You won’t find Louisiana in the Top 10 hunting states in the U.S.

The rankings were released recently by Tier One, a shooting accessories manufacturer based across the big pond in the United Kingdom. Tier One was incorporated in 2008, according to tier-one-usa.com, when founders realized no one was making high-precision, 5 axis machined rifle shooting equipment, then later added optic mounts, moderators, bipods and more.

Tier One researched this country’s popular sport, deeply rooted in American tradition that evolved from necessity into a billion dollar industry, to determine the most popular state for hunting and the No. 1 spot went to Texas. Hunting in America generated 10.8 billion in revenue in 2021, making it the third-largest outdoor recreational activity in the country.

The Lone Star State’s most sought-after species is white-tailed deer while the best hunting terrains are rugged and mountainous plans. Tier One, which proudly points out none of its products are made in China and rebranded, also noted the state has become the epicenter of the hunting industry and is one of the best for deer hunting, particularly in the Texas Hill Country, which offers abundant experiences for hunters of all skill levels.

Texas is followed in the Top 10 by No. 2 New York State; No. 3 California; No. 4 Michigan; No. 5 Ohio; No. 6 Pennsylvania; No. 7 Georgia; No. 8 Wisconsin; No. 9 Alabama, and No. 10 Florida.

Tier One also conducted a nationwide survey of hunting habits to find out what makes American hunters tick by polling choice of location and targeted species to the firearms and seasons. How Americans prefer to stalk and hunt their game varies.

The most popular hunting types and techniques, according to the nationwide survey, are:

Rifle Big Game – 59 percent.

Rifle Small Game – 47 percent

Bow Big Game – 30 percent

Rifle Predator/Varmint – 28 percent

Waterfowl – 22 percent

Among the interesting comments is that archery big game hunting requires precision and skill and that hunters must be calculated, calm, patient and extremely fit, according to the survey. Also, more than a fifth of hunters target ducks that are small, swift and require accuracy and good timing.

The Top 10 most hunter animals are:

White-tailed Deer – 64 percent

Wild Turkey – Mule Deer – 22 percent

Coyote – 20 percent

Elk/Wild Boar/Feral Pigs – 16 percent

Moose – 15 percent

Mountain Goat – 12 percent

Black Bear – 10 percent

Pronghorn – 8 percent

Bighorn Sheep/Bobcat – 7 percent

That wild turkey hunting ranks second is a success story for the upland bird that was close to extinction at one time. Now they are one of the most abundant species on the continent as a result of concerted conservation efforts, Tier One said.

Top 5 Trophy Animals

Deer (of all species)

Elk

Bear

Moose

White-tailed deer

As many hunters realize, white-tailed deer are the most abundant game in the country, which makes them a suitable target for trophy hunters, according to Tier One.

Top 5 Motivations to Hunt

Meat – 62 percent

Adventure Sport – 17 percent

Pest (Nuisance) Control – 5 percent

Trophy Hunting/Commercial Purposes – 4 percent

Conservation – 3 percent

The primary reason the majority of hunters hunt is to harvest organic and high-quality meat, which can be a healthier, cheaper and more sustainable alternative to buying meat at the store, Tier One reported.

There are more categories ranked by Tier One. For more insight into the study go to tier-one-usa.com, which the company set up to serve U.S. customers as the interest level in this country increased.

DON SHOOPMAN is outdoors editor of The Daily Iberian.