how to measure deer antlers

If you count points on a whitetail buck’s antlers, you should consider adding brow tines in your points count. An official scorer will not consider your antlers until they have dried for 60 days. How to Measure Deer Antlers Determine the number of points on each antler by counting. Make sure the rack is straight up and the rule is at a right angle to the length of the skull and parallel to the top of the deer’s head. Each ear is about 6 inches in length. It is easiest to follow the steps if you have a score sheet with you while you measure your rack. The average buck with ears in an alert position has an ear tip-to-tip spread of 16 inches. Hunters also deduct points for abnormal points and for lack of symmetry. Head Measuring Getting a head start Although British deer stalkers have little time for trophy hunting, it is a valuable management tool to record particularly good heads and BASC will be offering a head measuring service to members at some game fairs. If you think you have a chance at the record books, talk to an official scorer. This is mandated by the rules, no other instrument can be used to measure the deer antlers except a flexible steel cable can be used to measure the points and main beams. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 Once you receive an official award or certificate with your antler score, you can include it on the nameplate when you mount the rack. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 180,157 times. What you have left after adding everything up and subtracting points for abnormal tines and asymmetry is your net score, which is your final score. Then, measure the third and fourth tines and mark them down as G3 and G4. Add up the differences between each measurement on the right antler and each measurement on the left. Dry the antlers in the air for 60 days before you measure. Always write down separate measurements for both the left and the right antler. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. A rack that measured 333 and 7/8 inches was found, but no hunter shot the deer. How to Measure White-tailed Deer Antlers If you were lucky enough to harvest a buck this season, you may be wondering how the antlers compare to other bucks in your area. In the middle, the antlers curve out the most. The number of points does not directly correspond to the deer's age. Start with the brow tine, which is the tineÂ closest to the skull. Measure the … Measuring whitetail deer antlers determines how significant a hunt was before you mount the rack. In that case, measure the circumference halfway between the third tine and the end of the antler. Add up the length of each abnormal point you have, and subtract the total from your net score. If you do the math and end up with a length of over 160, you have a real trophy buck. [2] X Research source You will need a 1/4 inch steel tape to measure the deer antlers. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. You must differentiate between normal points and abnormal points. Near the skull, the deer's antlers curve outward, and towards the end of the antlers, they curve back together again. The most useful tool for measuring deer antlers is a flexible measuring tape. Scoring whitetail deer – How to score a buck. 2. All you need is a flexible tape measure, a scoring sheet, and maybe also a yardstick for some measurements. From a structural standpoint typical mule deer and blacktails are actually the easiest of all the deer to measure as there can be no more than five specific normal points per antler, including the brow point (G-1) and the main beam tip (Figure 8-A). That way, all antlers are being measured in the same state. The reason for the flexible tape is that deer antlers are measured using an eighth of an inch. Because there was a broken point, Buckmasters used the third circumference measurement twice—giving the buck more inches for having a broken point. The circumference of his eye is 4 inches, and from the center of the eye to the end of his nose should measure about 8 inches. Measurements are based on the Boone and Crockett system. Measure the inside spread of the main beams It will allow the antlers to "dry out" and shrink to their smallest size. Of course, if you have hunted an area a lot and seen a lot of dead bucks, you can adjust these measurements accordingly. Your antlers have to be in good condition to be worthy of an official score. The biggest mistake most people make when scoring a whitetail’s antlers is inaccurately measuring the lengths of the points. DOWNLOAD IMAGE. If it is roughly 1.5X the circumference you will ballpark the circumference measurements in the 5.5-6 inch range. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Measure the length of each main antler beam from the bottom edge of the burr (or coronet) to the tip. You can also do this measurement with a yardstick instead of with a flexible tape measure. A younger buck's antlers may have few points, so fewer points will be measured, and the score will be lower. Then, subtract this from your score. Abnormal points reduce your score, not increase it. Measure the length of the brow tine, and record this length as G1. Ensure the skull plate is intact and it has not been artificially replaced or repaired. If the antler looks roughly ¾ of the eye circumference it is most likely in the 3-inch range. An official scorer will not consider your antlers until they have dried for 60 days. This is done at the widest spot inside the main beams. Someone will someday do more than a little better than the 312-inch record, as even better antlers are out there. 5 Comments on Measuring Point Length in White-tailed Deer Scoring your buck using the Boone & Crockett Method is not difficult, but it does require some time and effort. Circumference. You can take this measurement at any point on the antlers, so long as it is where the longest distance you can measure is. Scoring a deer is not as complicated as it might seem to be at first. Here, we will discuss the common Boone and Crockett club system for whitetail deer. This is only necessary if you are trying to make it into the Boone and Crockett official records. Add up the length of the main beams and the length of the tines. There are positive things about the antlers that raise the score and negative things that lower it. From the center of the eye to the tip of the nose is about 8 inches. According to Boon and Crockett, 160 inches is impressive. Start measuring from the point where it meets with the other point and not from the main beam’s base. At this point, you will need a flexible cloth or steel measuring tape and not a yardstick. LENGTH OF TYPICAL TINES – Measure the length of each valid typical tine on each antler. Find the part where the main beams curve apart the most. Different scoring systems have different standards. Large antlers on a younger deer and small antlers on an older deer can negatively influence your estimated age. The right way to measure the main beam is to put the measuring tape along the center of the outside edge. An older deer that lived a healthy life will have long, many pointed antlers with few flaws. Because the organization is focused on bow hunting, all antlers scored using this method must come from a bow-harvested deer. If you shoot a trophy buck somewhere, return to that area - you might have similar success in that place again. Your antlers can’t receive an official Boone and Crockett score in this condition. 3D Scanning to Measure Deer Antlers. Find the area between the skull and the first of the four tines and measure the distance around it. Hunters like to talk a lot about inside spread because the wider it is, the better it tends to score. Method 22 For the larger deer not specified in other methods. To find your total score, you should first add all of your measurements up. Your deer also has to have been killed fair and square according to the laws of your state. Yes. If it was not what your state would call a fair chase, your antlers have no official score. It is never possible to get a perfect score, as even if a pair of antlers has no flaws, it could always have been larger. A great rack of antlers is symmetrical and not only huge, so you have to take points off wherever the rack is not symmetrical. The first measurement is the H1 measurement. Several measurements go into scoring a deer's antlers. If a deer is in good health for its whole life, eating good food, it will grow more points than a buck that was poorly fed much of the time. And it’s found by measuring the distance across the inside of the beams at the widest point at the widest point perpendicular to the skull. Just take a picture and use the app to give you a score right away. After the first measurement, measure the antler's circumference between the first tine and the second tine. The Boone and Crockett scoring system has been the template for most other scoring systems, so you should start by taking these spread, point and circumference measurements. If you go through the steps a bit carefully, you can get an accurate score yourself, but you can also have an official scorer judge your antlers. Step One: Measure the inside spread. A "green" antler that is fresh out of velvet will have greater size than a dry antler. The tape width about 1/4" wide and very flexible so works well for measuring and scoring antlers. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 180,157 times. The example buck can be judged at essentially the same mass for the first two measurements between the base and G1, and the G1 and G2. Next, you should measure the circumference of the antlers. How to measure deer antlers for scoring purposes. I once remember a friend commenting that when we measure antlers we have to stop and wonder just whose head we are really measuring. How do I score deer antlers if the points are broken? First, your antlers should be very dry before you score them. Record both measurements. All you need to have is a measuring steel tape and string that is preferably flexible and an adjustable measuring ruler. DOWNLOAD IMAGE. Do the measurement from in front of rather than behind the antlers. LENGTH OF MAIN BEAM – In white-tailed deer with typical antlers, the main beams end at the front points and are easily identified. % of people told us that this article helped them. Background: In the early 1900s as westward expansion of human populations continued to grow, wildlife populations plummeted due to the stress caused on their herds by the overwhelming need for human sustenance. You can also use a steel cable to do the measurements. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Use the smallest part of the circumference here as well. So lets get right to it on how to measure. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. How to score a deer Learn the process of scoring a deer's antlers and see if you might have a Boone and Crocket deer. A yardstick or carpenter’s rule works best, but a tape measure will do. Method 21-NT For axis deer, hog deer, sambar, rusa deer, sika deer and roe deer with non-typical antlers. There are four H measurements on each antler. These work perfect for scoring deer antlers. You have to make deductions to find your net score. Method 23 For caribou and reindeer. Start with the right antler and then do a separate measurement for the left antler. Use the smallest part of the area between the skull and the first tine. Each point will have a separate box in which to write the measurement. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Use the point between the third tine and the end as the H4 measurement. We want the inside spread. These measurements are often listed in a different order, depending upon the agency that will be issuing the score for your deer antlers. Do younger bucks always have smaller antlers. Repeat the process for the other antler. You might also use a yardstick for some measurements, such as the tip to tip measurement, but a flexible measuring tape is necessary. Sometimes, there is no fourth tine. The greatest spread is the distance from the farthest point of any part of the left antler to the farthest point on the right. Home |Â All Posts | Recommended Gear | CategoriesAbout |Â Contact Us |Â Privacy, How to measure deer antlers for scoring purposes, Take a measurement for the greatest spread. You need to do tip to tip with the inside spread, and the measurement of all the tines. The circumference of the eye is about 4 inches. Write your measurements down. If you measure along the inside edge, you will end up with a different and inaccurate length. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. How To Measure Fallow Deer Antlers DOWNLOAD IMAGE. Measure these with a flexible steel tape wrapped around the main beam. Next, measure the tip-to-tip spread and the greatest spread at the widest point of the antlers, which is almost always the measurement between the two main beams. Minimum scores for state record listing are 125 points for typical antlers and 145 points for nontypical antlers. Fallow Deer Hunting In Spain One Of The Best Area 1 Hour From Madrid. You have to take a lot of different measurements to complete scoring a pair of antlers. For the G1 measurement, record the size of the difference between the G1 on the right antler and the G1 on the left. DOWNLOAD IMAGE. Should I add tip to tip and the inside spread to the final score? Measure between the second and third tine to get the H3 measurement. An ordinary metal measuring tape is not flexible enough to measure the main beams' lengths or the antlers' circumference. You also count the length of the tines, the antlers' circumference, and the inside spread of the main beams. Measure from the base of the burr all the way to the tip. If the skull plate is damaged, you cannot officially score your antlers. This is not the longest measurement, because the antlers come closer together towards the end. All clubs take four circumference measurements on each main beam. Measure the main beams of the antlers. You are done at this point, and know how many points your rack scores. Landscape Ornaments Eyes On The Wild. Then, move on to the bay (the tineÂ that is second nearest to the skull), measure its length, and mark that down as G2. 18 Light Elk Fallow Deer Antler Chandelier Hat Creek Interiors. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Once you have added everything up, you have your gross score, which is not your final score. To measure it, find the widest point between the two main beams. Measure the distance from the tip of the left antler to the tip of the right. After the … 5.0 out of 5 stars Great tape measure for scoring deer antlers. What points do I need to measure when scoring deer antlers? Your "rulers" will be the deer’s ears, eyes and nose. Then, measure from one main beam to the other, at the points where you can measure the longest distance. You should measure them in the same way you measured the protrusions. The other clubs consider the … An artificially repaired skull plate is not ok. Includes barasingha, white-lipped deer, brow-antlered deer, Père David deer, marsh deer, pampas deer and huemul. Abnormal points that are less than an inch long are not counted and do not affect your score. Dry the antlers in the air for 60 days before you measure. How to Measure Deer Antlers Determine the number of points on each antler by counting. Your antlers have to be in good condition to be worthy of an official score. From the base of the burr, follow the outside and center of the main beam all the way to the antler tip. For whitetail deer, the measurement of the antlers is the reference to the score, and they do so by adding multiple factors: the length of the main beam, length of tines, the circumference of the the main beam in four different location and the width of the spread between the antlers. Some pairs of deer antlers have dozens of points, so very high scores are possible. Add up all of the differences there are. Between the third and fourth tines is the H4. The wider the spread, the higher your buck is going to score. Learning how to measure deer antlers is a great way to enjoy your hunting experiences more and also help friends who may have big bucks they want scored. This is your H2 measurement. […] From the base of the burr, follow the outside and center of the main beam all the way to the antler tip. Why do you air dry for 60 days before scoring? Do the same for the H1 measurement, the H3 measurement, and all other measurements. This is usually a small measurement because the main beams reach toward each other in the middle of the rack. There are different scoring systems for deer antlers. What is the highest score any hunter ever achieved? Write down all your measurements on your score sheet or using the Boone and Crockett Club online form. Measure the … By using our site, you agree to our. Smaller antlers do not prove that a deer is very young. In some cases, it can lead to awards for exceptional hunting. Photo Guide To Measuring Your Mule Deer Buck We usually start with the inside spread (D). First, your antlers should be very dry before you score them. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. If you have a scoring sheet and what you need to measure the antlers, it should be easy to figure it out. Then, add the G measurements and the H measurements. Wrap your measuring tape around the antlers to take these circumference measurements. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9e\/Score-Deer-Antlers-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Score-Deer-Antlers-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9e\/Score-Deer-Antlers-Step-1.jpg\/aid4402368-v4-700px-Score-Deer-Antlers-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":368,"bigWidth":700,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"