Can you imagine what the response to that question would be in Minnesota? From 2012 to 2022, Iowans registered 406 trophy bucks with Boone and Crockett, 24% more than Minnesota. The Gopher State's total harvest of 172,265 whitetails in 2022 (fifth overall) exceeded Iowa's deer kill by 57%, but Minnesota finished last in total harvest per 100 deer hunters. In that category, Iowa took 66 deer per 100 deer hunters (fourth overall) compared to 37 deer for every 100 Minnesota hunters. Also unique to Iowa? Archery season is the most preferred season to hunt deer.

7. Indiana

— Large bucks provide an asterisk to a modest hunt

For a state with a smallish overall deer harvest, Indiana registers a lot of monster bucks. From 2012 to 2022, hunters in the Hoosier State (also home to the Purdue Boilermakers) registered 475 trophies with Boone and Crockett. That's third best in the Big Ten. Indiana ranked seventh in overall harvest (121,800 whitetails in 2022), yet 40% of hunters shot at least one deer to secure a fourth-place ranking in hunter success. According to a separate analysis by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Hoosiers have been top Boone and Crockett producers in recent years. The number of trophy deer harvested there has been on the rise since 2001. On the downside, only 2.2% of Indiana's land mass is open to public hunting.

8. Illinois

— Chicago's population thins the ranks

Like Indiana, Illinois lacks public hunting land. But hunters in the Land of Lincoln are highly productive. Illinois ranked third overall in the Big Ten for total harvest per 100 deer hunters. The state's total deer harvest was 158,000 whitetails (sixth overall) but for every 100 hunters, 67 deer were bagged. That was good for third place in efficiency. Illinois also edged Minnesota to grab fifth place in the trophy deer category. Over the decade in question, Boone and Crockett accepted 342 large bucks as trophies for the Fighting Illini. Minnesota's tally over the same decade was 327. More than half the population of Illinois lives in the Chicago metro area, which helps explain why the state ranks ninth in deer hunters per 1,000 residents age 10 and older.

9. Maryland

— Despite barriers, it's tops in efficiency

The fast-paced urbanization of Maryland's landscape has created deer management challenges that can't be overcome with the help of hunters. The state's wildlife managers have had to focus on nonlethal techniques to resolve conflicts. But across the mostly private landscapes where Maryland hunters still pursue deer, they have the most success of any state in the Big Ten. Maryland is No. 1 in total harvest per 100 deer hunters. The state's total harvest of 76,687 whitetails in 2022 meant that for every 100 hunters, 118 deer were killed.

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