More recently, 14-year-old Shreveport hunter Chris "Green" Campbell scored on the new No. 1 Louisiana non-typical in the muzzleloader category -- a 30-point buck that scored 203 5/8 B&C Points.

"This deer takes over first place in the state record book and will qualify for the all-time Boone & Crockett record book," said Moreland. "Green killed his deer on Oct. 23 after getting a photo of the buck on a trail camera.

"The rack was scored as a typical 9-point with 21 abnormal points," explained Moreland. "The typical score after deductions was 133. The abnormal points, a total of 70 5/8 inches, were then added to this score to produce the final net score of 203 5/8."

Regarding public lands in the area, Loggy Bayou WMA located in Bossier Parish is a small gem of 6,381 acres that has four trophy whitetails listed in the Louisiana Big Game Records -- two of which are non-typicals.

"There are some good bucks taken here occasionally, and an example of this is the 14-point buck killed by Amanda Fletcher Hinkie during the Thanksgiving hunt," said Moreland. "The buck had a 25-inch inside spread and bases at 6 4/8 inches."

Managed either-sex hunts at Loggy Bayou WMA usually are scheduled for three days following Thanksgiving, followed by a muzzleloader segment in late December and early January.

For more information regarding Loggy Bayou WMA, write or contact the LDWF, Wildlife Division, 1401 Talton St., Minden, LA 71055, (318) 371-3050.

Known for top-quality whitetails, Bienville Parish may be a sleeper when it comes to animals of record-book status. Private lands managed by the silviculture industry have produced many high-quality white-tailed deer, especially when these lands are managed by hunters.

The Louisiana Big Game Records indicate at least eight whitetails that score upwards to 160 B&C points having been taken in Bienville Parish.

Jackson-Bienville WMA is located 12 miles south of Ruston in Jackson, Bienville and Lincoln parishes. Its 32,185 acres are noted to hold adequate concentrations of best-quality deer.

Dates for gun hunting begin in mid-November and progress through December with many either-sex days.

For more information, contact the LDWF, Wildlife Division, 1401 Talton St., Minden, LA 71055; (318) 371-3050.

Central Louisiana
Bayou State smokepolers are certainly enamored with Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge's 17,500 acres in Avoyelles Parish north of Marksville. These lands were once part of an immense hardwood bottomland tract bordering the Mississippi River.

In the past few years, this area has produced 14 magnificent trophy whitetails for muzzleloader opportunists. These trophies have ranged from 120 B&C points upwards to 168. Three two-day, weekend lottery hunts occur each year at this area -- one in December and the others in January.

As for archery endeavors, the pressure is somewhat moderate in the area. There are three Pope & Young trophy typicals listed in the archery division here. The balance of the season is for bowhunting, along with three days of youth gun hunts.

For maps and more information, contact Lake Ophelia NWR, 401 Island Road, Marksville, LA 71351; (318) 253-4238.

St. Landry Parish is home to Thistlethwaite WMA, where a 180 5/8 B&C 13-pointer was taken in 1975 by Shawn Ortego of Ville Platte. This 11,000-acre palmetto-laden hardwoods paradise is located 4 1/2 miles north of Washington on state Route 10.

"Each and every season, it's not uncommon to have a few bucks taken that score in the 140 B&C class range at Thistlethwaite," said biologist manager Tony Vidrine with the LDWF's Region VI. "Also, we have bucks in our records there weighing 250 to 275 pounds. One taken some years back weighed 333 pounds."