When
you see a
deer
in the wild or
one that has
just been
harvested it is
only natural to
ask what will
that buck score?
With some basic
knowledge on
scoring and
getting your
hands and eyes
on as many bucks
as you can, you
can make fairly
close judgments
on what a buck
will score.
The components
of field judging
a buck rely on
four elements
and they are:
- Tine
length = 35%
of the total
score
- Main
beam= 30% of
total score
-
Circumference=
20% of total
score
- Spread
of antlers=
15% of total
score
The rack should
have good antler
mass, and if it
has good mass
you will know it
by simply
looking at the
buck’s rack.
The inside
spread of the
main beams
should extend
beyond the ear
tips when the
ears are in the
alert position.
Mature bucks
usually will
have a 16 inch
distance from
ear tip to ear
tip.
The rack must
have four points
on each antler
to make the
book. In
addition the
rack must have
at least two
points on each
antler equal to
or greater than
the length of
his ears (six
inches).
The main beam
must have at
least six inches
of length bent
forwards or
inwards. ** The
reason for this
is because
scoring methods
deduct points if
the main beam is
shorter than the
inside spread.**
Tine length
measurements and
circumference
measurement are
the key. A 20
inch wide spread
doesn’t affect
the score that
much contrary to
popular belief.
In field judging
look to see if
the main beams
reach past the
tip of the
buck’s nose when
he is standing
broadside. If he
has this kind of
length chances
are he is a
definite shooter
buck.
The trick is to
be able to make
these judgments
in a matter of
seconds. You
probably are
only going to
have five or so
seconds in a lot
of your deer
sightings to
judge, and make
the shot if you
decide the buck
is a shooter.
Granted there
are times when
the buck is not
so wary and will
allow you more
time but figure
on five seconds
as a good rule
of thumb.
Take a good look
at the buck’s
overall
appearance. Is
he wrinkled and
carrying a
slight potbelly,
if so he may be
an old buck
whereas a young
buck may not
show the immense
swelling of the
neck that a more
mature buck will
have.
The best thing
you can do in
field judging
bucks is to
review the Boone
and Crockett and
Pope and Young
scoring systems
and then look at
a lot of mounted
bucks and
practice scoring
them roughly and
see how accurate
you are to what
the bucks
actually score.
You will find
that you will be
a fairly good
judge of a
rack’s score
sooner than you
think.
One thing to
remember however
is that no
matter the score
of the buck his
trophy status is
in your own
eyes. While he
may not make the
book the
important thing
is whether he
makes your book,
after all a
trophy is in the
eye of the
beholder and the
experience in
obtaining it.
