"I believe the Purchase is in its heyday for big bucks right now, with numerous counties reaching their potential given the quality of habitat and herd densities the landscape can support," said Yancy.

"We're getting a good solid showing from counties like Trigg, Christian and Crittenden, especially. You'll notice those counties multiple times on the list from 2004, and other past seasons -- which shows their consistency in trophy production and the success of hunters trying to connect with a record-class animal," said Yancy.

GREEN RIVER REGION
In 2004, nearly 20 B&C class bucks were taken from the Green River Region, the strongest producer of trophy whitetails anywhere in the Bluegrass State. That's not likely to change -- but it's risky to say "never," isn't it?

Well, not so risky just yet, as the 2005 season indicates.

Another monster buck wasn't harvested per se. But nevertheless, Jerry Johnson came across one from Hart County last season that registered 226 1/8 as a non-typical.

In 2004, two other big bucks were taken, and Hart County has a boatload of trophy whitetails to its credit over the last 10 years. This county keeps pumping out big bucks annually, it seems, and would be an excellent place to find some farms to hunt on within the Green River Region.

This region's rich agricultural territory produced a total of nine trophies last season, again more than any other single management region in Kentucky. What's interesting to note is that those nine monsters all came from different counties last season. That should tell you just how widespread the potential is for a trophy buck to pop up nearly anywhere in this section of the state.

Historically, with the exception of counties along the Tennessee border and those with bigger cities, all have produced big bucks, many more than one in a single season. But as Kimberly Hester proved last year, you can't rule out spots like Warren County -- because somewhere outside of Bowling Green, she found a 189 1/8 non-typical in her sights and subsequently put her name on the record list during last year's gun season.

Other traditional producers include Butler County, where Kevin Phelps downed his gun-kill 194 4/8 non-typical. Ohio County gave up another trophy, this time to Jeremy Allen with his 167 0/8 typical, while Muhlenberg County produced a 162 6/8 typical for bowhunter Jeff Vincent.

Other top bow kills were reported from the Green River Region. In Henderson County, Nick Sandefur bagged an All-Time book scoring of 171 7/8. Jack Hayden found his shot true on a 162 6/8 typical buck in Breckinridge County. Both of these achievements support the fact that historically, counties in this region provide some of the best quality buck hunting there is. And like the lottery, somebody's going to win. And it might as well be you!

Last season, a couple of other big bucks of note proved that sometimes smaller, less-heralded counties can give up a wallhanger. Kevin Lamar's 177 1/8 typical from Hancock County was fourth-largest on the list, and Ronnie Garmon found a deer of a lifetime slipping around in Barren County in 2005.

You've got to be prepared to recognize sign from big bucks and patterns when you see them, because in these counties with high potential, these exceptional deer can sometimes be right in your lap.