Let me preface this by saying this is purely opinion and there is no right or wrong in this thread.

With all of the discussions about bucks and scoring lately it got me thinking. Why do we as hunters care what a deer nets? If your goal is to get into one of the record book clubs then a net score is a consideration, but if it isn't then why worry about deductions. I have heard people say things such as, "This deer only nets XXX inches, but big is big." Which is absolutely true. As hunters I don't think deductions should apply when talking about a buck's score because that is how he grew his antlers naturally in the wild. Every inch of antler and spread should count because that is what the buck is. When I look at a buck's score its gross is all I'm concerned with. Any deductions are for the professional scoring record clubs that I personally don't have an interest in belonging to because I don't feel the need to have to pay to know that a nice buck is , well a nice buck.

What do you guys feel about this?

I've always figured if the critter grew it, it deserves to be counted.

I AGREE 100%

Yeap it should be counted. That the may it was made.

Yeah I think everything should count. Jackie Bushman has a good way to count everything the deer has. Do yall know of the BTR? I cant remember aint that it?

I agree and could care less what one net's.

I guess I don't care much about books, so if I got a biggen...I wouldn't even enter it, but that's really beside the point.

I'm all for scoring what mama gave him! A gross score only really gives a person an idea of what's all there. I'm a huge fan of racks with kickers, stickers, drops, split brows, split G2's, other goofy stuff and mass.

STRAIGHT GROSS! I agree

I dont, never have. I appreciate a big rack, but have never scored one. If it is made of meat, it will eat. That is about my take. But like I said, Ill keep a good rack out of appreciation. But if all I shot are does, thats good enough.

i could care less what it scores, i will harvest a certain buck or bull because of time, what is differant about it, who i am with at the time.

my dad got a 142" whitetail a few years ago, not huge but, for wyoming on public ground a nice buck. he says he will probly never get a bigger one, and he says he will never get as good as a memory! 18 yards spot and stalk muzzleloader in rifle season, one neck shot one instant kill! it was great!