A likely third B&C buck from the U.P. that was caught on camera -- but not shot -- was photographed in north Marquette County. That white­tail may have scored more than the two that were tagged. The rack reportedly had a number of drop tines.

Something all three bucks have in common is they were in northern U.P. counties. Hunting pressure is even lighter in these counties than those in the southern U.P. Supplemental winter feeding is also legal in these counties. So, in spite of the tough winters common in those counties, supplemental feeding enables many deer to survive that otherwise might not. Some trophy bucks are obviously among those deer that are carried through winter.

The last booner from the U.P. that was entered in state records before 2008 was a typical from Houghton County that was taken in 2002. A pair of B&C non-typicals were bagged in 2000 -- one from Keweenaw County and the other from Mackinaw County. The fact that more world-class bucks haven't been tagged in the U.P. during recent years doesn't mean they aren't there. In fact, I'm certain B&C bucks are present in every U.P. county. They are simply tough to get because of the savvy that goes with their age and experience. Likewise, many of the places they live are difficult to access compared with terrain in southern Michigan.

New antler restrictions went into effect in the U.P. only last year that are supposed to increase the number of older age-class bucks in the population. Both tags on combination deer licenses were restricted to one buck with at least 3 antler points on one side and one buck with at least 4 antler points on one side. Elsewhere in the state, one of the tags on a combo license was valid for bucks with at least one 3-inch spike. U.P. hunters who wanted to shoot a buck with spikes or better had to buy a single gun or bow license and were limited to shooting one buck.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Terry McFadden at the Marquette office said the new regulations confused many hunters, and he doesn't think they saved any more bucks than the previous licensing system because more hunters bought single licenses than combos. Hunters who normally voluntarily pass up spikes and forks bought combo licenses, and those who don't bought single tags. The result was probably fewer deer license sales for the MDNR and reduced recreation for those who filled single tags early in the season and had to quit hunting.

It's clear that there are already plenty of older age bucks in the region, more than the proponents of the change realized. George Lindquist from Negaunee, for instance, is a trustee with the Marquette chapter of U.P. Whitetails, and he's credited with passage of the new rules. He stated publicly numerous times that he felt most U.P. does were bred by yearling bucks since there were so few older bucks. He also commented that he didn't think there were any 5 1/2-year-old bucks left in the U.P.

He proved himself wrong during the 2008 gun season by shooting a 9-pointer in Alger County that was 5 1/2 years old. The antlers on that buck grossed more than 137 and netted in the low 130s, easily qualifying for state records. During 2007, Lindquist tagged a 2 1/2-year-old buck in Marquette County.