Two young people looking doggedly for a deer in the dark and cold after midnight -- I have to think that most youths would have given up and gone home, but these two didn’t. Gilmore’s buck was a beautiful 10-point that scored 158 6/8 B&C typical points, making it the largest typical taken by a woman in the state last year.

But there’s more to like about this young person.

“I just love being in the woods,” Gilmore said. As she spoke, there was an exhilaration in her voice that left no doubt. “I love getting up early in the morning, stumbling around in the dark, trying to be quiet, then sitting there while everything around you slowly wakes up. I love that first breath of cold air. I can’t explain it, but you just get the feeling that somehow you’re part of it all.”

With young people like Paige Gilmore heading afield, the future of hunting would seem to be in good hands!

* * *

On that high note, I conclude this look at the largest bucks taken last season. As impressive as those highlighted here may be, there are numerous other deer -- and deer hunters --deserving of recognition. Dana Smith of Mineral Springs took a big typical buck that scored 158 1/8, while Sandra Wright of Judsonia took another that netted 157 2/8. Ted Selby of Portland killed a 191 5/8 non-typical in Ashley County and Jeremy King of McGehee took a wide-racked buck in St. Francis County. King’s buck scored 188 1/8. Blake Hughes of Bismarck took a 155 4/8 typical buck in Hot Spring County and Drew Griffin harvested a 172 1/8 non-typical in Clark, the best bucks taken by youths in 2007-08.

All of those deer in any other year might have made this Big Buck Round-up, and they graphically illustrate the overall quality of the Arkansas deer herd today.

Hope to see you here next year!