Mississippi Hot Spot For Trophy Bucks

Jackson, Miss. (May 22, 2013) – Outdoor Life’s June/July issue names Mississippi as one of its Top 10 states to hunt whitetail trophy. After tallying the scores, Mississippi emerged as number seven with an abundance of game to hunt, relatively low cost for guided hunts and hunter-friendly laws and regulations.

“Outdoor Life has shined the light on Mississippi as one of the Top 10 places in the U.S. that outdoor travelers should add to their wish list,” said Mississippi Development Authority Tourism Director Malcolm White, “The state’s tourism product has seen incredible growth over the last several years and the sportsmen who visit have an abundance of opportunities.”

The magazine uses real-world considerations to assess the top ten whitetail trophy states in the U.S. The publication reviewed the last three years of Boone and Crockett Club record-book entries and noted the number of bucks that made the book from each state; considered hunter density per state to determine the competition for trophy bucks; noted the average fee of a fair-chase, fully guided, five-day hunt during the rut in each state, as well as nonresident license fees; and, finally, looked at each state’s hunter friendliness.

“Every year there are stories about which state has become the latest trophy whitetail destination, but frankly the equation has been wrong all along,” says Andrew McKean, editor of Outdoor Life. “If you only look at the total number of deer killed, it gives an unfair advantage to states with high numbers of hunters and deer. When you’re considering investing the time and money it can often take to go on a trophy hunt it’s important to consider all the factors to get the most accurate picture, which is what we’ve done.”

The top states were ranked as follows:

Kentucky

Kansas

Indiana

Iowa

Minnesota

Illinois

Mississippi

Nebraska

Ohio

Oklahoma