March 1, 2008, is the deadline for bucks to appear in the next edition of "Buckmasters Whitetail Trophy Records." All entries received after that date will not appear in print until 2011.

Like other record-keeping organizations, Buckmasters updates its record book every three years. The fourth edition, which included more than 9,000 awesome whitetails, was published during the fall of 2005. The fifth will be published next fall, and it'll contain an additional 1,500 to 2,000 deer - those that have been measured since the last book rolled off the press.

The fifth edition will feature the most up-to-date roster of trophy whitetails, including several new state- and even a couple of new world records.

Anyone interested in having his or her trophy included in the next printing should contact a BTR measurer as soon as possible. The state-by-state list of scorers is accessible through Buckmasters' home page: under resources, and then Buckmasters Trophy Records. There is no charge to have your deer's antlers measured, but there is a $20 fee to enter it into the record book if it qualifies.

The $20 entry fee does not entitle record-holders to a copy of the hardbound book, which typically sells for around $30. Everyone who has a whitetail included in the book (and for whom we have a reliable address) will be notified when it will be available for pre-order or purchase. Those wishing to buy one of the few remaining copies of the soon-to-be obsolete fourth edition, however, can get it now for $14.95. Call 1-800-240-3337 and ask for someone in customer service.

The fourth edition contained 575 pages and black-and-white photographs of the top deer in every category. And that's saying a lot, since the BTR breaks its records down into individual weapon categories with FOUR classifications of antlers in each.

If you have trouble connecting with a measurer, if there is no scorer within a reasonable commute, or if you have any questions, please e-mail me at mhandley@buckmasters.com.