Tips for scoreing bucks on the hoof. Lets hear them!

[huntingfanatic]

for the most part a mature deer in our area carries about 85" on his down score (mass, width, beams). If one steps out and I can tell any of those 3 traits are bigger or smaller than average I will take that into consideration. After that it is just adding up the tines and adding that number to the down number of 85 for a rough estimate.

This is exactly what I do. After ground checking some bucks in an area for awhile you can get a pretty good down average like Codie said. Then just do the math. Usual gets me within 2-3 inches

[deer99hunter]

I use the eyeball and ear method myself..score the weakest side then double it and add the spread. I can usually get within 3-5 in. of a deer.

quick and easy been using this method for 5 or 4 years and usually pretty close

[GarGuy]

Russ I am also from East Tx. It is always interesting to post a 16 inch deer on here and see a dozen post about how he is "close" on ar! LOL Just for kicks, I measured all my mounts ear tip to ear tip and the narrowest one was 15.5 inches.

It seems there are a few folks on here that always say 13 inches wide and 120 score regardless.

The next time I get bored, Im gonna post some trail cam pics of deer that I have personally measured the width of as well as score. Should be fun!

[TUCO]

avg deer's ear is 7-8 inches long so i use that as a base for all my measurements, width is 17-18 if hes about ear to ear, and beams are just a guess if they reach the tip of the nose ill give 22 inchs

Spot on 150...I think this is one of the best ways to estimate tine length there is.

Although you have to take into account that a Northern deer has a slightly larger ear.

All newbies should use this method, it works.

[huntnguide83]

did I see you on TV last night (Rusty Baker Outdoors) axis hunting?

Yes sir...that's me

[Codie]

Yes sir...that's me

sweet

[huntnguide83]

sweet

Yeah we have done shows with him for 3 years now. He and His brother should be coming up this year for a whitetail hunt. He's always a blast to share camp with. Usually a blast none the less.

[dustoffer]

I keep a picture in my head of a deer with 100" down (beamsX2, mass, spread). At a glance of the deer I am scoring I will add/subtract actual from that mental picture, then if fairly symmetrical add up tines on one side X2. Quick and dirty when I have to make a fast call to tell a hunter to shoot/not shoot.

This is the method I use also--but if I have time, I add the tine lengths for both beams. After you've sat and studied a bunch of bucks thru binocs or a spotting scope, it gets way more easy. I was on a S. Tx lease for 5 years where it wasn't uncommon to have 20 bucks in sight at one time in a large CRP field, so I got lots of practice.

[HC Sniper]

85 down is an average buck for my area. Anything that looks bigger than that to my eye, I start adding up tines. I tend to over judge by 3-4 inches so I can figure fairly close. Beam length is the hardest for me to udge correctly

[Cpowell]

Spot on 150...I think this is one of the best ways to estimate tine length there is.

Although you have to take into account that a Northern deer has a slightly larger ear.

All newbies should use this method, it works.

x2 Way i have scored for years also

[AtTheWall]

I keep an image of a Texas 8 and 10 average in my head. Width, tine length and beam length are pretty easy for me to judge....mass is my weakness and I too generalize this based on two formulas. Pencil tines vs thick tines leaning with the averages on each end of this spectrum. Pencil tines typically support thinner mass measurements on the beams and thicker tines support a much more "above average" main beam mass measurement.

I try to keep things simple and it's hard to judge a deer with only one view. Better to see front, back and side...which makes the averages easy enough to factor.

I spend a lot of time filming whitetail year round......it helps scoring greatly and it doesn't matter if they are S. Texas, Hill Country or even Montana etc. With a zoom lens or binos....I can tell pretty close how long the G1s - 3s are and these lengths give me a framework for the entire horn configuration (width, beam length etc). Mass..once again...is tough though.

The most important tool....excellent glass be it binos or lenses.