RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

This is a great thread, thought I would bring it back

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Nope, wrong. Fawns are tiny. Their eyes snouts and ears. I have seen both up close and personal. He is correct with his original post of sizes of a mature whitetail.

I am sure someone will post pictures.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

17" to 19" total on just tine length on one side is usually a P&Y buck (125") or very close to it.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I can't say I actually have any specific formula, I suppose, I usually look at their mass and spread right from the get go, and start guestimating. Throw a NT at me, and I'm lost, but with typicals, I usually guestimate the length of ONLY the shorter tine and multiply by 2, guestimate length of shorter beam, multiply by 2, decent mass, 4.5" x2, 4" x 2, etc, but my guestimates are usually gonna be net score, not gross, mostly because I'm too lazy to have odd numbers rolling around between my 4-5 brain cells.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Can't say I even consider a eyeball. I can see though if your are useing a ruler on trail cam pics it would come in handy. I don't use trail cams. I know one thing for sure. I have been glassing one this summer that looks like hes has got night sticks for tines. :):)

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Take a picture of him for us! :DSounds likea brute.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

4 - 11 - 7 I read recently about quick field scoring and a guy said that if one G1 = 4", G2 = 11" and G3 =7" then he'll be close to 135.

It's pretty easy to remember and I've tested it on some mounts with known scores and it's pretty close.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Right on Sooner. It really doesn't matter how you get your 22" on tine length as long as there typical points and not abnormal points. Its quick and easy scoring!!

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Now if I could just put that knowledge to use this year ... :D

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Easier said then done, I know.;) I hope your able to!

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Thanks brother, good luck to you too

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Thanks bud!!:)

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

A lot of people are mentioning spread but I don't pay much attention to that as it is probably the least important factor in overall size.

A buck with a tall rack and good mass is what I look for.

Also, a good way to judge beam length is by how close the tipsextend out in relation to the nose on a side view of the rack. If they are close to the nose the buck has good beam length.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

i have never seen a deer with ear like the picture above when it is a fawn

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

This was told to me by a P&Y measurer that measures anything I get and who is also a good friend so he's not going to BS me at all.

Tine length and big end forks is what matters the most when scoring a whitetail. Mass, inside spread, main beam length doesn't add up nearly as much as tines do. Tall tines usually will score high. A wide rack with short tines isn't going to do hardly anything. Mass measurements as well aren't always a huge factor but they do make more of a difference then main beam length and inside spread being you have 8 measurements. Tall tines and big end forks, tall G1's mean everything.

Pretty much the same as you said Cooter.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I'll go back and read the other replies......but the way I "attempt" to field judge.....is I know what 106" looks like. "Most" that we're asked to guess on are larger than that......so I just figure "how many" (inches) "more".....and do the math. It gets tricky when you get into the really big numbers....becuase I have NO reference point :D.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I try to keep it simple. You can do all of these really fast.

1) Good mass - about the diameter of the eye at the base.
2) Tall tines - high off the head
3) Good beam length - sweeping forward at or near the nose.
4) Good spread - a couple of inches outside the ears.
5) Number of points if I have time

Of course, there will be no need to do any of this on a super buck. You'll see it and immediately you will know. It's the border line bucks we have to judge, whatever your standard is!

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I am a math minor and there is no way I am doing any addition in my head with a bow in my hand. I look for the pot-belly, roman nose, massive frame (and sometimes but not always, neck) and swaggering walk of a older buck. As for antlers, I can generally judge the 10" range a deer will fall in if I have a few seconds to look at it. I put deer into +/- 5" ranges in my head and it works for me. I have measured quite a few deer and seen more - to me it is just building on memory.

The one trick that was already mentioned on here is to look at how far the beams come out(and wrap around) in reference to the nose.

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.