Whitetail hunters have a bucket list, whether they want to admit it or not. The list might not be the same for all. One list might have a Boone and Crockett buck on it. Another might have a buck with a 24-inch spread. And other hunters might place the harvest of a velvet buck on their bucket list.
I was able to harvest my biggest buck to date with archery gear not too long ago. The big buck, which happened to be in velvet, measured 146 7/8-inches and was taken using a Carbon Express Covert 3.4 crossbow. The Montec G5 broadheads put the deer down within 100 yards. It was truly a hunt that I will never forget.
If your list contains a velvet buck, there aren’t a lot of options for you, but the ones you do have are great. Having said that, if it’s a velvet-racked buck you’re after, don’t wait long. Most bucks shed their velvet within the first week of September.
Whether you choose to go at it alone and do a DIY hunt or hire an outfitter, let’s take a look at where your best spots are to wrap your tag around a buck in velvet.
WESTERN KENTUCKY
Western Kentucky is quickly becoming the go-to choice for archers going after velvet bucks. Archery season open the first Saturday of September each year. Deer permits are affordable at only $190 and can be purchased over the counter.
The western half of the state has plenty of public ground to hunt. The Peabody and Land Between the Lake Wildlife Management Areas are good choices, with many smaller WMAs scattered across the area.
If you choose to hunt early in Kentucky, you will not be alone. Because of the popularity of this state with big velvet-clad bucks, competition is tough. Do your scouting, and get far off the beaten path, where the other hunters aren’t.
SOUTHEAST MONTANA
There are a couple of western states that have the potential to offer archers a check on their bucket list, the first being the southeast corner of Montana. Those deer will be a little easier to scout then deer found in western Kentucky.
Archery season opens September 1. This normally gives hunters a few extra days over other states to fill their tag on a nice buck. But, as with anything good, there are always a few drawbacks. The first is the expense. You’ll have to pay $552 for a deer tag that you can only get via a drawing. Next, most of the good land is leased to outfitters. That’s another expense to consider.
NORTHEAST WYOMING
If you have your heart set on hunting a velvet buck out west, you might want to consider the Northeast corner of Wyoming.
Archery season opens September 1. Permits are issued though a drawing, but your chances of being drawn are very good. A license is reasonable in Wyoming, costing just $286.
There is some good private land available for hunting big whitetails. You might have to pay a trespass fee, though. Normally, this will not amount to much. If you prefer, the Black Hills National Forest is a good option.
Like its neighbor, Montana, expect to see deer out feeding in the alfalfa fields. In the vast open areas of these two states, a good pair of optics will allow you to see far. This is a good opportunity to see as many as fifty bucks in one day.
NORTH DAKOTA
If you are look for a do-it-yourself hunt, North Dakota is the place. Public land is everywhere, and access to private ground is easy. But you won’t have long though to wrap a tag around a velvet buck. Season opens on September 4.
Besides public land, the state has other options called Private Land Open to Sportsmen. This is a program that landowners have signed up, which allows sportsmen a place to hunt. This option is walk-in only. For more info, contact the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
Do your homework for this state, and you’ll have an exceptional hunt for your $215 permit. As of now, residents have tended not to make the most of their opportunities.
CONCLUSION
With plenty of pre-season scouting, studying the area you plan to hunt, and gathering all the licenses you need, you could have an exceptional velvet buck hunt. If this is on your bucket list, I hope you get to check it off soon.
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