Northwest Region
This region makes for a good argument that the antler point restriction program is working wonders. The Northwest Region finished in second place in terms of trophy buck entries over the past five years with 31. Thirteen of the region's 19 counties had big-buck entries. What is most noteworthy is the fact that of those 13 counties, 10 of them are in the antler point restriction program!

The top counties are Linn with nine (tied for second statewide), while Chariton, Livingston, Mercer and Carroll each had three entries. All of these counties except Carroll are in the antler point restriction program. The rest of the counties finished as follows: Daviess and Nodaway with two entries each, and Dekalb, Harrison, Holt, Worth, Buchanan and Caldwell, each with one. Note that Caldwell and Buchanan are not in the antler point program.

Kansas City Region
The 12-county KC Region had eight of its counties register trophy bucks of 140-plus inches over the last five years, bringing it to third place statewide with 27 trophy buck entries. Jackson finished first in this region with nine entries (tied for second statewide), followed by Clay with six, Vernon at four, St. Clair at three, Lafayette with two and Pettis and Cass each with one. None of these counties is in the antler point restriction program, but Jackson and Clay are in the immediate metropolitan/suburban area of Kansas City where hunting opportunities are limited and bucks have a chance to live and grow into older age-classes.

Northeast Region
Nine of the 15 counties in this region entered a total of 18 trophy bucks that met our standard over the past five years making it fourth place statewide. The top three counties were Monroe with four, Macon and Knox each with three, and Pike and Scotland each with two. Adair, Marion, Putnam and Schuyler each had one entry. Keep in mind that Macon, Adair, Putnam and Schuyler are all in the antler point restriction program.

St. Louis Region
Like its Kansas City cousin, the St. Louis Region has many areas that limit hunters' access to deer. This makes it hard on hunters but allows for the deer to grow big racks. This region finished fifth statewide in number of trophy buck entries in the past five years. Six of this region's eight counties had a total of 11 trophy bucks entered into the record book over the past five years. The top counties were St. Charles and St. Louis each with three, Franklin with two and Jefferson, Lincoln and Warren all with one entry. Franklin County is the only area in the antler point restriction program.

Southwest Region
Not surprisingly, just seven of this region's 17 counties had trophy buck entries over the past five years making it sixth place regionally. These counties were Barton and McDonald each with two, and Barry, Cedar, Christian, Dallas and Greene with one apiece, for a regional total of nine big-buck entries.

Southeast Region
Six of the 16 counties in this region had trophy buck entries that met this article's standard over the past five years, making it seventh place out of eight regions statewide. Top counties were Wayne and Perry each with two entries, and Bollinger, Madison, Stoddard and Ste. Genevieve each with one for a regional total of eight.

Ozark Region
Somewhat surprising is that the Ozark Region finished in dead last, below the Southeast and Southwest regions in terms of trophy buck entries. This region had a total of seven trophy bucks entered into the record book. Top counties were Texas and Phelps, each with two and Douglas, Oregon and Wright with one apiece.

EXPERT OPINION
Lonnie Hansen is well respected and known nationally for his knowledge of whitetail biology. He currently works for the Missouri Department of Conservation as a resource scientist who is primarily in charge of the state's entire deer herd. Hansen was kind enough to take a full morning and share his views and opinions on trophy deer hunting in Missouri.