From the Boone & Crockett Club’s most recent data:

#1 – Wisconsin

Wisconsin is the #1 ranked state with 1,822 total entries and 6 counties in the top 20 U.S. counties with the most records produced. The #1 county overall is Buffalo County with 150 entries in the record book.

#2 – Illinois

Illinois is #2 overall with 1,445 total entries and has 4 counties in the top 20 U.S. counties, including: Pike County that ranks #10 with 57 entries, Fulton and Adams Counties that are tied for #11 with 55 total entries, and Jo Daviess County that ranks #17 with 49 entries.

#3 – Iowa 

Iowa continues to rank #3 for Boone and Crockett whitetails with 1,330 total entries. The state also has 3 counties in the top 20 U.S. record-producing counties, including: Allamakee County that ranks #8 with 60 entries, Warren County that ranks #16 with 50 total entries, and Clayton County that is tied for #19 with 47 entries.

#4 – Minnesota 

Minnesota comes in #4 in the overall state rankings with 1,194 total entries and 4 counties in the top 20 U.S. counties: St. Louis County is the #2 overall county with 102 total entries; Otter Tail County ranks #7 with 63 total entries; Houston County is tied for #14 with 54 entries; and Winona County is tied for #19 with 47 entries.

#5 – Ohio 

Ohio moved up in rank to #5 with 1,049 total entries. Of particular note, all of the new typical records in the state’s top 10 and 6 of the 10 non-typical state records were taken in the 2000s – this shows that current state management is producing consistently large bucks.

This info and more is found in the recently released 6th edition of B&C’s Records of North American Whitetail Deer, an invaluable source for hunters who want to research whitetails, plan hunts anywhere in the country and read stories of the biggest bucks ever shot.  The 700-page book is available for $60 on the Boone and Crockett website; to order click here.