Study reveals the hunting preferences in the US
The USA is well known for its love for hunting, with hunters scattered across the nation. A study has recently unveiled the latest hunting trends and preferences for hunters in the US, including the most popular hunting states, the most preferred game, the most prized trophy game, and more.
Let’s take a look at the findings of the Tier One study below.
Where hunters like to hunt in the US
A list of the most popular states in the US for hunting was revealed:
- Texas
- NY
- California
- Michigan
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Georgia
- Wisconsin
- Alabama
- Florida
The list above shows Texas at first, appearing to be the hunting state that is most preferred by hunters, and this comes as no surprise, considering that Texas is home to one of the longest deer seasons and the largest deer population in the country – with approximately 5.6 million deer.
If you are an avid hunter looking for the best places for hunting in the next hunting season, the states listed above are excellent suggestions for you to take into account. After all, they were recommended by other hunters just like you.
What type of game hunters enjoy hunting
The report also discovered the different species that hunters prefer to hunt, with white-tailed deer claiming the top spot (62%). This is followed by wild turkey (31%) and mule deer (22%). It is worth noting that these are species that you can find in abundance in a number of different states, including the top hunting states mentioned previously.
Coyotes (20%) are another favored game for hunters in the US, which is also reasonable considering that coyotes reportedly kill over 300,000 livestock and injure even more annually. After coyotes, elk (16%) is the fifth most popular game for hunting.
Why hunters engage in big and small game hunting
Another key finding of the study showed the top hunting motivations, with 62% of hunters citing meat as their primary motivation for hunting. From venison to poultry, hunting is an activity that is traditionally associated with survival and sustenance, with individuals hunting to put food on the table. It appears that this purpose continues to thrive in modern-day hunting trends.
In the meantime, 17% of hunters engage in hunting as a form of adventure sport and 5% participate to control the wildlife population and eliminate pests that can be a nuisance to other species and farms. These motivations are also not surprising, although hunting as an adventure sport is a more recent trend that developed closer to the 19th century.
When hunters prefer to hunt
On top of all the previously mentioned findings, Tier One’s study unveiled the preferred months when hunters like to hunt in the US as well. This included November (46%), a month when the rutting season occurs for numerous deer species. This was followed by October (34%), another month for the deer rutting season, as well as the beginning of the deer hunting season in many states.
The fall and winter are prime seasons for hunting, especially as there are often more animals that appear during these times as they forage for winter.