If you are looking for deer in terms of numbers, these are the areas of highest deer densities in the state. Even during the late season, there should be ample deer to hunt in these areas.

In addition, the river drainages and thick-vegetation swamps often associated with these places have always been prime places to find big bucks. It would be wise to look at these counties, especially around the rivers and swamps, as prime late-season big-buck targets, as well as for numbers of deer.

Another way to identify areas where late-season deer hunting by the numbers can be good is to look at harvest rates for the past season. In addition to areas where the highest harvest per unit area was recorded for the 2007 season, we can look at the increase or decrease in harvest from 2006 to 2007 as a factor as well. Counties in which the harvests are both high and on the increase should be prime spots to consider for the last part of the 2008 season.

Some of these counties will be in the same group as above and some will not. If a county or area shows up in both, it will deserve a solid rating as an excellent late-season prospect.

The No. 1 county in harvest per unit in South Carolina in 2007 was Bamberg County. The news here is that there was a 5.1 percent harvest increase in 2007 over 2006. Union County was second, but showed a slight 1.5 percent decline in harvest from 2007 from 2006.

Spartanburg County might be an upstate sleeper, finishing third overall in deer harvest per unit area, but this county recorded a whopping 31.4 percent increase in harvest in 2007 from the 2006 total. Allendale County was fourth but was down 3.8 percent from the 2006 harvest.

Newberry County was fifth in harvest but had a sensational 43.5 percent increase in harvest in 2007 over 2006. The No. 6 total harvest county was Laurens, which recorded a 30.3 percent increase in harvest over the 2006 total. Calhoun County was seventh in total harvest in 2006 and had a modest 6.0 percent increase from 2006. Fairfield County was eighth in total harvest and was up 13.4 percent from 2006. Lancaster County was ninth in total harvest with a 10 percent increase in harvest from 2006.

Rounding out the top 10 in harvest was Cherokee County, which also recorded a 15.8 percent increase in harvest in 2007 over 2006.

As you scan the above areas, you will note several county names that have appeared in both groups we've considered. Specifically, Union, Lancaster, Fairfield, Laurens and Allendale counties were included in both lists.

As noted previously, do not exclude the above areas as potential big-buck destinations, especially in the areas right around the rivers.

Nevertheless, there are some other considerations when seeking an answer to where to go for a trophy buck in South Carolina.

First of all, there's no doubt that late season can be the right season for big bucks.