As for the Louisiana Big Game Records, Thistlethwaite has delivered its share of trophy whitetails to the record book: two modern gun trophies, two archery trophies and three muzzleloader trophies.

Thistlethwaite is entering year four of a 10-year experiment designed to produce high-quality whitetail bucks on public lands. Quality management prescriptions here mandate that hunters only take spikes or bucks with at least 4 antler points (at least 1 inch long) on one side.

"We may see a few older bucks come out in 2008-09 at Thistlethwaite, but I give the experiment five years at least to begin showing significant differences in our harvest records," said Vidrine.

The season schedule at Thistlethwaite WMA offers an either-sex gun hunt for three days following Thanksgiving. Another weekend of either-sex gun hunting usually occurs in early December.

A bucks-only segment is offered in late December through January, and the muzzleloader segment follows the bucks-only hunt. Archery pursuits make up the balance of the season.

For more information regarding policies and regulations, contact the LDWF Region VI, 5652 Hwy. 182, Opelousas, LA 70570; (337) 948-0255.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Indian Bayou Area is another area managed for first-quality whitetails in Central Louisiana. Its 28,480 acres is located St. Landry and St. Martin Parishes in the Atchafalaya Basin. This tract is mainly a bottomland hardwoods tract with inland swamp areas.

In 1999, Corps personnel initiated a 6-points-or-better rule on whitetails in the area.

Natural resource specialist Neil Lalonde reported that buck management proscriptions changed in 2007 to mandate the taking of spikes or bucks with at least 4 antler points at least 1 inch long on one side. The taking of any buck not meeting these restrictions is now prohibited.

"We decided it was best to collaborate with LDWF with regard to the QDM regulations existing on Thistlethwaite WMA in Region VI," said Lalonde. "This would encourage a uniform enforcement effort in the area and at the same time meet our quality management practices on Indian Bayou."

According to Lalonde, approximately 30 to 40 percent more bucks have entered the 2 1/2- to 3 1/2- year old age-classes since 1999-2000.

Either-sex gun hunts usually run here for three days following Thanksgiving and a weekend in mid-December.

Also, a muzzleloader-only gun hunt is scheduled in December. Bucks-only hunting for the area's deer occurs in January. Permits are necessary for hunting on the Indian Bayou Area, and these can be found on bulletin boards on the location.

Maps and permits can be obtained by contacting the USACE office at Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System Project Office, 112 Speck Lane, Port Barre, LA 70577; 337-585-0853.

* * *

And there you have it: new listings of trophy bucks and info on where you might get to put a tag on one this coming season. Who knows? Maybe your name will appear in the Louisiana Big Game Records Program after success this season