Some state WMAs also operate under antler restrictions, and many private landowners are expressing interest in managing deer through antler restrictions in the hope of producing trophy bucks. Depending on where you hunt, antler restrictions may be part of the formula.

In the effort to identify the areas offering you your best shot at producing trophy deer this season, we'll break down this large, diverse Peach State along the lines of the seven game management regions defined by the Wildlife Resources Division. By looking at each, we may discover what hunters can expect in their neck of the woods.

REGION 1: THE NORTHWEST
"I don't expect the upcoming season to be drastically different from the last couple of years," said game management biologist Adam Hammond. "For most of the region, the oak mast was almost nonexistent last autumn, due to the late freeze that occurred in April 2007. Higher elevations were basically unaffected by the freeze, though, and actually had a bumper crop of white oak acorns and a decent crop of red oak acorns.

"Despite these regional fluctuations in oak mast, overall the region's deer are doing fine. Good areas to target for number of deer and size of bucks will be related to the amount of agriculture. The more agriculture present, the more deer and larger bucks.

"If access can be gained to private hunting land in Cobb and Douglas counties, these areas have good trophy potential. The high degree of development means that there is low hunting pressure and that bucks generally live longer."

REGION 2: THE MOUNTAINS
Although this region does take in some Piedmont counties, it chiefly comprises the highlands of the upstate area.

"Last season the northeast Georgia mast crop was about a complete failure below 2,000 feet in elevation," explained wildlife biologist Kevin Lowrey. "Above that it was excellent to spotty. The mountain WMAs are on U.S. Forest Service land, and have suffered in recent years, due primarily to poor habitat quality resulting from an aging forest.

"Without significant timber harvest or natural processes like storms or pine beetles creating early-successional habitat, the forest canopy is shading the forest floor and sunlight cannot stimulate the necessary forbs and grasses the deer need to be productive.

"Top counties in our region for trophies are Forsyth County for urban metro bucks, Barrow County and Hart County," the biologist continued. "About 30-50 percent of the bucks harvested on mountain WMAs will be older than 3 1/2 years old.

"Chestatee WMA has been harvesting several big deer the last four years. Warwoman and Lake Burton WMAs are also notable trophy areas in the mountains. Dawson Forest is a trophy deer producer as well. Being managed as a quality deer area, more than 40 percent of bucks harvested there will be more than 3 1/2 years old."

REGION 3: THE UPPER PIEDMONT
Spanning the whole state from east to west in the upper half of Georgia of the Piedmont, this region includes some prime deer habitat. "Washington, Hancock and Burke counties are our top three for trophies," senior wildlife biologist I. B. Parnell pointed out. "The metro Atlanta counties of Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton also offer opportunities for harvesting an older age-class buck, but these are archery-only counties.