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:

1. Tine length = 35% of the total score
2. Main beam= 30% of total score
3. Circumference= 20% of total score
4. 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.