SCORING ON THE HOOF (Based on Boone and Crockett Club criteria)

By: Eugene R. Fuchs

Kerr Wildlife Management Area

Texas Parks and Wildlifewww.tpwd.state.tx.us/hillcountry

BASICS FOR SCORING WHITE-TAILED DEER ANTLERS

Determine the points that qualify for measuring 1. Number of typical points 2. Number of non-typical points Definition of a POINT - a projection at least one (1) inch long and longer than wide at some location at least one inch from the tip of the projection.

Inside Spread

Main Beam Length

Length of Points

FOUR ( 4 ) Beam Circumferences on each antler NO more/No less

Typical vs. Non-typical Points

Typical points arise ONLY from the top of the main beam.

Non-typical points can originate from other points, the sides and bottom of the beams, the burrs, and can be unmatched, typical points that are between typical points, but not a point as shown ( G4 ).

G4

Non-typical points

Inside spread

Inside spread is taken at the widest location between main beams perpendicular to the center line of the forehead – NOT between points

Each main beam length is taken along outside curve of beam starting at antler burr above the eye to the tip of beam.

Main beam length

Point lengths are taken on the outside curve of each point where the midline of the point intersects the top of the beam or another point.

Beam circumferences must be taken at the smallest location between points except the 4th measurement may fall midway between last point and end of main beam when G4 is missing.

H1

H2

H3

H4

H1 & H2H3

H4

Circumference measurement locations - 4 taken on each antler - no more - no less

These measurements are referred to as H1, H2, H3, & H4

H1

H2

H3H4

Matched non-typical points

Cannot be measured as TYPICAL POINTS

Scoring on the HoofWhat will an 8

pointer score ?

Knowing the average of several physical measurements for 3 year old bucks for a region/population will help in estimating scores “ON the HOOF”. Learn the ear length, head length, eye-eye width, etc. of the deer you are hunting.

Outside eye - eye 5 1/2 in.

Length of ear 5 - 5 1/2 in.

Diameter of eye 1 in.

Width between burrs 2 - 2 1/2 in.

Width of black nose pad

1 1/2 - 1 3/4 in.

HEAD LENGTH

12 IN.Eye to nose 6 1/2 - 7 in.

These 2 views offer the best opportunity for estimating antler score

Slight quarter is better than side view

Judging antlers on a buck walking away or quartering away will usually result in “ground

shrinkage”

Side views often give an under estimation of antler size

The Tape Doesn’t Lie

The following are examples of antlers that have been scored representing several gross B&C score-classes for typical 8 pointers

Notice how antler shape and point length effect score

Spread = 10 6/8

Beams = 16 7/8 & 16 2/8

G1 = 1 7/8 & 3 1/8

G2 = 6 2/8 & 6

G3 = 5 4/8 & 4

H1 = 2 7/8 ( mass = 20 )

GBC @ 8 pts. = 90

90 Class

Spread = 12 6/8

Beams = 18 6/8 & 20

G1 = 3 1/8 & 4 1/8

G2 = 7 & 6 1/8

G3 = 5 & 6 1/8

H1 = 3 1/8 ( mass = 22 )

GBC @ 8 pts. = 105

Spread = 15

Beams = 18 & 18 3/8

G1 = 4 & 4

G2 = 7 5/8 & 7 3/8

G3 = 5 5/8 & 6 6/8

H1 = 3 4/8 ( mass = 23 )

GBC @ 8 pts. = 106

Spread = 21

Beams = 18 4/8 & 20 2/8

H1 = 4 ( mass = 23 )

GBC @ 6 pts. = 108

100 Class

Spread = 12

Beams = 17 5/8 & 17 2/8

G1 = 3 & 3 2/8

G2 = 6 7/8 & 6 5/8

G3 = 6 3/8 & 7

H1 = 3 6/8 ( mass = 29 )

GBC @ 8 pts. = 111

Spread = 13 4/8

Beams = 18 & 18

G1 = 1 5/8 & 2 3/8

G2 = 10 2/8 & 10 1/8

G3 = 8 2/8 & 7 6/8

H1 = 3 4/8 ( mass = 24 )

GBC @ 8 pts. = 114

Spread = 17 6/8

Beams = 18 5/8 & 18

G1 = 4 2/8 & 5

G2 = 7 2/8 & 7 2/8

G3 = 6 & 5 2/8

H1 = 3 6/8 ( mass = 26 )

GBC @ 8 pts. = 116

Spread = 12 6/8

Beams = 20 & 19 4/8

G1 = 3 6/8 & 5

G2 = 9 4/8 & 10

G3 = 5 4/8 & 5

H1 = 3 6/8 ( mass = 26 )

GBC @ 8 pts. = 117

110 Class

Spread = 15

Beams = 18 4/8 & 18 6/8

G1 = 2 6/8 & 2 4/8

G2 = 11 3/8 & 10

G3 = 7 5/8 & 8

H1 = 4 ( mass = 26 )

GBC @ 8 pts. = 120

Spread = 14 4/8

Beams = 19 & 17 4/8

G1 = 5 5/8 & 4 4/8

G2 = 8 5/8 & 8 7/8

G3 = 6 6/8 & 7

H1 = 4 2/8 ( mass = 32 )

GBC @ 8 pts. = 125

GBC @ 12 pts. = 136

Spread = 16 2/8Beams = 18 4/8 & 19 2/8G1 = 2 4/8 & 2 5/8G2 = 10 3/4 & 10 4/8G3 = 9 5/8 & 9 2/8H1 = 4 4/8 ( mass = 30 )GBC @ 8 pts. = 127

120 Class

Spread = 15 4/8

Beams = 22 & 22

G1 = 3 6/8 & 3 4/8

G2 = 11 4/8 & 11 4/8

G3 = 9 & 8 4/8

H1 = 3 6/8 ( mass = 27 )

GBC @ 8 pts. = 135

Beams = 19 6/8 & 20

G2 = 10 2/8 & 9 4/8

G3 = 10 1/8 & 9 4/8

H1 = 4 6/8 ( mass = 27 )

GBC @ 8 pts. = 138

130 Class

Spread = 12 6/8

GBC = 117

G1 = 5 Spread = 17 6/8G2 = 11 G3 = 9H1 = 4 2/8 ( mass = 30 )

GBC = 138

See what a difference of 20 in. of score makes in appearance

120 ClassSpread = 17

H1 = 4 2/8 ( MASS = 28 )

1OO ClassSpread = 12

H1 = 3 4/8 ( mass = 23 )

Broken G3

GBC = 107 GBC = 126

110 Class

120 Class

See the difference ?

130 Class130 Class

140 Class140 Class

Point and beam length are the difference in score on these bucks

140 Class

This is a BIG 8 POINTER – what’s the score ???

Points = 8

Spread = 19 2/8

Beams = 25 6/8 & 25 5/8

G1 =5 2/8 & 5 4/8

G2 = 12 6/8 & 11 2/8

G3 = 9 5/8 & 10 4/8

H1 = 5 & 4 7/8 ( mass = 34 3/8)

GBC = 159 7/8Net B&C = 156 6/8

150 Class

GBC @ 8 pts. 152 GBC @ 8 pts. = 153

Antlers look larger than they really are when

viewed from above and behind

Beware of the rear view – you get an exaggerated

impression of height and spread – especially with ears back.

Caution: beams and points often appear longer than they are when viewed from behind.

Rear views are often deceiving especially if ears are back

DON’T PANIC & don’t worry about the score – squeeze and then use a tape.

What will he score ????

What will he score ????

Points = 12 (4 X 5 Typical Frame with 3 Atypical Points)

Spread = 23 2/8 ( OS = 25 )

Beams = 24 & 23 4/8

G1 = 7 3/8 & 7 3/8

G2 = 11 5/8 & 11

G3 = 9 4/8 & 10

G4 = 7

H1 = 5 4/8 & 5 4/8 ( mass =39 7/8 )

GBC = 189 6/8( typical frame = 174 4/8 GBC )

( 3 atyp. Pts. = 15 2/8 )

Scoring reviewed

5 1/25 1/2

How wide ?

How wide ?

5 1/25 1/2

4 1/24 1/2

21 1/221 1/2

5 1/25 1/23 1/2

4 1/24 1/2

3 1/2

G1G1

G2G2G3G3

Spread = 21 4/8

Beams = 23 & 23

G1 = 3 & 3

G2 = 9 & 9

G3 = 6 4/8 & 7 4/8

H1 = 4 3/8(mass = 30)

GBC = 135GBC = 135

SUMMARY The most common number of points is 8 for bucks 3 years old and older.

Score antlers as 8 pointer even when more points exist - if time allows additional point lengths can be added to the 8 point score.

8 point antlers that score 130 will look BIG. Know what the average is for several physical measurements such as ear length from head, head length, eye - nose, eye - eye, and diameter of eye. ( the rule of 5 - 5 1/2 for forehead width across eyes and ear length from head applies to most bucks)

Summary Using the width across forehead from eye to eye can be useful for estimating spread and point length because this measurement remains constant as a buck is looking at you.

If the ear length from side of head is 5 1/2, the distance of ear tip will be 4 1/2. Example: ear tip - ear tip will be 4 1/2 + 5 + 4 1/2 = 14 in.

Points as long as eye-nose will be 6 - 7 in. and points as long as the head will be at least 11 in.

Bases that appear as big as the eye will be 4 in. and those that appear as big as the nose will be 5 in. or more.

Summary The combination of beam length and point length

normally accounts for 60% - 70% of the total score on most 8 pointers.

Estimate the scores of mounted deer heads and then actually measure the antlers.

Practice !!!

110

120

130

140

???PRACTICE

Ask a certified Texas Big Game Awards Program OR Boone and Crockett Club scorer whenever you have

questions on how to measure