He noted that losses over the past four years to epizoötic hemorrhagic disease have caused some fluctuations in deer age-structures in some management units. The trend, however, is that the age of bucks taken in Nebraska has increased over the past 20 years. In other words, more hunters are taking older bucks today than they were in the mid-1980s. Hams added that the trend has stabilized somewhat in the past five years.

He also touched upon something that has been a common thread in this story. "Nebraska manages its herd for quality deer," he said, adding that disagreement and confusion often arise when hunters start talking about trophy deer.

"If you focus on hunt quality, shot selection, deer seen, successful stalks, landowner relationships, outwitting an older deer -- a buck or a doe -- developing friendships and improving your hunting skills, most deer are going to end up becoming trophies for you," he offered. He used the term "quality hunts" more than once, and noted that they are available to hunters this season in all deer units.

You'll see from the accompanying graphics that Calamus West, Sandhills, Pine Ridge, Plains and Upper Platte are the units highlighted for mule deer. Shift your focus to whitetails, and the top units become those in southeastern Nebraska: Wahoo, Republic, Blue Northwest and Blue Southeast.

"Trophy potential is increasing for both mule deer and whitetails," Hams said. "Increasing herd sizes and greater hunter selectivity is beneficial." It was impossible to know with certainty as this was written, but Hams speculated that Nebraska would enjoy another increase in the number of older bucks as the 2007 season opens -- if the state has been spared any new EHD outbreaks.

Another dynamic that directly impacts the number of mature bucks in a deer herd, regardless of species, is the decision a hunter makes. "The decision to let a buck walk is personal," Hams said. "We have quality animals in all units, and we have no problem with hunters taking any legal animal."

Keep that in mind as you head out to your Nebraska deer stand or potential stalking area this season. The Cornhusker State, like its Great Plains sister states, is blessed with strong deer numbers that include more than a few mature bucks with trophy potential. This season is shaping up to be another really good one here.

KANSAS
Let's get the units out of the way first, because you expect, and deserve, some guidance toward places with trophy potential in Kansas. For mule deer, look to the western deer management units -- specifically, DMUs 1, 2, 3 and 17. For whitetails, focus on DMUs 5 and 16 in south-central Kansas, and also DMUs 13 and 14 farther east. Little has changed in these units in recent years.

Little also has changed when it comes to the Sunflower State's whitetail resource in one major regard -- you will be fooling yourself if you consider the units already mentioned as the only ones with trophy potential. Every DMU has not only the potential to produce trophy whitetails, but every one of them has.

Mule deer, being mainly confined to Kansas' western third, obviously offer trophy potential only in that region. Whitetails, however, offer another story.

Having been blessed with opportunities to hunt the Sunflower State's whitetail country many times over the years, I know that big bucks roam virtually every county in the state. I've personally seen them in many places, and written about hunters who have seen and taken them in just about all those I haven't hunted.

Many things about Kansas' whitetail resource have changed over the past 15 to 20 years. Non-resident hunting has come along, and populations have grown, particularly in eastern Kansas. Huntable habitat there has shrunk before continued encroachment by residential and commercial development, especially in the greater Kansas City area.

Big bucks are still there, however, and they will be. It's easy to argue that, excluding humans, no species is as adaptable as whitetails when it comes to making the most of available habitat. In eastern Kansas, there are bucks growing old in places that might surprise some hunters.

The units noted here and in the graphics accompanying this story represent the Sunflower State's "best bets" when it comes to trophy bucks this season. They are about the same as they have been for some time. There are no surprises.