Photo by Ralph Hensley.

Big deer really can pop up anywhere. Florida isn't a state that's well known for producing big bucks. But every now and then, one comes along that makes the experts shake their heads.

And with the rise in hunt clubs that practice quality deer management programs, those experts may be shaking their heads more often!

Even here in the Sunshine State, there are trophy bucks to be hunted. It's often just a matter of finding them. Other times, it's a matter of being in the right places at the right times.

Biologists say that the three most important factors for developing big deer and big antlers are genetics, nutrition and age. One reason why Florida doesn't produce more really big deer is poor nutrition. Statewide, our relatively infertile soils produce small deer with small antlers because of the low mineral content in the vegetation they feed on. But a few areas with good soils and good deer numbers have the potential to produce a trophy buck or two -- or even more.

If you want a trophy-class buck, you need to hunt somewhere with a record for big deer. Areas that produced good bucks in the past are likely to do so again.

Fortunately, for information on where to find big deer in the state, we have a source to go to -- the Florida Buck Registry.

Established by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, this registry gives hunters the opportunity to submit antlers from deer they have killed to be scored and placed on a list of big bucks taken in the Sunshine State.

By studying the FBR, we can get a picture of where bigger deer have been produced, historically.

And by looking at the bucks placed on the list over the past 10 years, we can see where the more recent trophy bucks have come from.

This is the best method we have for crunching the numbers of big deer taken from private land statewide. But it's not perfect.

Adding a buck to the registry is strictly voluntary. And since quite a few hunters don't want to publicize big deer, for a variety of reasons, any number of bucks that qualify for the FBR may be hanging on walls out there, but have never been placed on the list.

Nonetheless, the data we do have are complete enough to establish some "hot counties" where you can start looking for your trophy.

When we start examining the Wildlife Management Areas, things get more difficult. Most WMAs with the potential for producing big deer are managed under either the Special Opportunity Hunt or the Quota Hunt systems. For those WMAs, it's too late to get permits for this year. But information about those areas can give you an idea of where to start planning for next year's buck.

Most WMAs are open for foot traffic throughout the year, so you can spend this winter scouting for a good place to hunt next year.

However, each WMA has its own set of rules. Not all areas are open, and there may be regulations about where you can and cannot go during the different seasons. Read the brochures, and know before you go.

PUBLIC LAND
Green Swamp WMA
Located in the Southwest Region, Green Swamp is one traditionally a premier public-hunting area in the state, and comes in at No. 1 on our list. The area, which comprises more than 49,000 acres, sits in the corner of Lake, Polk and Sumter counties. The Withlacoochee River runs through the south end of the property.

Deer hunting on Green Swamp is by quota only during the first nine days of general gun season. After that, you need one of the daily permits, available on a first-come, first-served basis at the check stations each morning. There are 750 permits available for each day of the archery season, and a like number for each day of the general gun season.