Bearkat,

You really do not need an outfitter to score a huge midwestern buck. There are plenty to be had on public land if you do your homework. I know the lease mentailty of Texas hunters because I lived in Austin and hunted south Texas for 4 years, but it's the first stigmaI'd suggest losing.

First of all you forgot to mention Kansas, which is closer to you than any of the states you mentioned. Drop Indiana. I lived there 40 years and although it's improved with "one buck", it will never be a Kansas or Illinois with a rut gun season. I have hunted all the states you mentioned. Missouri is improving greatly, but I'd still stick with the big three......Kansas, Iowa & Illinois. These states have limited guns during the rut for a long time and your chances are much greater there.

Kansas is close to you and even southeast Kansas is great. Lots of public land. Tags have been on draw but they are always playing with that so it might go OTC soon. In any case, Iowa & Kansas now are on a draw basis requiring 1 or 2 points to get a tag for archery, but for gun they have units you can draw the first year. You need to get preference points in both states if niothing else, just in case. Their deadline to apply in both states is about June 1st. Get your points this year regardless. Illinois is also on a draw basis but you can draw every year anyway.

You might look at special public land draws all these states have, but if I were you I'd try SE Kansas as it is closer and you can probablyget there more often to scout. Lots of big bucks there. Kansas has a walk-in hunting program that offers private land for public hunting. You can check out properties online actually. Some is pretty good stuff.

I've taken mature bucks almost every year off public land in these states, including two last year in Illinois. Both were 130" class, but there are bigger.