Two other impressive bucks cracked the 150-inch mark: Chris Herold's 151 7/8-inch 10-pointer from New Haven County and Bruce Barrese's 151 6/8 Fairfield County 9-pointer. Seven different archery bucks broke the 150 barrier!

Notice also that these monsters came from counties across the state and they were taken from mid-September to late December!

BEST GUN BUCKS
Gun hunters took their share of bucks in 2004 that made the NBBC records, but surprisingly few cracked the 150-inch mark compared with past seasons. However, the best firearms buck of the year -- Jack Sullivan's 180 6/8-inch non-typical 15-pointer -- ranks No. 7 all time for this state's firearms non-typicals. Sullivan's buck had a 19 3/8-inch inside spread and bases of 5 1/2 inches!

Another impressive non-typical buck fell to Robert Spear III in Tolland County. Spear's buck scored 159 inches as an 11-pointer.

The best typical firearms buck of the year fell to Peter Gravlin in the western portion of the state. His Litchfield County 12-pointer scored 167 inches and ranks No. 13 for typical firearms bucks.

Like the archers, gun hunters found good success in just about every acre of the state! Tolland County produced four impressive typicals over 150 inches, including Steve Jones' 156 5/8-inch 10-pointer, Rejean Caouette's 156-inch 10-pointer, Bob Reid's 155 3/8-inch 9-pointer and John Stosuy's 151 7/8-inch 10-pointer.

Also worthy of mention is Gary Luty's amazing 154 5/8-inch 8-pointer from New London County. Luty's buck had an unbelievable 27 5/8-inch inside spread and dressed out at 228 pounds!

BEST MUZZLELOADER BUCKS
No muzzleloader hunter cracked the top 10 list in either of the past two years. Surprisingly, Rhode Island and Massachusetts hunters continue to produce outstanding muzzleloader bucks.

Back in 2000, however, Henry Konow Jr. took one of New England's best non-typicals ever with a muzzleloader -- a 206 3/8-inch 19-point monster from New London County that is currently this state's muzzleloader state record. In fact, the top three all-time non-typical muzzleloader bucks in the state all came from New London County.

While 2004 ended without a single trophy of 140 inches or better for blackpowder hunters, there were a few 130-class bucks taken during the December season that are worthy of mention.

Shawn Nelson took a 136 3/8-inch 10-point typical buck in Middlesex County. James Lucas II downed a 133 3/8-inch 8-pointer in Litchfield County (Lucas II also took the state's best muzzleloader buck of 2002 -- a 140 1/8-inch 10-pointer!) and James Sopelak connected on a 133 1/8-inch 9-pointer in Windham County.

THE OUTLOOK FOR 2005
Several New England states set new state records during the last three hunting seasons, and local hunters have taken 10 deer that scored 190 or better during that time period. The Northeast is poised to continue its incredible renaissance as a trophy buck hunting destination.

In Connecticut, hunters are experiencing strong trophy buck harvests across the state, especially during the archery and firearms segments, and they should remain confident that 2005 will produce opportunities for hunters in all seasons and all counties.

Given the relatively mild winters of the past two years, we have every reason to believe that the upcoming season will be even better than the one we experienced in 2004.

To learn more about the big bucks taken in 2004 throughout New England and New York, visit the Northeast Big Buck Club online at www.bigbuckclub.com, or contact them by mail at 390 Marshall St., Paxton, MA 01612, by phone at (508) 752-8762 and by e-mail at info@bigbuckclub.com.