Boone and Crockett OR BTR ..which is more fair?
LET ME FIRST SAY I AM NOT AN ADVOCATE FOR EITHER SCORING SYSTEM BUT MY QUESTION AFTER VISITING BUCKMASTERS IN MONTGOMERY ALABAMA YESTERDAY TO HAVE MY BUCK SCORED ....WHICH IS A FAIRER WAY TO SCORE A WHITETAIL BUCK, BOONE AND CROCKETT OR BUCKMASTERS TROPHY RECORDS SYSTEM I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENCES BUT IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IT THAT B&C ALLOWS THE AIR BETWEEN THE MAIN BEAMS (THE SPREAD) TO FACTOR INTO THE FINAL SCORE AND BTR JUST MEASURES PURE ANTLER .... ALL FACTORS CONSIDERED WHICH IS A MORE PURE SCORE? MY DEER SCORED 185 1/8 COMPOSITE (INCLUDING SPREAD) AND 173 5/8 IN ANTLER ALONE.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE BTR SYSTEM
BTR PHILOSOPHY The philosophy of Buckmasters Trophy Record Full Credit Scoring System or
“BTR” is to measure and record whitetail deer antlers without forcing them
to conform to a criterion of perfect symmetry. BTR Full Credit Scoring
System takes nothing away from the antlers. It simply measures every inch of
antler and classifies it accordingly.
The Buckmasters Trophy Record system can be distinguished from other
whitetail scoring systems in these nine important areas:
1. The BTR system does not deduct differences between lengths of opposing
typical points.
2. The BTR system does not include the inside spread measurement in the
score because it is a measurement of air, not antler. But is shown on the
score sheet for identification in the purposes.
3. Since the inside spread between the main beams is not added into the
rack's score, a rack with a broken skull plate can be entered into the BTR
books.
4. The BTR scoring system has four classifications of antlers categorized
as:
a. Perfect
b. Typical
c. Semi Irregular
d. Irregular
5. In the BTR scoring system it has set a minimum score the same for each of
the
four categories of antlers.
BTR minimum score of 140 inches is required for all firearms harvested deer.
BTR minimum score of 105 inches is required for all bow harvested deer.
These minimum scores may sound low until you realize the inside spread
credit
is not includes.
6. The BTR scoring system provides categories for all types of firearms:
a. center fire rifles
b. shotguns
c. handguns
d. black powder guns.
The bow-and-arrow category includes:
a. ALL compounds
b. Recurves
c. Longbows
d. crossbows
The "Pick-Up" category is for antlers, which have been found rather than
harvested by a hunter. The BTR minimum score for this category is 140
inches. There is even a category for shed antlers, which are measured only
as right or left antlers, not as a pair. The BTR minimum score for shed
antlers is 75 inches.
This way you can compare apples to apples.
7. NO drying time is required before antlers can be measured.
8. The BTR also has a separate category for antlers still in velvet.
9. There is opportunity for entry for bucks, which have been taken behind
deer proof fences, providing they meet the entrance criteria noted on the
BTR Code of Ethics for Hunting On Game Proof Fenced Properties.