Region 9 (Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Allegany counties) produced three of the top ten buck harvests in the state in 2006. In this region, Allegany produced the most bucks (4.2) per square mile.

Wyoming County produced one of the state's top archery bucks of 2006, a 10-pointer for Daniel Nugent that grossed 164 7/8 and netted 154 2/8 Pope and Young points.

Counties along the Pennsylvania border have more than 160,000 acres of public hunting grounds among them. In addition to 65,000-acre Allegany State Park, sportsmen have access to 17,200 acres of state forestlands in Chautauqua County, 33,600 acres in Cattaraugus County and 46,300 acres in Allegany County.

A map showing all of these parcels is available by calling (716) 372-0645.

Region 8 is defined by the perennial success of Steuben County, arguably the best trophy-hunting county in the state over the last 10 seasons. The state's largest non-typical archery buck of 2005 came from Steuben County -- a 203 7/8-inch gross B&C monster shot by Rex Taft.

Try the 2,500-acre Erwin Wildlife Management Area, west of Painted Post off Beartown Road.

In 2006, Livingston County finished second in Region 8 for total bucks (2,207). Other Region 8 standouts include Ontario County (2,169 bucks in 2006) and Monroe County (1,695 bucks). In four of the last five years, Yates County led the state in bucks killed per square mile, coming in at 3.9 during the 2006 season.

In Region 8, good bets are northern Livingston and southern Monroe counties. Excellent state-land hunting is available in places like Letchworth State Park along the Genesee River in Livingston County. But be sure to get your park stamp for your license before hunting those lands.

In fact, the state's largest archery typical in recent years came from Livingston County -- an amazing 10-point buck taken by Lance Wolfanger in 2004 that grossed 172 7/8.

Livingston County also produced 2006's best muzzleloader buck for Frank Waltman.

In Region 7, Chenango County is the best bet for bucks. This county had the highest buck kill in the region for the last two years, with 2,769 in 2006 and 2,365 in 2005.

Tioga had been No. 1 for the previous three seasons, but finished second in 2006 at 1,870 bucks, tied with Tompkins County.

Both counties are outstanding in terms of buck density, with 3.6 and 3.7 bucks killed per square mile respectively in 2006. Public hunting grounds in this region include the 1,118-acre Turkey Hill Reforestation Area in Tioga County, Michigan Hill State Forest, spanning 1,209 acres in Richford (also Tioga County), and the 11,000-acre Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area off Route 13 in the town of Newfield (in Tompkins County).

NORTHERN NEW YORK
Northern New York is the perfect place for trophy-buck hunters who aren't afraid to use a compass. It includes the vast -- and remote -- areas of regions 6 and 5.

According to Ed Reed, a DEC Region 5 biologist, this region typically produces a higher percentage of mature bucks (3.5 years and older) than any other region in the state, although the overall deer population is lower in this region.

Reed noted that the character of the terrain, with its large, forested tracts and few roads, lets bucks escape hunters and therefore live longer. Hunters who are willing to walk or take horses into remote areas in the Adirondacks are able to find more mature bucks.