You are gonna get everybody's favorite outfitter. It depends also on how much you want to spend. For a 150" whitetail your best chance may be the midwest. I have hunted in Kansas with Eagle Head Outfitters. $4000. I have not killed the buck of a lifetime there but my friend has killed several. The owner Josh Hedges prefers his clients not shoot anything under 150". They kill several each year over 180". That being said there are hundreds of quality outfitters out there, the problem is there are lots of not so quality outfitters out there also. You can go to an outfitter and kill a 180 on day one and your buddy hunts all week and sees 3 does. You can imagine the difference of opinion on the outfitter. All you can do is check references.

 

Probably the best advice you will get op

 

This year I'll be hunting whitetails is Colorado, Kansas and Texas, This will be my 3rd straight year of hunting these 3 states and all are good options, but for overall trophy quality I'd pick Kansas hands down. I hunt with Hickory Creek outfitters out of Howard, Kansas. Great guys there with a lot of land to hunt and more affordable than most outfitters out that way as well

 

There are many things to consider, and you'll get many different opinions here on AT. I assume that you're thinking about a midwest treestand type hunt as opposed to a western style or Canadian hunt? The best thing you can do is start talking to Outfitters personally and get a feel for who they are. There are so many out there now, that basically you'll need to narrow it down to a certain state or area that you want to hunt, set your budget and then start the research. Personally, I would look for a fully guided rut hunt with a reputable outfitter, as opposed to an unguided or self guided type hunt... the properties are generally much better managed and less pressured on guided areas. If a place like Iowa is on your radar I would start applying for the tags now and by the time you are back from deployment you may be able to draw the tag. It's a lot of money, so don't just take someones word, make sure you do the research yourself. When you start to narrow down your choices, make sure that you actually talk to the Outfitter on the phone or in person at a show... I think you can generally get a better feel for a person that way as opposed to hearing a bunch of fluff from the internet. Personally contact their references, both successful and unsuccessful hunters. Most importantly, set your expectations to a reasonable level. It doesn't matter where you are hunting, if it's free range it will be a challange. Mature bucks are not behind every tree like you see on TV, but to kill a 150" deer, the first step is to hunt where they live... but you will have to hunt hard to even possibly get an opportunity. Make sure that you are okay with the fact that you may come home without a buck in the back of the truck. Don't go after it like a "big buck" mission, treat it as a well deserved vacation and enjoy everything about the trip.

 

good advice right there

 

Thanks guys for the input I've got alot of research to do

 

Anyone else ?

 

If Northwest South Dakota would be a option let me know and we can talk further.

 

Kentucky whitetail heaven outfitters. Check them out.

 

Just an FYI for anyone hunting with them this year, the Feds raided it
http://ksnt.com/2016/02/02/kansas-hunting-outfitters-target-of-federal-investigation/

 

The people that get to go on these guided hunts as part of their job must be doing something right.

 

Not saying they dont deserve what they get if found guilty, this makes the 3rd ks outfitter to get busted by the feds for migratory game violations,.. they will most likely be charged with toe tag violations along with the other offences as documented by the under cover agents.

 

What's a toe tag violation?

 

Something nobody ever suggests is talking to the guides. When it comes time to hunt the guide will make or break your hunt. Once you pick an outfitter ask to speak with your guide to see if he actually knows what he's doing or if he's just someone that drops you off and picks you up.

 

Rut hunts are great, but that's when the most pressure is on. I've had great success in early September when the bucks are very visible, in bachelor groups, and on feeding patterns. SC is like Mississippi with thick brush making the deer hard to see. In September out west, you generally see lots of deer which makes the hunt a lot of fun.

Idaho and Nebraska are every bit as good as the other states mentioned, just not "advertised" as much. I've heard a lot of good reports from Eastern Washington state, but have not been. Wyoming and North Dakota are also good early season choices for a quality bucks. They both have 150" bucks, however, IMO, a 130" in Wyoming and 140" in ND is a more realistic goal.

 

You ever here of a guy Wade Long ??

 

I take it you have hunted at Tall Tine pope?

 

Go with Jim Shockey out in Saskatchewan. There are loads of Saskoutfitters that have deer that will go 150"+ and the deer up here can weigh over 300 lbs.

 

The way to hunt Saskatchewan is with a rifle & an outfitter willing to turn you loose in an area they don't bait. 100's of square miles of bush & good tracking snow...don't get much better for whitetail.

 

Migratory birds require toe tags with the shooters id,..each bird, when being transported,..doves, ducks, geese,..if you and i go dove hunting, we each shoot 5birds,.we toss em in your vehicle,..and i follow you in mine,..you are now illegal without each bird having a toe tag,..if we are hunting together, and riding in the same vehicle,.with no toe tags,...not good

The owner of this site is the former owner of a ks outfitting service who lost his business due to the undercover feds

Unfortunately, toe tags were not his only offence, i believe he was also 1 bird over his limit,..his story is online

http://toetagsllc.com/

 

I hunted with this outfittter for years. He is a good guy and what happened to him could have happened to a lot of outfitters. The feds made an example out of him. Had dinner this last November in Alden and he is doing ok, just really missing hunting.

 

This is the first that I have ever heard of a toe tag for waterfowl hunting. Is this a newer law?

 

Yeah, its a new law inacted in 1918!

 

U/Urself/I LLC will take the best care of you,everything else is a crap shoot.