This final stop on the I-70 corridor is Egypt Valley Wildlife Area in Belmont County. This vast area provides over 14,300 acres of prime whitetail habitat on the Guernsey County line.

Both counties combined produced 21 entries into the BBBC last 2006 season.

DISTRICT FIVE
When trophy hunters think of District Five, they visualize the three largest whitetails of all time -- the Jerman, Beatty and Schmucker bucks. John Schmucker took his record-setting whitetail (291 2/8 inches) with a crossbow in the late afternoon hours on opening day of archery season.

"I had been watching him over the course of three years," Schmucker said. "On opening day, I went out to my tree stand at 3 p.m. and tagged the deer by 6 p.m."

According to Ohio Division of Wildlife archives, the Beatty Buck, harvested in Greene County in 2000, holds the record for non-typical bucks at 304 6/8. It currently ranks as the No. 1 non-typical buck taken in Ohio, and the largest non-typical whitetail deer ever taken by a bowhunter.

A typical whitetail killed in 2004 in Warren County, known as the Jerman Buck, became an Ohio record with a score of 201 1/8.

Said Todd Haines, the ODOW's District Five manager, "Ohio's trophy deer hunting is world-class because of our excellent deer-management program. We have a very conservative antlered deer rule and allow for an ample doe harvest.

"This allows the population to remain balanced while also putting in place the conditions necessary to produce record-setting deer."

District Five is unique because of its mixture of farmland, rolling terrain, and miles of urban habitat. This combination provides bucks with the opportunity to grow old and grow big antlers.

You have two simple choices: Seek out farmers who need herd management assistance, or spend your time on a variety of District Five's public lands.

Two areas to consider are Brush Creek State Forest in Adams County, and Caesar Creek Wildlife Area at the junction of Warren, Greene and Clinton Counties. All have proven their trophy-producing potential.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
All of the wildlife areas listed above may be accessed via the Ohio Division of Wildlife's Web site at www.ohiodnr.com or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543).

You can find AEP land maps and permit information by calling 1-800- 277-2177, or at www.aepohio.com.

Keep in mind that hundreds of trophies taken each year miss the minimum 140-inch typical or 160-inch non-typical minimum requirements by mere fractions of an inch. And some trophies are never reported for various reasons.

But statistical trends don't lie. Start your search for a trophy right now -- and good luck!

Find more about Ohio fishing and hunting at: www.ohiogameandfish.com