[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/best-states-to-tag-a-velvet-buck\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/best-states-to-tag-a-velvet-buck\/","headline":"Best States to Tag a Velvet Buck","name":"Best States to Tag a Velvet Buck","description":"Want to tag a velvet buck with your bow? Discover the top six states for killing a big velvet whitetail, a bucket list achievement for many serious hunters.","datePublished":"2017-07-19","dateModified":"2018-11-13","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/author\/hagosto\/#Person","name":"Hector Agosto","url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/author\/hagosto\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7bfedbdc5ef3ed8f8df91eb37e1ffbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7bfedbdc5ef3ed8f8df91eb37e1ffbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Legendary Whitetails","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/logo-legendary-whitetails.png","url":"http:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/logo-legendary-whitetails.png","width":522,"height":226}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/shutterstock_212684536-e1437753588368.jpg","url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/shutterstock_212684536-e1437753588368.jpg","height":735,"width":1197},"url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/best-states-to-tag-a-velvet-buck\/","about":["News"],"wordCount":1477,"keywords":["News"],"articleBody":"Having the chance to harvest a buck still in velvet is a bucket list item for many of us of bowhunters.\u00a0 We spend time watching these majestic deer throughout the summer as they feed out in the open every evening, but by the time season rolls around the velvet has long since shed.\u00a0 With most states\u2019 hunting seasons opening from mid-September to early October, there is a pretty slim chance of ever tagging a big mature velvet whitetail for most of us.\u00a0 Therefore, if you want one you\u2019re likely going to have to travel to or live in one of the following states.\u00a0 Here\u2019s a list of the top states to kill a DIY velvet buck:*States were ranked on season opener date, available public hunting land, costs of license, and trophy potential.KENTUCKYNot sure how much longer Kentucky will remain a \u201csleeper state\u201d in terms of big buck potential with the massive bucks they produce every year, but for the time being Kentucky is the #1 state to chase a velvet bruiser.\u00a0 The archery season opens on the first Saturday of the month which is September 2nd\u00a0this year, which means there should still be a decent amount of velvet running around the vast amount of public land.\u00a0 Kentucky\u2019s the type of state where if you don\u2019t tag an early velvet buck, it\u2019s certainly worth your time to make a second trip back during the rut.\u00a0 The total license comes in at $260 for nonresidents ($120 for a tag, $140 for an annual hunting license).Denny Conley arrowed this giant 204″ Kentucky velvet buck during the 2016 season.NORTH DAKOTAPerhaps the ultimate DIY velvet whitetail state, North Dakota offers a staggering amount of public land for whitetail hunters.\u00a0 The ample amount of public land paired with a relatively low human population means there are plenty of opportunities to chase low pressured deer.\u00a0 The vast amount of public land means you need to put in some serious time scouting online to make the most of your hunt. Target sheltered draws, river bottoms, and CRP areas that lay adjacent to large ag fields for the best chance of finding a mature bachelor group.\u00a0 The season opens at noon on the Friday closest to September 1st, which just so happens to be September 1st\u00a0this year. A nonresident tag will run you $272 when all is said and done.RELATED: NoDak Public Land BruteWYOMINGTraditionally known as an elk and mule deer state, Wyoming has an ever growing population of whitetails.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t take long for hunters to take note and make this state one of the premiere early season destinations.\u00a0 Although Wyoming may appear to have a ton of public land, you have to take it with a grain of salt because much of the land is landlocked by private ranches.\u00a0 This is not to say there isn\u2019t ample public land to access for a velvet whitetail, you just have to be prepared to do some asking around.\u00a0 The best areas to target are those with pockets of cover situated to a nearby irrigated alfalfa field.\u00a0 One knock on Wyoming is the early application process which ends in March.\u00a0 Total license costs come to $356 for a non-resident archery deer tag.\u00a0 Despite the application process the odds are still pretty good that you will draw a tag for the September 1st opener.Bucks typically shed their velvet around the end of August and into early September. \u00a0It’s often a race against time if you want a chance at a buck with good velvet.IDAHOAnother western state more known for its mule deer, elk, and predator hunting, than it is for chasing velvet whitetails.\u00a0 You better be in shape if you want a crack at one, as Idaho has perhaps the most rugged terrain in the country.\u00a0 The early archery season begins August 30th and runs around $450 for a nonresident license and tag.\u00a0 You won\u2019t find many, if any, whitetails in the lower half of the state.\u00a0 Stick to the northern shaft of the boot and you\u2019ll find a healthy amount of velvet antlered bucks to chase for a solid week or so.MONTANAAnother beautiful state to enjoy a western velvet buck adventure in.\u00a0 Montana boasts a healthy success rate for white-tailed deer hunters, however, you have to pay for it.\u00a0 This is one of the most expensive states to enjoy a whitetail hunt with a license coming in around $602 buckaroos, but heck, the views alone may be worth it.\u00a0 If you are in the right area, it may be nothing to see 15 \u2013 50 deer per sit.\u00a0 These Montana whitetails like to hang out in the cottonwood groves and feed on the irrigated alfalfa fields throughout the evening.\u00a0 Archery season opens on the 2nd\u00a0of September this year, which will offer a good chance of a velvet buck walking by your stand.A beautiful velvet buck like this is not all that uncommon to find bouncing between pockets of cover and Montana’s irrigated alfalfa fields.NEBRASKAA state that may have ranked higher circa 2012, Nebraska is still rebounding from the significant 2012 EHD outbreak. \u00a0After four years of recruitment, mature bucks are once again filling the landscape and the Great Plains states are notorious for some of the biggest whitetail to ever hit the record books.\u00a0 With a few years of low deer harvests and progression under its belt, Nebraska is a state worth considering.\u00a0 Just be sure to do some ample research before you plan your trip and be sure to talk to the big game biologists to figure out where the worst outbreaks of EHD occurred.\u00a0 Nebraska has a fair amount of public land scattered throughout the state for DIY hunters.\u00a0 Season opens on September 1st."},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Legendary Whitetail's Blog"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/best-states-to-tag-a-velvet-buck\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Best States to Tag a Velvet Buck"}}]}]