The first part of our annual Missouri deer section uncovered where your best bets were regionally to fill your freezer with venison. In this issue we've crunched the numbers a little harder to identify those areas harboring the most antlered deer -- and the most trophy-class bucks as well!

REGION-BY-REGION ROUNDUP
Our study begins with a roster of Show-Me State regions and their counties in which are revealed the ones boasting the most antlered deer taken in all the 2007 seasons. These combined statistics include all antlered bucks that were legal throughout the state last year but exclude button bucks.

Northeast
This 15-county section led the state in total number of antlered bucks taken during the 2007 deer seasons last year with 18,867, down 1,227 deer from the previous year. The top three counties were Pike with 1,789 (8th statewide); Macon with 1,738 (9th); and Monroe with 1,480 (14th).

The Missouri Department of Conservation estimates the Northeast Region is home to 71,362 antlered deer, making it No. 1 statewide. Their studies also indicate that 27 percent of the deer in this region are antlered bucks.

Each of this region's 15 counties now enforces the antler restriction mandating a minimum of 4 points or better on one side. Putnam, Schuyler, Sullivan, Adair, Macon, and Randolph have been in the restrictive zone for four years already, making them prime big-buck counties.

Central
This 15-county region came in a close second in terms of total number of legal antlered deer taken in Missouri last year with 18,232, down 979 from a year ago. The top three counties were Callaway with 2,207 harvested bucks (1st statewide); Camden with 1,839 antlered deer killed (5th); and Morgan with 1,813 (7th).

The Missouri River bisects this region. Three of the top five counties in this section, Camden, Morgan and Osage, are south of the Missouri River, and two, Callaway and Boone, are north of the waterway.

The MDC estimates that this region is home to 67,987 antlered deer, the second most in the state. Their studies also estimate 27 percent of this area's deer population is antlered bucks.

All 15 of the region's counties are now included in the area in which the antler-point restriction defining legal bucks as those with 4 points or better on one side is in force. Having been in the restrictive area for four years, Howard, Boone, Cole, Miller, Osage, Maries and Gasconade could harbor more bucks in older age-classes.

Northwest
This 19-county area came in third in antlered deer harvest in 2007 with 17,995 harvested bucks -- 247 fewer than the previous year. The top three counties were Harrison with 1,375 harvested bucks (22nd statewide); Carroll with 1,373 whitetail bucks killed (23rd); and Linn with 1,355 (25th). The Missouri-Iowa border counties in this region were Harrison 1,375 (1st regionally and 22nd statewide), Nodaway (4th regionally and 28th statewide), Mercer (8th by region and 57th statewide), Atchison (10th regionally and 70th in the state); and Worth (19th regionally and 106th statewide).

MDC studies estimate that this region holds about 57,125 antlered deer, or 3rd-best statewide. Again, 27 percent of the total deer population is estimated to be male, antlered deer.

All 19 counties in this region are now included in the area in which the antler-point restriction defining legal bucks as those with 4 points or better on one side is in force. Atchison, Holt, Nodaway, Andrew, Worth, Gentry, DeKalb, Harrison, Daviess, Mercer, Grundy, Livingston, Linn and Chariton have been under the restriction for four years, making them good bets as places to harbor more adult-class bucks.