Truth on Antler Scores.
 

My purpose in this post is to try to shed some light on the relevance of antler scores. I think there's a trend going on in the hunting community that goes overboard about what every buck scores, as if the number Boone and Crockett, or some other group, attaches to your buck is the sum of its worth. I think this process robs some people of the joy of the hunt, and they could be happier if they sort of eased up on the whole scoring thing.

Let me own right up that I love dabbling in B&C antler scores. I can rarely resist jumping on to one of those 'what will he score' threads and waxing wise. I've measured every buck of any size I've ever taken. I will continue to do so, but the experience of the last two years has taught me to keep those numbers in context. Let me tell you about it.

I've become obsessed with big buck hunting over the past several years. (It is a wonderful obsession when you keep your attitude right.) Over time, I've begun to kill some real veteran bucks. Each of the past two years I've killed bucks that were 6 1/2 years old. Had a genie revealed this to me two years ago I'd have been certain that I was on my way to legend status as a deer hunter. I'd have thought I would now be looking at 300+ inches of deer antler off those two bucks. Not even close as it turns out!

My two titans gross score only 115 and 130. I wouldn't have believed it had I not done it myself. I let magazines color my expectations, and have had to do some serious rethinking of my standards. What I have found has set me free. I have come to realize, completely, that the B&C score is just a number. It cannot in any way stand as the sum of the hunt.

The stories attached to my taking of these two bucks are dear to me. Both were taken with the rifle, but at bow ranges, after long difficult hunts. I can put myself back into those moments and still get a rush of ecstacy thinking about it.

It's about the story, people. That's my message. If you're "in to" scoring them, fine. So am I. But keep that number in its proper place. Don't let a "disappointing number" in any way devalue the joy in your heart.

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

Well put...I am more about the enjoyment of the hunt than what the rack scores. I do like to babble scores as well, but I'd much rather display a mount and tell everyone what it scores (which takes 5 seconds) and then proceed to tell them the story of how I was able to outsmart him, which could last a lot longer and create more enjoyment for me.

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

I also think that the experience of the hunt is more important than the total inches of antler. I'm pretty proud of my 141" mule deer that has very proportionate antlers and I shot on public land on a DIY non-resident hunt this year in Montana. Much more than if that same deer had been shot on a guided hunt on private land.

The other thing that I think about the scoring system is that there are some really ugly antlers that score very well on the B&C system. I personally don't care for the gnarly twisted hulk of antlers that score huge points based on their circumference measurments but hardly even look like a deer. Give me a nice symetrical rack any day even if it scores a few inches less. Okay, I would love to shoot a drop tine but otherwise symetrical!

That's my 2 cents.

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

100 inches might be a huge buck insome area's(like where i hunt) but is considered small in other area's. i hate hunters who look down on guy's like me or consider themselves better or superior hunters because they have bigger deer on the wall....this really burns me up. not only do i hunt an area where 100 inches isa huge buck but i also have only hunted public land my entire life. you come down here and shoot a 100 inch buck on public land and to me that is more impressive than a 165+ inch buck on private land anyday.

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

I agree thoroughly. Its all about the hunt and spending time doing what we love.....being in the woods with these awesome animals. Ive even seen a couple of posts on here that were less than enthusiastic when someone shot what they thought was a good buck, while the other person did not think it was a trophy.

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

Lots of bucks can live to be 9 or more years old and will never have a 130" or more rack. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them would never have a 100" rack.

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

Im glad that their are others that feel this way. I am a big believer in buck managment, but somtimes I tell my self does it realy matter if I shoot a monster. I have friends that wont shoot deer that I would shoot in a heart beat. They also hardly ever kill a deer and have a dull hunting season while Im wiggin out about killing a "small deer". I think people are turning deer hunting into a sport or compotition and this is the wrong way to view hunting.

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

Good post dirt2 and certainly relevant to the way many of us think. I always focus on the fact that it is the hunt rather than the kill that is important to me. We all set standards to which we hope to achieve. One man's trophy is another man's cull. I am always very thankful for every deer I take and have never been sorry I pulled the trigger
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RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

A trophy is a trophy in the eye of the beholder! Any legal deer can be a trophy. That said, when measuring up bucks I believe there are many things that can go into the formula. Region, not all are the same! Is it a better than average buck for your area?
Money, throw out the super high dollar, high fence. Even with those out of the picture, some people pay more for better managed areas.
I like measuring deer and I have nothing against scoring systems, but I don't think that its as important as some make it to be!
Where I hunt, a very good buck will be 120 tops! Are there any 150's killed? Sure there are! Mostly on better managed land.If Iwere to say "I'm not going to shoot anything less than a 140"! I'd be eating a lot of "tag soup" for several years.
The average East Tex lease is about 400.00 with at most 100 acres per hunter. Western parts of the state and especially South Tex, 1500.00 is a bargain! Many places are 3000.00+, and have 1 hunter per 300 acres! Plus better habitat and management!
So, a 115 B&C for a fraction of the cost ofa 135-140 B&C. Bottom line is that if you can afford it, or you are just blessed with a very good region, I'm happy for you! Just don't look down on others that cannot, or choose not to pay the price!

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

I agree 100%, hunting is what we as individuals make it to be and it gets cheapened when we lose sight of this fact. I have always believed competition is between the hunter and quarry (whatever that may entail)...it should be a personal quest nothing more.IMHO,if hunter is proud of their harvest thats all that matters. I am extremely happy for them and share in their joy, asI can relate.

I guess you could say I am on the other side in that I amlumped into a "trophy" hunter group, being score is one criteria in my standards. Though it certainly isn't the only factor either. I enjoy the meat, venison is our preference for red meat. I believe wholeheartily in management and harvesting females for herd health. Maturity is something I personally look at when chasing bucks. I find it more rewarding/challenge personally to pursue mature bucks. I love the outdoors and nature in general, cherishing every moment I spend enjoying it. I spend far mor time scouting and preparing then hunting itself. It is an obsession no doubt but its a love and can't image ever wanting it to be anything less. I have went through many stages of deer hunting and will say the life as a "horn" hunter can be a lonely one. The stage I am in now is simply enjoy all that hunting gives me, if I harvest something bonus. Notching a tag isn't the be all/end all for me anymore andI'm loving it. Funny thing is I have been more successful in the tagging department since I stopped obsessing over the end result and just living in the moments.

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

Score doesn't mean everything....I have seen way too many 120" bucks look way bigger(besides looking awesome!)to knock any buck by score!

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

When someone tells me that he saw or killed a "big" deer, my first question is what would/did he score. The word "big" in describing a deer is a relative term. What is "big" to Joe Meat Hunter might be a 18 month old 6 point. A score is just a number, but if someone tells me that he shot a 140" 8 point, I have a very good mental picture of what size deer he is talking about. A score, in my mind, is a much better description of a deer than the number of points or body weight. As an example, if I tell you that I made a "long" shot at a deer, what comes to mind? Would you be thinking 200, 300, 400 yards? On my place, a 100 yard shot is a LONG shot. The term "long" is not a very good description in that case.

Antler scoring is really the only universal way to judge a deer that can be communicated between other hunters.

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

I agree with this, but want to add that I prefer to use the gross score. It more accurately depicts the true size of the buck.

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

I just killed a 4.5 yr old 8 point that didnt break 130. This area is know for huge bucks as well. I can tell ya one thing though......what he lacked in inches he more than made up for in attitude and dominance...lol. He had a huge body and I personally witnessed him kick some major butt. This makes my 2nd one that would qualify for a state archery certificate but I would never have them officially scored. I could care less about the score but the memories are priceless. The stories behind the deer and worth far more than any number you could attach to them. I can honestly say that my knees wouldnt shake any harder ifI hadkilled the world record...lol...and when them knees quit shaking is when I quit hunting.


I always judge the deer by the area. I have seen dead deer being checked in where I gun hunt that would stop traffic and wouldnt come close to 120...however you can bet your ass theres a real good chance you could hunt all your life there and never kill a bigger one. A 120 inch buck up there would be the equivalent to a 160 inch down here. People that are hung up on numbers are cheating themselves. The only real thing they are good for is like retrieverman said...just for a mental picture. My hardest earned trophy that I am the proudest of any was not even close tot he biggest I have been lucky enough to kill.

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

The REAL truth about antler scores is the hunters ego. They have very little significance otherwise in the scheme of things. Like a high scoring buck has any significance to anyone but the hunter or other hunters who crave for similar status symbols that killing a high scoring buck brings. As with many things in modern society many seem to get some sort of joy out of claiming that mine is bigger or better than the other guys. There really isn't much more to it than that I am sorry to say.

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

Absolutely

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

I completely agree..........Very well said Dirt......
I love to ask and I love to hear the B&C score of any buck.......one thing I don't like is for someone to say "you shota 120 B&C buck" ? First of all hunting a low fence ranch your chances (inTexas anyway)of seeing bucks that score more than 145 are rare. I'm sure some of you have shot bucks like that, but for deer hunting as a whole, the millions that do it, its rare. I have yet to shoot a buck that scores 140, and I still have shoulder mounts on the wall. The 2 bucks Im most proud of, because of where they were shot, and who was with me,both are around 110 and 115 B&C,and I love them both. Its the hunt that surrounds the buck that makes the buck.........to me anyway. Just my opinion.

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

I 100 % agree with dirt.

My two best bucks are a 7.5 yr old nine point shot with a .450 Marlin rifle and a 2.5 year old 11 point shot with a PSE Carroll Intruder. I would not take one more B&C (or P&Y) point for the experience that both of these deer represent to me. Sure I'd love to kill a big bruiser and I spend some time every year in Illinois (and GA) trying to get one, but it's the experience there too and that's probably why I haven't shot one there yet either.

Oh yeah, I got a super buck figured out right now. Haven't seen him except on trail cam though at midnight. But when I see him he will be a prize. He'll probably go 120 or so and is4-5 yrs old or so, but if I can pull it off on a deer I've never seen and is pretty much nocturnal, that is a prize.

Oh yeah, I dabble with the scores too so what did mine score?
7.5 year old 9 pointer - 113 3/8
2.5 year old 11 pointer - 109 7/8

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

I agree with most of what's been said here, but I'd like to add that body weight is a meaningful number for me. I'm still waiting for my first 180 pounder (field dressed). I hunt in WI, and my hope is that he'll score 140, but that is secondary.

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

Iam a hunter that enjoys the outdoors seeing all sizes of bucks and fortunate enough to live in such an area. I have shot my share of 150 to 170plus bucks. I have seen bigger into the 200 plus, but have not connected. This keeps me pumped up for the next season, I dont shoot them unless I see them bigger than what I have already shot, so I go without in some years. All my deer are typical that I have taken. I now find my self looking for character in the rack. MEAT is not important to me so I hold off and wait for big bucks.When I do shoot a deer the meat goes to the needy.My favorite saying it seems " Well next year things will be different"

What is important is the outting. I seem to pick up a camera alot more than a rifle. I enjoy the challenges that confront me some days.I enjoy natures beauty, peacefulness and its a time to reflect on different matters.

Iam a land owner and plant fantastic plots which attracts alot of game to my land ( plus Iam surrounded by land where no hunting is allowed. ) I spend countless hours preparing areas, blinds and much more and after all that I get more enjoyment out of taking friends to get a big buck especially young hunters. Near the end of their hunts if they have not shot a good buck they will take a odd ball buck to remove protect the gene pool, have meat and the thrill of a kill if they wish to.

I score many deer that are shot and love doing so and will continue to do so. To me its all part of the hunt, everyone guessing who is closest. It seem every hunter I know personally enjoys the scoring no matter what the size ,be it 100 inches or a monster. One young lad shot a spiker and couldnt wait to see what is scored yet he was the most proud hunter there a smile from ear to ear. It was huge for him and being his first.

I dont think scoring takes away the memories of a hunt but can add to it,

Just the way I feel about it

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

I think this discussion is great!

I have recently established a collection of racks... None of them have scored outstandingly yet, but I too have two mature bucks that will score in the 130's/140's but if not for a couple of things would have been 150+ bucks.

My cross-bow buck was post mature, it must have been a great deer in previous years, but it had lost it's G-3 on the right side (only 1-inch) and other then tremendous G-2 length, mass, and main beam length doesn't have much to score off of it's 11-points.

My rifle buck had a rear broken leg which led to it's left antler being significantly dwarfed after it's injury.

Lot's of character, but not much for score (relatively speaking). I would doubt 99.9% of hunters would have let either of these beasts walk by their respective stands though

Here is the Kentucky buck (right rear leg broken)

RE: Truth on Antler Scores.
 

And the very old cross-bow buck.