Though 2007's deer harvest numbers varied throughout the Northeast, in most New England states, trophy deer hunters did quite well.

According to the Northeast Big Buck Club -- the regional whitetail scoring and record-keeping organization -- a Massachusetts hunter established a new state archery record during the 2007 hunting season. And across the region, hunters downed more than 50 bucks measuring 150 inches or more. Over the last five seasons, New England's deer hunters have taken an eye-popping 400 trophy-class bucks!

Over the last few years, several new state records were set, and many bucks gross-scoring over 200 Boone and Crockett points were recorded.

Big bucks are harvested by archers, muzzleloaders, shotgunners and rifle hunters, so everyone has an even chance for success. The Northeast Big Buck Club reports that nearly 600 bucks from the past five years have qualified for entry to the NBBC record books, and of those bucks, more than 100 scored 150 or better.

During that five-year span, the top five bucks taken scored over 180.

Here's your look at the trophy-hunting potential in all six New England states:

MASSACHUSETTS
The Bay State has recently gained a reputation as one of the region's top hotspots for trophy whitetails.

Over the last five seasons, Massachusetts has produced more NBBC record book bucks than any other New England state, with more than 600 new entries, including 140 bucks that each scored over 150.

During that time frame, in fact, this state has produced three bucks that grossed over 200 inches.

Last year, Massachusetts hunters continued to crank out a host of good bucks. In 2007, a new state-record archery non-typical (measuring 179 gross Pope and Young points) fell in the eastern part of the state, a year after a new state-record archery typical (185 7/8) fell in central Massachusetts. A new state-record muzzleloader non-typical scoring 190 1/8 was taken in western Massachusetts.

A giant shotgun buck (194 7/8) was taken in eastern Massachusetts as well.

In the center of the state, Worcester County -- comprising deer management zones 8, 9 and 10 -- perennially produces more trophy bucks each year than any other county in southern New England.

Zones 8 and 9 are always hotspots, and hunters who gain access in northern Zone 10 (Essex County) may also expect a shot at a trophy.

In recent years, bowhunters in southeastern Zone 11 (Plymouth and Bristol counties) have really cleaned up by gaining access to private land and connecting on mature bucks in small pockets of cover.

It is interesting to note that Norfolk County (near Boston) was responsible for this year's new state-record archery non-typical. And in 2004, a 210-inch road kill was found nearby!

To the west, towns in and around the Connecticut River Valley are showing signs of returning to their productive days again. They will probably continue to get hunted hard, given that several 170- to 200-inch bucks have been taken in this area over the last few years.

For more information about the Bay State's big bucks, contact the Northeast Big Buck Club, 390 Marshall Street, Paxton, MA 01612. Call (508) 752-8762, or visit the club's Web site at www.bigbuckclub.com.