Photo by Ralph Hensley.

As important as deer-management issues are in the total scope of things, nothing stirs the soul of the most deer hunters more than a trophy buck. How many of us have sat on a stand, visualizing a buck of a lifetime coming into view? How many of us have actually realized that dream?

While most of us aren't going to bag a Boone and Crockett-caliber buck, modern deer management does work in favor of taking a nice buck.

The emphasis on harvesting antlerless deer takes a bit of the pressure off bucks, giving a larger percentage the chance to live an extra year or two. And with the good habitat found in many areas of the region, it's not surprising that more bucks are now growing impressive headgear.

Deer managers say three elements are needed to produce the kind of trophy bucks that make the record books. Productive habitat, good genetics and age structure are all required. In our region, most often the limiting factor is age. Many bucks simply don't live long enough to grow exceptional antlers.

A buck doesn't reach maturity until at least 4 1/2 years of age. But most of the bucks we take are less than 2 years old. The best habitat and genetics won't lead to mature trophy deer if they don't live long enough.

What factors lead to older age-class deer? For one, hunting regulations up the odds that a buck lives that extra year or two. Regulations favoring the taking of antlerless deer also come into play. So do antler restrictions, though results vary in just how effective this limitation is in producing better bucks.

What follows is a three-state look at taking a better-than-average buck this season.

MARYLAND
According to Doug Hotton, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife and Heritage Division's top deer manager, the age structure of white-tailed deer in the Free State has been on the increase for several years.

"Back in 1998, in about two-thirds of the state, we went to a Quality Deer Management-style of deer management," stated Hotton. The DNR carefully monitors deer harvest, sampling deer from check stations across the state during the opening days of the firearms season.

The biggest component of this deer-management change, said Hotton, is the requirement that hunters take two antlerless deer before they may harvest a second buck. This change not initiate a shift in deer harvest more heavily weighted toward doe harvest, but it also changed the philosophies of many hunters.

"The effects of the regulatory changes have been twofold," said Hotton. "The harvest numbers of bucks have remained relatively consistent, while the numbers of antlerless deer taken has increased. Hunters have had to be more selective, too."

Hotton believes this selectivity has trained many hunters to be more choosey in regard to the buck they take, rather than simply taking the first antlered buck that presents a shot. The agency has not used antler restrictions.

Maryland's deer populations are managed in two separate regions. Region A contains the western counties of Allegany and Garrett. Region B encompasses the remainder of the state. In general, Hotton said Region B provides the necessary ingredients for growing exceptional bucks.

Region A's bucks may get a shot in the arm, though, since hunting days have been reduced --temporarily, at least -- in this one-buck zone.

According to Hotton, Maryland's best big buck areas are ones that have the best habitat. This includes the counties in central Maryland as well as the upper eastern shore.

"This doesn't mean you can't get a big buck anywhere in the state," noted Hotton. "Big bucks show up every year from all areas. But the odds go to the counties where the habitat is best. In the central part of the state, as well as the northern potion of the eastern shore, you have very good soils. And good soils equate into good habitat."

The specific counties in the areas Hotton suggested include Kent, Cecil, Queen Annes, Talbot and Baltimore.