While differences definitely exist between a 5 1/2-year-old mountain buck and a similar whitetail in the Piedmont, the mountain deer’s still a good buck. No matter where you hunt, the “trophy” buck is the older animal.

Hammond named the best counties for bigger deer in his area: Murray, in the west, and Fannin, near the middle of the “top of Georgia.”

When the question turned to WMAs, Hammond cited the 96,000-acre Cohutta WMA and 22,000-acre Rich Mountain as offering the best chance at a really big mountain buck. In both cases, the age-structure is tops, because the areas are so very rugged, and road access is more limited than in most of the region’s management areas.

Not long ago, Casey Jones, the wildlife technician who oversees the western half of the vast Cohutta WMA, told me that the average “drag” to bring a buck out of Cohutta was over a mile -- and there’s no level ground to ease the work in that effort.

According to Hammond, both Cohutta and Rich Mountain could give up bucks in the 130 and 140 B&C class. “However,” he remarked, “any nice 8-pointer can be a trophy up here, and the norm is around 115 B&C or less for what we call a good buck.”

All of the wildlife officials pointed out the need for being really familiar with an area to have any chance of regular success. The best deer come from a long way off the road, in most cases, and physical conditioning is a serious part of mountain hunting.

Frank Manning mentioned several hunters whom he’s come to know. Year after year, they bring good bucks into the checking station on the Chestatee WMA. “These hunters use the small-game seasons to walk the land and start serious deer scouting in late summer. When the hunt date arrives, they know where a good buck is using, and they frequently get him.”

Hunters can get WMA maps from the WRD offices and topographic maps from the U.S. Forest Service’ having both to refer to is recommended. It’s critical to carry a compass or GPS and know how to use them. Clouds, fog or darkness can really get you turned around in this terrain. I’ve taken part in more than one serious search for lost hunters who didn’t come out when they should. Always let someone know your plans and timetable.

CONCLUSION
A trophy is really in the eyes of the beholder, but the consensus is that a bragging buck in the high country has 7 points or more and a spread of 15 to 17 inches. Successful hunters have shown that deer up here do sometimes score in the 150s and 160s, and from time to time may have 12 points.

The WMAs currently producing the biggest bucks are Cohutta, Rich Mountain, Blue Ridge, Chattahoochee, and Chestatee.

For the hunter both willing and able to work for a deer, the rewards of upland trophies in Georgia can be great.