RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
Buckey, there is a book by John Wooters called "hunting Trophy Bucks" or something like that which has a pretty good chapter on field judging whitetails. Lots of good tricks, I will have to go brush up on it before season.
I read a study on the scores of P&Y and B&C whitetails one time, and what I came away with was this. Single greatest factor on average was number of points, second was tine length, and third was main beam length. Inside spread and mass usually aren't woth messing with too much except in a general perception kind of way.
An eye, at 1 1/2" diameter, equals a circumference of about 4 3/4", so if his bases are bigger than his eyes then his bases should be at least 5" or so.
I use ear tip to ear tip of 17", and a ear length of 8" for our area. Main beams out to the nose equals about 25" or so.