Looking at the Northeast as a region, Taft's buck is one of the best bucks ever arrowed, and is certainly the biggest buck taken in the last few years. In 2000, New Hampshire produced an archery non-typical that grossed 216 7/8 and nets 208 2/8, but that's the only archery buck in the NBBC records taken this decade that beats the Taft buck. In 2005, Bill Gardner arrowed a 184 6/8, 15-point non-typical buck in Maine, setting a new state archery record. And in Massachusetts last season, Larry Barestka arrowed the new state record bow buck -- a 178-inch, 14-point non-typical. Neither buck approaches the size of the Taft buck.

From this, we can at least suggest that New York remains one of the most productive archery trophy states in the Northeast and should be considered a prime destination for the region's bowhunters.

With increased local efforts to practice quality deer management on the many privately-managed tracts across this great and diverse hunting region, it seems certain that the great deer habitat and growing interest in QDM means that some phenomenal bucks will be coming out of New York for years to come.

Who knows what great stories we will have for you after the 2006 season?

For more information about the Northeast Big Buck Club, or to purchase the latest record book, Northeast Trophy Whitetails V (to be available Jan. 1, 2007), visit the club's Web site at www.bigbuckclub.com, or e-mail jbhunts@aol.com. Interested hunters may also write to the NBBC at 390 Marshall Street, Paxton, MA 01612.