Based on a lot of information I've received from deer hunters across the state, the deer-hunting season in 2005 can be characterized as the year of the trophy for many hunters across the Palmetto State. And according to Charles Ruth, Deep Project Supervisor for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), 2005 was a really good year for hunters seeking trophy deer. Ruth bases that on the number and quality of deer observed at the 2006 antler scoring sessions across the state.

In fact, on a personal level, several of my hunting buddies harvested the biggest racked bucks of their lives during the 2005 season. So, according to them, it certainly was a great hunting season for trophy deer. And it has many hunters already fired up for the 2006 hunting season.

But there are other important facts to consider in addition to remembering last year's hunting success. The information we glean from the SCDNR report from its antler scoring sessions can help us all better plan where we want to hunt if we're seeking trophy whitetails in South Carolina.

According to Ruth, the information from the 2006 scoring sessions by the SCDNR revealed 136 new state record book bucks. In addition, there were two potential Boone and Crockett (B&C) records scored in 2006. "Of the 463 sets of antlers scored at the 10 scheduled sessions, 136 met the minimum score for entry on the state records list. The 136 racks included 132 sets of typical and four non-typical racks. Of the antlers scored, 121 were taken in 2004 or 2005 hunting seasons," Ruth said.

Overall, based on the total annual deer harvest and the number of deer making the state record book, Ruth believes the deer herd is in good shape and has the potential to continue to produce trophy animals at a good rate.

"South Carolina's deer herd is in good condition, and it appears that after many years of rapid population growth, the herd stabilized in the mid-1990s," Ruth said.

"Statewide population estimates put the deer herd at about 750,000 animals and the estimated harvest has been in the neighborhood of 250,000 each of the last few years. Although the statewide deer harvest has been down the last few years, indications from the antler records program are that deer quality remains good. This would make sense because fewer deer in the population would benefit from increased nutrition," Ruth added.

Ruth also noted that just because a deer doesn't make the state record book doesn't mean it's not a trophy. To make the state record book requires a minimum B&C score of 125 for typical and 145 points for non-typical antlers. With a quarter million deer harvested, as noted above, only a few sets of antlers each year make the state record book. But there are many big bucks taken that are the buck of a lifetime for many hunters each year, Ruth noted.

"The South Carolina Deer Antler Records 2006 is based on activities conducted during the 2006 score year. This publication contains a number of separate lists," Ruth said.