Has anyone had any good experiences with DIY archery trips? Im looking to take my first out of state public land trip Thanksgiving week next year. Have really become interested in either Indiana ( particularly southwestern part of the state ) , South Dakota, or Oklahoma.
I know a lot of guys from around here will do Kentucky but has anyone tried some of these other states?

Go to OK or KS and go as far west as you can. Look at a bunch of aerials of walk in properties. It’s private land leased to the state for public hunting. Hit it during archery season when the gun hunters aren’t out. You’ll have a good time.

Wyoming was a great trip.

The only time I will be able to go would be during thanksgiving week. Most places seem to be in their gun seasons during that week unfortunately

I've done several trips to Southern and Northern Missouri (near Iowa) and Illinois. Thanksgiving week is tough but I know of one park in Illinois that is archery only and has a campground. Saw several very nice bucks every year there over the 4 years I hunted it. PM me if you want the details.

I live/work in SD now. You will only catch the tail end of the rut Thanksgiving week, but you can still see some good action in the Black Hills. If you are after Mule Deer, most will be on private land (or dead) by then due to the pressure from rifle season (which runs 10-25 Nov) for WRD (West River Deer). I can't speak for ERD (east of the Missouri River) which is the other archery tag area.

Also, I've hunted southern Illinois the first of November through Thanksgiving week and it's always good hunting with a lot of rut action.

I hadn’t been there but I’d try Indiana.

I’m look at Hunting South Dakota thanksgiving week next year also since we plan to go visit the in-laws. Let me know what you find if you choose to hunt SD. I’m looking to hunt 3 or 4 days somewhere.

I live and hunt IN. That time of year you will be hitting gun season. Would you go private or public? Rut will pretty much be done, too.

If you go to SD that week, understand it might be blistering cold and snow. Blowing snow can make it hard to get around.

AlabamaSwamper is right. We have 7" of snow come last Friday and it's not going anywhere for the next week or more. It's our second good snow of the year, with the first 4-6" coming in early November but it didn't last long. I wouldn't plan on getting around in a rental car if you come out...that could be risky. Plus it makes stalking into bow range difficult as it's loud.