During the 2005 hunting season, New England's deer hunters took three new state-record archery bucks. More than 50 deer scored 150 or better. In fact, hunters have taken some 225 trophy-class bucks during the last three seasons in New England!

According to the Northeast Big Buck Club -- the regional whitetail scoring and record keeping organization -- great bucks can be taken in every part of New England, from southern Connecticut to the vast upper regions of Aroostook County in northern Maine.

Here's a look at the potential in all six states in New England by analyzing recent trophy harvests and pinpointing those areas and methods in each state that are most likely to produce that buck of a lifetime.

MASSACHUSETTS
The Bay State has recently gained a reputation as one of the region's top whitetail trophy-producing states. Over the last four seasons, the Bay State has produced more NBBC record-book bucks than any other New England state, with more than 500 new entries to the NBBC record book. In fact, this state produced three bucks that gross over 200 inches during that time frame, not to mention 125 bucks that score over 150.

Although there were no 200-class bucks taken by hunters in 2004 or 2005, Massachusetts continued to crank out a host of 150- to 190-inch bucks, and they fell to archery, shotgun and muzzleloader hunters all across the state.

In 2005, in fact, according to NBBC records, nearly 25 bucks were harvested that scored between 150 and 197, including a new state-record archery non-typical (178 0/8).

There has been a noticeable shift in hunting pressure from west to east as more eastern-region hunters are finding better luck in their back yards.

But at this point, defining any trend is a challenge. For instance, the top 10 bucks from 2005 came from as far west as Franklin County and as far east as Barnstable County on Cape Cod!

In the center of the state, Worcester County (deer management zones 8, 9 and 10) perennially produces more trophy bucks each year than any other county in southern New England. In 2005, this county produced the new state record-archery buck -- a 178-inch 14-point non-typical for Larry Berestka.

Zones 8 and 9 are always hotspots, and hunters who gain access in the northern Zone 10 (Essex County) may also expect a shot at a trophy. Meanwhile, in southeastern Zone 11 (Plymouth and Bristol counties), bowhunters may have better luck gaining access to small, private lands. And it's interesting to note that Norfolk County (near Boston) was the site of a 210-inch road-kill buck in October 2004!

To the west, a host of 170- to 200-inch bucks have been taken in this area in the last three years. And experienced trackers continue to find great bucks roaming the mountains of Berkshire County. Franklin County produced the largest gross-scoring buck of 2005 -- a 196 7/8-inch monster 16-point non-typical for teen hunter Mary May Pratt.

For more information about big bucks in the Bay State, contact the Northeast Big Buck Club, 390 Marshall Street, Paxton, MA 016123; call (508) 752-8762, or visit the club's Web site at www.bigbuckclub.com.