What State Hunts the Most? (2024)

Courtney Vroman2024-04-23T14:13:35-05:00April 23rd, 2024|Categories: KARL, KARZ|

Did you know there were 15.9 million licensed hunters in the United States as of 2023? But the amount of hunting licenses has slowly dwindled from itspeakof roughly 17 million in the 1980s.

The following stats are based on 2023 hunting numbers and 2022 survey population estimates. Here are the states with the most paid hunting license holders PER CAPITA:

1. Wyoming. 23.4% of its population is a licensed hunter. Or 136,205 total.

2. South Dakota. 22.7% of its population is a licensed hunter. 206,316 total.

3. Montana. 20.6% are licensed hunters. 231,339 total.

4. North Dakota. 19.3% are licensed hunters. 150,724 total.

5. Idaho. 15.6% are licensed hunters. 301,994 total.

Now here are the states with the most paid hunting licenses period:

1. Texas. 1,170,316. That’s 3.9% of the total population. Texas came in 35th place per capita.

2. Pennsylvania. 953,903. 7.4% of the total population. 23rd place per capita.

3. Georgia. 769,105. 7.0% of the population. 25th place per capita.

4. Tennessee. 728,759. 10.3% of the population. 12th place per capita.

5. Wisconsin. 669,813. 11.4% of the population. 10th place per capita.

(Where’s your favorite place to hunt? Or would you rather just eat it instead of hunting?)

(Stacker)

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What State Hunts the Most? (2024)

FAQs

What US state hunts the most? ›

What State Hunts the Most?
  • Wyoming. 23.4% of its population is a licensed hunter. Or 136,205 total.
  • South Dakota. 22.7% of its population is a licensed hunter. 206,316 total.
  • Montana. 20.6% are licensed hunters. 231,339 total.
  • North Dakota. 19.3% are licensed hunters. 150,724 total.
  • Idaho. 15.6% are licensed hunters.
Apr 23, 2024

Which state has the most game to hunt? ›

1. Alaska. Unsurprisingly, Alaska is one of the best states for both fishing and hunting. Alaska has miles and miles of nearly untouched nature and breathtaking glaciers, tundras, mountains, and forests.

What is the hardest state to hunt in? ›

Without further ado, here's our list (in no particular order) for the hardest states to hunt (and get) a deer:
  1. Montana.
  2. North Dakota. ...
  3. Oregon. ...
  4. Vermont. ...
  5. Maine. ...
  6. New Jersey. ...
  7. Florida. This might sound easy enough, as most people don't think of Florida as a deer hunting rich state. ...
Aug 17, 2023

Which state has the least hunting? ›

Urbanization and strict gun laws, in addition to a drop in overall interest, are why California has the fewest number of hunting licenses in the nation.

What state sells most deer tags? ›

Top 10 States for Number of Paid Fishing Licenses Issued

Wisconsin issued the most resident hunting licenses, tags, permits and stamps at 2,695,812, while Georgia issued the most non-resident hunting licenses, tags, permits and stamps with 162,356.

What state is cheapest to hunt? ›

The Northern region, especially Minnesota and Wisconsin, is renowned for its affordable hunting land and the quality of hunting experiences it offers. Price per Acre: Prices for land in these states are reasonable, making it accessible for a wide range of buyers, from novice hunters to seasoned investors.

Where is the best hunting in America? ›

10 Best Places for Hunting in North America
  • Montana: Every Hunter's Dream. ...
  • Colorado: Sport and Scenery. ...
  • Georgia State: True Hunting State. ...
  • Nunavut: Rugged and Isolated. ...
  • Idaho: Not Just Potatoes. ...
  • Wyoming: Wide-open Spaces and Remote Mountains. ...
  • Maryland: Small State, Plentiful Hunting Opportunities. ...
  • Texas: A World of Its Own.

Is hunting losing popularity? ›

In recent decades the number of hunters and anglers in the U.S. has declined both in actual numbers and as a percentage of the total U.S. population, based on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service records of annual hunting and fishing license sales from all states (including U.S. territories and Washington, D.C.) and U.S. ...

What state kills the most whitetail deer? ›

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department estimates hunters harvest 430,000 to 500,000 whitetails annually, which is also No. 1 in the country. TPW estimates hunters killed 838,000 whitetails during the 2017-2018 season.

What state has the best public land deer hunting? ›

#1 Arkansas – 8.39 / 10

One of the most sportsman-friendly states in the country rings in at number one on our list. With an impressive 4.5 million acres of publicly accessible land, there is room to roam even though 29% of its deer hunters are non-residents.

What state is known for hunting? ›

Alaska: The Last Frontier. For truly big game, Alaska is a treasure trove for America's hunters.

What is the most hunter friendly state? ›

Best State to Hunt Just About Anything: Idaho

Idaho is a blessed state for hunting. From big game to upland bird hunting, you could spend a lifetime living off the bounty of its wildlife. For the big game side, Idaho has elk, about 120,000 of them.

What state allows you to hunt the most deer? ›

Hunting the 3 States with the Most Deer
  • High deer densities make for fun hunts, but these don't come without drawbacks. ...
  • Texas is home to more whitetails than any other state. ...
  • Wisconsin is home to a very large deer herd. ...
  • Pennsylvania has a large whitetail herd, but it's needed to support the massive number of hunters.
Sep 6, 2022

Which state has the most public land to hunt? ›

Best States Based on Public Land Availability

States in the West lead the country in the amount of public land available, with states including Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho making more than 50% of the state available to the public to hunt.

What is the most popular hunting in the US? ›

Top 10 Hunting Destinations in the USA for Every Game Hunter
  1. Kodiak Island, Alaska - Big Game Hunting. ...
  2. Wisconsin - Whitetail Deer. ...
  3. Stuttgart, Arkansas - Duck Hunting. ...
  4. Appalachians, West Virginia - Wild Turkey. ...
  5. Colorado - Elk Hunting. ...
  6. South Dakota - Pheasant Hunting. ...
  7. Texas Hill Country - Exotic Game.

Where do most people hunt? ›

Where Do Hunters Hunt Most? According to USFWS hunting license data from 2019, Texas sold the most hunting licenses, over 1 million; and Rhode Island sold the fewest at 7,400.

What US state has the most deers? ›

Texas is home to the most white-tailed deer of any U.S. state or Canadian province, with an estimated population of 5.3 million. High populations of white-tailed deer exist in the Edwards Plateau of central Texas.

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