Once we eliminate genetics as a serious consideration, the factors that determine antler quality are age and nutrition.

According to Dr. Harvey Jacobson, the noted whitetail biologist, most bucks in Mississippi don't realize their true antler potential until they reach 4 1/2 years of age. There was a time when most of the bucks harvested in the Magnolia State were yearlings, leaving few bucks to ever attain their maximum antler potential. Fortunately, Mississippi hunters have recognized those facts in recent years and are allowing the younger bucks to reach older age-classes.

Nutrition is the final critical factor in antler production. A high-protein diet is a necessity during the antler development period of May through August. Without that high level of protein, a buck's antlers don't realize their potential.

And since antlers are a form of bone, bucks must also have adequate levels of calcium and phosphorus, as well as vitamins A and D in their diets in order to produce large racks. Luckily, much of the habitat in Mississippi supplies adequate nutrition.

The Mississippi Delta is known worldwide for its rich, fertile soil. But another area of the state is also made up of what has to be some of the finest soil for deer to be found anywhere. This dirt, of a soil type known as "loess," is extremely rich in calcium and phosphorus and has the ability to produce high-quality, high-protein feed that bucks need to produce massive antlers. This is evident by the impressive numbers of record-book bucks that have been harvested from this area.

Dubbed the "Great Divide" because it separates the state in half -- with the Mississippi Delta to the west and the plains, prairie and flatwoods areas to the east -- this wide swath of fertile soil is the largest contributor of bucks to the Magnolia Records.

If that isn't proof enough of the area's trophy-producing capabilities, consider that of Mississippi's B&C bucks, 29 out of 68 were harvested in the Great Divide region.

That's more than twice the number of B&C entries that have come from the fertile Mississippi Delta.

"The abundance of very fertile stream bottoms in this region, like Big Bayou Pierre, Little Bayou Pierre, St. Catherine Creek and the Big Black and Homochitto rivers create a diverse habitat that provides everything necessary to produce big bucks," said Chad Dacus, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Deer Program Coordinator. "And the abundant agricultural crops that are found along these river bottoms are excellent supplemental food sources for the deer."

WEATHER EFFECTS
Although we have little control over the weather, it can certainly have a major impact on what the upcoming deer season is like. Weather events can affect such factors as deer movement, rut activity, habitat quality, food availability and antler development -- and hunter access.

Take Hurricane Katrina, as a perfect example. Although this massive storm wreaked havoc on much of southern Mississippi, some of its side effects were positive for deer hunting in that region.

Several of the state's top deer biologists have hinted that hunters in District 6 should experience one of their best deer seasons ever.

Two years of poor access due to storm debris, coupled with an incredible increase in browse production from sunlight reaching the forest floor, means an older and healthier age-class of bucks. And where you find older, healthier bucks, you'll find larger racks. So this year, southern Mississippi looks bright for trophy hunters.

Unfortunately, the prospects for northern Mississippi are not as bright. This past spring and summer, two major weather events hit the northern Magnolia State that may have devastating effects on the deer population.