Since the topic is P&Y, I'd like to see where some of these are coming from? I lived in Portage and now East of Lansing in MI for ~9 years total and I have seen maybe one spotting near a farm that raises deer. My guess is that he was let loose to hunt or escaped because the cover is just not here for them to go past 2.5 yrs. I grew up just South of Pittsburgh PA and never saw one in the woods but the new rules over the past 5 years have produced larger bucks, but the doe population is hurting bad. My dad took a 154 gross this past season so he has the potential especially since he has the time. What states/general locations are producing?

West/Central Illinois is doing pretty good. Between gun and bow I have 7 since 2002. Scores range from gross 132 to 160", a friend of mine has scored the last two years in a row on a 140" and a 150".

Deer management, private, no hunters, near the city???

Watch the hunting shows. Watch the states they visit/hunt in.

Wonder why they don't film many of the whitetail freak shows in Florida?

Yeah, because for some reason, ranches and guided hunts just haven't caught on there. Same reason you don't see them in Ohio......no ranches, no guided hunts. Lack of big bucks in Ohio?? Hell no. The guys on TV hunt where they do because of guided hunts.

Do a search on P&Y or B&C studies for locations, it's quite obvious why people travel to the Midwest states.

Exactly. Location, location, location.

I hunt private ground that has been managed for quit a few years. Nearest city is a town with about 800 people.

Looks like I have a seminar for work in Chicago in late Sept. I cut and pasted this from another site:

"Top 5 B&C states all-time:
#1 IL 873
#2 WI 853
#3 IA 803
#4 MN 739
#5 Saskatchewan 570
Top 5 P&Y states all-time:
#1 WI 6,348
#2 IL 4,892
#3 IA 2,880
#4 OH 2,121
#5 MN 1,865
And for those who claim IL has had a serious drop-off of big bucks in recent years, there's these.
Top 5 B&C states of deer killed per square mile 2001-2006 are: #1 IL, #2 KY, #3 WI, #4 OH, #5 IA.
Top 5 P&Y states of deer killed per square mile 2001-2006 are: #1 WI, #2 IL, #3 IA, #4 OH, #5 IN. "

mobow, there are a ton of guided hunts available in Ohio and I've seen many shows hunt there. My friend guides for Triple B Outfitters to mention only one. Check out the buck he killed there.

http://www.tripleboutfittersofohio.com/