The ink is barely dry on the eighth edition of “Buckmasters Whitetail Trophy Records,” which shows where, when and how more than 18,000 world-class deer have been felled since the organization began keeping records in 1996.

The 490-page, 8.5x11-inch book’s larger format lists 4,000 more whitetails than were featured in the seventh edition published in 2016. In addition to line-item listings, there are nearly 350 photographs of deer mostly harvested between 2016 and 2021, classified both according to weapons and antler types, which allows for bone-to-bone comparisons of similarly configured racks in four firearms, four bow, pickup and shed antler categories.

The nation’s leading deer hunting organization is pre-selling the books at a $10 discount, along with free shipping, throughout March. Beginning in April, they’ll sell for $59.95 plus shipping.

“It’s not just a Who’s Who of deer hunters seeking recognition,” says Mike Handley, the BTR’s executive director. “It shows where, when and how the planet’s most jaw-dropping whitetails have been harvested through the 2020 season. This handsome book is a reference for hunters, loaded with stats and eye candy, and most of the images are of deer taken within the last five years.

“In the old days, we published photos of the top 10 or so deer in each category. I changed that because it makes more sense to show fresh harvests,” he added.

Handley is also the longtime editor of the now quarterly Rack magazine, and he paints deer. His painting of the late Del Austin’s Ol’ Mossy Horns graces the record book’s cover, and his renditions of the Hole in the Horn and Missouri Monarch bucks are on the back cover.

“I was into record books long before I started creating them,” Handley said. “As far as I’m concerned, a more valuable tool in a deer hunter’s arsenal does not exist. They’re also perfect for any outdoors writer reporting on the state of the whitetail union.

“There are other record books available, but all paint incomplete pictures of the deer harvested in any given season. While we all have most of the mega-bucks that hit the dirt, we also have deer the other agencies lack.

“If compiling a list of North American auto sales, would you include Chevy and overlook Ford?” he asks.

The differences between the scoring systems aren’t stark. All measure the same things, in mostly the same places. The chief differences are in philosophy and in how antlers are classified.

Buckmasters, for example, has no deductions for lack of symmetry. They also have separate categories for centerfire rifles, shotguns, blackpowder, pistol, compound bows, recurves, long bows and crossbows, pickups and even shed antlers, with four antler categories for each: Perfect, Typical, Semi-irregular and Irregular. Also, Velvet entries are classified separately. B&C-based systems do not differentiate beyond Typical and Non-typical.

“Another aspect of Buckmasters’ record book is that our scorer’s handbook is included, which explains why and how we do what we do,” Handley said.

To order, go to buckmasters.com's online store, or call customer service at (334) 215-3337.

CONTACT: Mike Handley, editor at mikehandley@mac.com

Buckmasters – 10350 Hwy. 80 E, Montgomery, AL 36117 – 334-430-8242