When the temperature is starting to drop and the leaves are starting to turn, these are signs that fall is around the corner; once fall starts, so does hunting season. Whether you’re tired of your local honey hole and want to switch things up, or want to satisfy the traveling itch and want to explore some new hunting terrain, here are the best places to hunt in the U.S. We’ve got you covered with the top spots for deer, duck, hogs, and whatever else you may be hunting.
Before you travel anywhere to hunt, first ensure that your hunting license is up to date and that it will be valid in the state you are traveling to. Sometimes, you will need to purchase an out-of-state permit in order to hunt in another state. Also, double check that the area where you are planning on hunting is public land that allows hunters. Additionally, ensure that you are following all catch limits in the state where you are hunting. With that being said, let’s dig into the best spots to hunt in the U.S.
While the best places to hunt certain animals is up for debate, in duck hunting there is only one spot recognized as the “duck hunting capital of the world:” Stuttgart, Arkansas. This tiny town in Arkansas has become the go-to spot for duck hunters due to a number of reasons: its location on the Mississippi River; a place where other major rivers converge, has floodplains, and tons of rice farming. Once you arrive in Arkansas, there are multiple options for you to pick from when it comes to starting your search for some ducks. The two most popular options are the massive public parks. The White River National Wildlife Refuge spans over 160,000 acres, while the Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Area offers an additional 34,000 acres for prospective hunters. With such a vast area teeming with ducks, there is simply no other way to describe Stuttgart except as a paradise for duck hunters.
Because one of the most disruptive and invasive species in the U.S. is the wild hog, so many states have very limited restrictions when it comes to hunting them. Wild hogs are able to multiply rapidly and have few natural predators, which has led to a boom in their population. While many southern states have struggled with their overpopulation, Texas is the state with the biggest hog problem. If you’re willing to spend some money, you can hunt on private lands with hogs in Texas. For those that prefer hunting on public land, you can head north to Oklahoma and try the Honobia-Three Rivers WMA. One of the benefits of hog-hunting is that there is no maximum number you are legally allowed to catch in almost every state. Your only limit is your own ambition. Perhaps the best part of hog hunting is that you’re helping the land in the process — hogs are invasive species constantly destroying farmer’s crops and other native plants.
Finally, it’s practically a must for a hunting list to include some possible options for the best places to hunt deer. And while there are plenty of states to hunt for deer, few places top Kentucky. The animal most people associate with Kentucky is the horse; however, Kentucky’s rich backwoods are full of white-tailed deer. When it comes to picking a place to hunt, Western Kentucky is full of Wildlife Management Areas for hunting. While you can’t go wrong hunting deer in Kentucky, one of the most prominent is the Peabody WMA . Exploring Kentucky as a hunting destination certainly will leave you feeling satisfied — after all, it is the home of the legendary Daniel Boone and the coonskin hat.
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