Our public sucks for hunting and is catered to everyone-else other than hunters
Weather- blizzards and gray skies all the dam time. depressing. Your life gets based on the precip

OH-
Pros-
I like the culture much more than NY
The weather is mild(ish)*
There are good deer with the potential for GREAT deer*
Tonk/ODNR are great with caring about both the herd and hunting experience
Its aesthetically a pretty state and very diverse
Lots of public in the south if you like big woods

Cons-
Politically it is shifting left quickly
Some real scummy people in areas, many will screw an out of area person without a thought
Hunting culture is shifting toward lesser due to ehd, access issues
BAITING- for those unfamiliar, you have no idea how much this screws hunting deer
Drought is a thing and has kicked my butt (150yr one this yr in my region)
EHD is a thing and has trashed areas, inc mine
Hunting wise there are many "consumer" out of state hunters- outfitters, leases, young buck bs
The cost and pressures related to hunting went up like a rocket

Id also add that while I love owning and hunting "my state"...getting away and mixing it up is so key to understanding things and having different perspectives.

For a bonus accoutrement- What is the one (reg?) change that would have the biggest positive impact on your states' hunting?

 

[Natty Bumppo]

Northwest Massachusetts Pros:
1) some very rural, gorgeous, and wild habitat with very few hunters (good if you're a tracker)
2) I have absolutely no trespassing issues
3) no hogs
4) so far no CWD or EHD
5) almost 3 full months of deer hunting*
6) no neighbors

Northwest Massachusetts Cons:
1) Some of the most draconian gun laws in the country
2) very low deer densities
3) can't use a rifle
4) can't hunt on Sundays
5) almost 3 full months of hunting*
6) some of the poorest soils in the country
7) no mast, no ag

#5 goes both ways....3 months of hunting is something I enjoy. However, it's probably WAY too much hunting given our very low deer densities.

And for the BONUS....easy. Lower the yearly buck limit to 1, and shorten the season....and allow Sunday hunting as a trade off.

 

[Brian662]

MN - Cons
Rifle season during rut.
Too many days of gun hunting between two rifle seasons and 16 day muzzle loader
Season long crossbow for any and all
Youth gun season during pre-rut

MN - Pros
One buck tag*




WI - Cons
Season long crossbow for any and all
Youth gun season during pre-rut
Muzzle loader season is only one weekend

WI - Pros
Rifle season starts after the rut
Early/Late doe hunts
Two buck state*


*For clarity, the difference between one and two bucks being a Pro for both states is simply due to rifle season timing. MN deer seasons are so horribly managed that the only way they could F it up more is to make it a two buck state. Their neighbors in WI(2) and Iowa(2 or 3) both have better herds with more buck opportunities due to rifle season timing.

 

[Telemark]

Ohio pros:
Cheap
Decent public land
Lots of deer
Can grow almost anything
One buck

Ohio cons:
Private land is getting crowded
Public land is crowded
Baiting is extremely common
Lots of unethical hunters

Ontario pros:
Unlimited public land
Wilderness hunting (little ag)

Ontario cons:
It's damn cold up there
Expensive
Lots of predators
Need a guide for bear or moose

Ohio should implement antler restrictions.

Ontario should allow non-residents to hunt bear and moose without a guide.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

PA pros:
1. one buck state
2. Antler restrictions
3. Bow hunting during rut, rifle later
4. Good availability of doe tags
5. No baiting
6. Spotlighting is legal*
7. Decent enough soil and climate for growing plots/trees

PA cons
1. No Sunday hunting
2. Proliferation of poaching culture
3. “Camp” hunters have far too loud of a voice
4. People bait anyway
5. Spotlighting is legal*
6. Trespassing enforcement non existent-very few wardens who cover way too large of areas
7. Everyone and their mom totes a rifle around and shoots at anything brown during the rifle season..one of the many reasons I prefer archery season

*love taking younger kids spotlighting to see deer and we have seen some good bucks which was invaluable before trail cams but people use it to poach way too often..it’s to the point if you know a good buck is hanging in a field at night you almost just wait to hear the shot or about the deer being taken illegally

Also not everyone follows the antler restrictions but the quality and quantity of larger bucks has certainly increased over the years…