Tricks that you use when "field judging" whitetail antlers?
 

I wanted to see what you guys use as reference points when field judging mature whitetail bucks antlers(that's if there is time to break them down EX summer scouting or game cam pics etc.).... If you use any other tactics than I use, post em up. I stress the refrence points are for deer in my area... Your deer may be different.

* The distance from the tip of the snout to the tear duct is aprox. 7-8 inches.

*The distance from the ear butt to the tip of the ear is aprox. 7-8 inches.

*The diameter of a whitetail eye is roughly 1 1/2 inches.

*Alert ears are aprox. 16.5-17 inches tip to tip.

* Bottom of the jaw to the top of the snout is roughly 2.5 inches.



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RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Hey buckeyeboy
Hate to break the news to ya but the eyes and ears are the same size from the they'er born , there snout , head , body and everthing else will continue to grow.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I was not aware that the eyes and ears do not grow at all.... Can you prove this to me? I really don't believe their ears do not grow.... The eyes maybe.... I just don't see the ears not growing.

Not sure whatyour reply had to do with my post anyhow as it was still correct :D

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I stink at pictures, buckeye is really good at this.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Whats a Mature Buck?:D
We dont have them here in Central New York:(
Well...Ok...theres a Few...Left out there:)

Theres not many, because of that mentality of "If it's brown it's down", so that kind of narrows ones chances around here to do much field judging[:@]

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

You were using the ears and eyesas reference to judge mature whitetails , I have read in one of those hunting books that when they'er born , there ears and eyes will be the same size as to when they get older.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

That's easy, if he's not bigger than this he walks.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

So even if this were true (which I dont believe the ears bit and I am skeptical about the eyes) would those not be accurate refrence point? An inch and a half is still and inch and a half right? Seven inches will still be seven inches......

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Yes ... inch and a half is still an inch and a half and seven inch's is still seven inch's but when your trying to determine if a buck is mature you really can't go by the eyes and ears.
They'll be the same wheather if the buck is a one and a half year old or if it's four and a half years old.
So let the debate continue and say it is better to judge a bucks snout than it's ear's.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

LOL... RD I am talking about relating those measurements to the deers rack to field judge how many inches he would score :D

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Nice Buck I am going to guess using the buckeye method

126-130''

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Funny that you ask because I never really thought about it. When I'm in the field I tend to look at tine length and mass. I have spent a lot of time looking at deer that I know the score of and practicing. After years of looking at many different racks and knowing their scores, it somes as second nature.

Good question, I'll have to think about it more. [&:]

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I am the same way... Although sometimes (like one buck this year) stumps me and I have to go back to basics... That is what brought this thread up in the first place [8D]

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

DUH .... Well just slap me silly and call me susan. :D

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I use the ear length and tip to tip spread for reference. But that is about it.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I use the ears to measure spread, and I use..................ah, what am I talking about....How would I know???? :D[&:]:eek:

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Now thats funny .....

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I only use the ears as how wide the buck is. I look for the barrel chest and the slumping belly to help me gauge if hes mature. I also look for the swelled neck during rut...

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Once again, you used improper sentence structure. This is fun. Get the picture?[:@]

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Don't they run off when you climb out of the stand to take all those measurements?:eek:

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I walk over to their pen and ask them. Although, they tend to lie.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Obviously copied from a book or some such place. I want you to tell me at 30 yards a deers eye is 1 1/2 inches. I want you to tell me that the ear is 7-8 inches and not 6 3/4. I go by mass, length of snout, width or horns to ears, body size and belly hang. I don't have time to figure out if something is 1 1/2 inches at 30 or 100 yards. I really doubt you can do that either.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I like to use Buckeye's measurement method on trail cam pictures to get a rough estimate on what a deer might score. I measured several mounts on the wall and got reference point measurements then blew up the picture in abobe photo until it matched the measurements then i would measure the picture on the screen and record the measurements. later when we found the shed it was pretty accurate on tine lenght, but it is almost impossable to measure mass in a 2D or flat picture.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Sorry bro, this was not taken from a book. I took these measurements at my buddies taxidermy studio a couple years ago ona fewof the kills he got in for theyear. I measured probably 20 some mature whitetails to come up with these figures. Has someone ever published something similar? That I don't know.... I wanted to take the measurements to aid me in field judging deer while I was summer glassing and videoing.

I do a lot of summer glassing and going over trail cam photos and these are references that I use. You also must have missed the "aprox",I was using thatshort for approximately killer. Go find someone else's thread to go piss in, you don't care about score blah blah blah, guess what? I do. Score is not the final word in if an animal is "worthy" of my arrow but I like to know what I am shooting at. Thats just me though..... You keep on shooting them and sorting them out after the fact.

In case you missed this part in the original post I will highlight it so maybe you will catch it this time.......

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RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Why do you think its so hard to judge a yearling and a mature doe apart. The ears are the same size. I never use ear size as a reference point. I use the face. The longer and darker the face, the older the deer. Also I use the stomach bow, the more drop in a deer a deers stomach the older the deer may be. As for field judging bucks, I just guess, Ive seen enough bucks to be able to rough estimate and tell the difference between a 130 class buck and a 150 class buck.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I really rely on my game cam photos for reference to deer I've already seen and targeted. It's a benefit of having them.

My only real "measurement", at this stage of deer hunting (to me).....is whether or not it is larger than last year's buck.

That's it.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

When i hunted in Texas 2 years back, i had this same conversation with the one guide as to what is the best way to quickly estimate a rack while in stand. His answer actually makes sense and is rather accurate. He said that on a "typical" 8 point, meaning a 4 x 4 rack, with average mass and an inside spread that is ear to ear, which he said to use 16 inches for to be safe, use a beginning score of 80 This score of 80 will be roughly what the inside spread, main beams and mass measurements will add up to on the buck. Then just look at one side of his rack, quickly estimate the lengths of his3 tines, add them together and double it and you will be in the ballpark of where the deer scores. Meaning, if you see a 8 point with a rack that is as wide as his ears, a brow tine of 4 inches, G2 of 9 inches and G3 of 7 inches, he will score roughly somewhere around 120". Obviously this isnt a foolproof method, but it will give you a starting point to quickly judge a deer while out in the woods and not having the luxury of time to analize him better.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I rely on comparing to mounts i have at home that have been scored, or sheds i have measured, or buddys bucks that i know what the score is. I ask alot of questions atmy taxi about what some of them score to compare with bucks in the field.I look at the mass= H measurments, how heavy it is all the way through and the spread compared to ear tip distance. side to side evenness really screws me up, i need work in that area [&o]Long Brows are a pev of mine also, i love them for pumping up score:D But there is those bucks that in an instant the field judging goes second hat to just knowing it is a shooter (when hunting) scouting is another story, or those iffy bucks that sometimes play with our emotions when they come into a setup and you have the angle devil thingy on your shoulders.[8D] Bad position to be in at times:Dbut it dont get any better than that, cause it gives you that shot of adreniline we all so crave;)

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I have been field judging deer for over 15 years. I've gotten much better at from tons of practice. When I'm trying to judge one in a hurry before he takes off, I use the following methods.

1) Score one side, # of points and their length.
2) Estimate mass, 14, 15, 16.....18 etc.
3) Beam length, 19, 20 ......25 etc.
4) Add 1-3 and double it.
5) Add in estimated inside spread.

For me, mass estimates come from being familiar with known deer that I've measured. 15 - on the slim side, 18 - on the heavy side. This comes from experience with the deer from my area.

Beam length, again, is from deer that I've measured. I have a picture in my head of what a 22 or 24 looks like. This one can be difficult because there many variables. Ex. Spread, how much curl and how far towards the end of the nose the tips are when veiwed from the side.

Inside spread, this one is a bit easier. In my area, 2 1/2s ears are about 16" tip to tip. 3 1/2s are about 17 and 4 1/2 s and older are about 18"s t to t.

From practice, I take a mental picture of the deer and can mull it over in my mind after he's gone and come up with a pretty accurate score.

If things are happening in a hurry and I have to decide to shoot or not, I've got pics in my mind of what 120, 130, 140... 180 class deer look like.

It's always the best if you take one look and go "holy S---T!" and just get ready to shoot!;)

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

That's about the most honest and intelligent thing I've read so far in this thread. Who has time to do all the calculation? Admittedly....I don't have a lot of experience with judging live deer on the hoof (big, live, deer). There's websites out there for yout o judge their score.....and I did darned well last time I "played". I get fooled, some....but I'm usually close. I also know when I'm in over my head (kickstand????....lol).

Isn't it as simple as saying.....I'm out for a 130" (relate this to your area or your criteria).....and then knowing what that looks like (I ASK this with no judgement. It seems like it wouldn't be that big of a deal).

Again....only asking.....do you guys REALLY go through all of those measurements and calculations when you're hunting? Or....do you do what GregH states, above.

Thanks.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Outside the ears spread is a really good indicator that is easily checked in a hurry. Of course, I think most of us just automatically realize when it is a truly large deer or not. Of the big bucks I have shot, I never had to "field measure" them. I just said "HOLY SHART THAT ISA GOOD BUCK!" If I have to take the time to "measure" them, then they aren't big enough to shoot.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I agree huntingson..My measurements are

1) deer
2) Buck
3) Nice Buck
4) Holy SH!t

If the first words are #4 he's a shooter, #3 I reach for the bow and look closer..anything less I watch and gain EXPERIENCE. :D

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Hey, that's my method too. We must've read the same book.;)

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

Justlike Bear hunting, If you have to take time and make up your mind if hes big enough, Then its probably Not. When a real shooter comes in you know it.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I agree, i pretty much know right away if im shooting, but the question is a good way to field estimate deer on the hoof. I for one could care less what my deer score, but its nice to know and if time permits, i like to look add them up just out of curiosity. Adding 3 tines, doubleing it and adding that number to 8 takes shorter for me to do than it did to write this sentence.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

huh?[8D] I's confounded!

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

As I have said all along in the thread I use these tactics while glassing in the summer, looking at cams and video footage. I don't even know what a couple of these posts are all about..... Who the heck is talking about fawns and does???? Not me.... Let's get back on topic.... BIG BUCKS :D


GMMAT

I do not add them up in the treestand unless it isyoung buck who is gettinga free pass. A buck has to have a certain size to him to perk my interest..... My philosophy is if you don't know he is a "shooter" soon as you get a good look at him he isn't. If you have to add him up while hunting he isn't big enough....


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RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

That makes sense, scott. I was wondering if some people actually added 'em up before deciding to shoot....lol.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I break them down (video,cam pix) a lot like Gregh does. On the hoof while hunting, I usually just know, if I question it, it usually always means he is young.

RE: Tricks that you use when field judging whitetails?
 

I sure do, you're a moron.:D Stop acting like the kids you teach. I think you're jealous of my minimumbuck size.;):D:D:D:D:D