Scoring a Deer: Important Info You Need to Know

By Susan Dickson

Scoring a Deer: Important Info You Need to Know thegearhunt.com

While most deer hunters aren’t in it to score that trophy deer, it’s always a rush if it happens to be you that bags one, when you’re out on the hunt. There are a couple of different systems out there that you can use to score your buck, the most common being the Boone and Crockett System. There are also many tapes and other products that can help you score the deer antlers yourself, though if you are one of those who are not good with measurements, tape measures, and numbers, it might be best to take the deer to the professionals to get the job done the right way.

The biggest problem that deer hunters seem to have when scoring a deer is getting the scoring system right and writing down the measurements. There are also many pros and cons out there to deer hunting, to begin with, and since it’s a big controversy and being debated, probably as we speak, we will be going into the pros and cons of deer hunting as well. No matter, which side of the fence you fall on with deer hunting and if you know how to score a deer or not, this is a blog you might want to read. The important thing to know is that there are many different deer scoring systems and even some clubs that are devoted to this scoring.

So, this fall, if you are a novice hunter, and you see all of the seasoned hunters standing around asking a question such as, “How much did he score?,” then you will need to know that they are talking about counting points and guessing spreads as to how big the antlers are on the deer that one of them shot. However, since there are many different antler counting clubs across the country, each of them using their own system, the numbers could be different for everyone. As a matter of fact, in a study that was performed, four different organizations scored one deer, using different systems and came up with different measurements. In this blog, we will go into a few of the different systems, as well as the pros and cons of deer hunting itself. If you are on the fence as to whether deer hunting is the right thing to do, then read on below. Ready to get started? Then, let’s go.

Different Clubs, Different Systems

As previously stated, there are different clubs that use different systems to score the antlers of deer. Four of the main clubs are Boone and Crockett Club, Buckmasters, Northeast Big Buck Club, and Safari Club International. Now that you know a few of the different clubs out there, with the Boone and Crockett Club system being the most used, read on below for a few ways the features of a deer’s antlers are scored, by the different clubs and systems.

Non-Typical Points

Every one of the clubs except for Boone and Crockett measure non-typical points towards the net and gross scores. Boone and Crockett subtract non-typical points from the gross score. This means that the kickers on the G2’s will cost the rack four inches when it’s measured.

Busted Tines

Any busted tines on the antlers, causes Boone and Crockett to deduct points from their Boone and Crockett score. This means that if your antlers don’t measure an inch, that tine won’t be counted, and it may lose another two points because it lacks symmetry as well. The other clubs on our list don’t take points or busted tines.

The Circumference

Once all of the above is counted, each club takes four circumference measurements on the main beam of the antlers. For example, for the deer being measured now, there was a broken point, meaning that the Buckmasters club did the third circumference measurement twice, which gave the buck more inches for having a broken point. The other clubs, instead, considered the broken tine a type of indicator for measuring the circumference of the antlers.

The Inside Spread

When it comes to measuring the inside spread of the antlers, Buckmasters is the only club that refuses to count the inside spread towards the overall score of the deer. The reason for this is that the club doesn’t measure air, they measure bone, which can make their scoring of a deer substantially lower than the other club’s systems.

The Symmetry

To a hunter’s eye, the antlers in question look perfectly symmetrical. However, with the Boone and Crockett Club system, the antlers are non-symmetrical, because they deducted points, making the brow tines an inch different.

Taping the Curve

In all clubs, scorers are taught to give the rack as many points as possible, which is called taping the curve.

The Main Beams

All of the four clubs listed measure the main beam of the antlers the same way. However, with the measurements of the deer above, there is still a slight difference in the total measurements in the end, when it comes to overall points.

This shows that each club has a different system that they use and the different scores your antlers can get. There are also DIY, do it yourself, methods that you can use for scoring your deer. You can find plenty of tutorials online for this. It is usually recommended that you get the scoring done by the professionals, but in the end, that is up to you.

A Few More Facts You Should Know

Of course, that isn’t all there is to scoring a deer, though that is the main part and it is widely known that the Boone and Crockett Club’s system is considered the most reliable and the best. Below you can find a few more facts about deer scoring you should know.

It is said that measuring a deer immediately after harvest, which is called “green scoring.” While this can be done, it is best to wait 60 days for the deer antlers to dry, in order to get the best and exact measurements. This is because, during that drying period, the antlers will shrink, which makes the green score obsolete and ineffective, meaning the deer is going to have to be rescored anyway.

These are just a few of the things that you might need to know about scoring a deer. Hopefully, yours is the big one, but it’s just fun getting out there and trying, right?

Now, that we know a little bit about scoring a deer, what it means, and the different systems and clubs that score them, let’s move onto the second section in our blog, the pros, and cons of deer hunting. Follow us below to find out what they are. Ready? Then, let’s go!

The Pros and Cons of Deer Hunting Revealed

We all know that the topic of deer hunting has been being debated for years now. Gone are the days, when living off the land was acceptable and expected. While there may seem to be a firm line between hunters and those that advocate animal rights drawn in the sand, and to some, each one’s concerns may seem odd, it’s not that easy. There are many pros and cons to consider, so below we will go into some of them.

Pro: Population Control

It’s been known for years that the deer population can easily get out of control, hence the open season once a year. It is said that the whitetail deer population has tripled since the early 20th century, and the most effective way to control it is through the open deer season that most hunters wait all year for. This effectively curbs the population, which means there aren’t deer starving to death and humans dying when a deer runs out in front of their car, causing them to have an accident when they try to swerve to avoid them.

Con: Hunting the Deer to Extinction

One of the major cons of allowing the hunting of deer is the fact that many animals have been hunted to extinction. While that is a very real possibility with any animal, that is why there are laws in place and hunting season for deer is only open at certain times of the year.

Pro: Provides Food for the Hunter

In modern times, living off the land and hunting for what you eat isn’t as prevalent or important as it once was, as you can go into any grocery store and pick up food. However, what about those that don’t have the money to just go to the grocery store or those who like to live off the land? Bagging a deer on one of a hunter’s hunts can often fill up that hunter’s freezer for months to come.

Con: Cruelty to Animals

Hunting deer results in the death of the animal, something that can be seen as cruelty to animals as well. It is said, that sometimes if a deer gets away, they can take hours to die, especially if they are wounded by an arrow.

Pro: Sales Help the Environment

Since every hunter is required by law to have a hunting license, the sales from those licenses are being put back into helping the environment. In many states, hunters are required to take training classes before they can hunt, and profits from those sales are helping the country and the environment as well.

Con: Presents a Danger to the Hunter and Others

You read in the news every day about a hunter that was shot and killed by another hunter, meaning that deer hunting can pose a risk to not only hunters but to others who might be in the area at the time. That is why some states require that their hunters take safety courses and hunting is kept to certain areas. If hunters know how to and act responsibly, plus wear the safety gear recommended, then a hunting accident can be avoided.

Pro: Helps Hunters Survive in Wilderness Survival Situations

The world is in bad shape, as any survivalist or prepper will gladly tell you. If the worst happens, most people will never be able to survive off of the land, without electricity and food from the grocery store. Hunters will be able to survive because they know how to hunt and how to live off the land. When the grid goes down, which of these people would you want in your corner? Exactly!

These are just a few of the pros and cons of deer hunting that have been revealed over the years. No matter which side of the fence you fall on when it comes to deer hunting, you have to admit that each side has their clear points. If you decide that you are a deer hunter and want to hunt during the season, make sure that you get all of the permits and follow every safety rule and precaution to ensure that you are safe and able to score that huge buck you bagged when the day is done.

This concludes our blog on scoring a deer and all of the important information you need to know. Hopefully, this will help you with scoring your next deer. Hopefully, this blog will clear up some of the concerns associated with deer hunting that have been causing debates for decades now as well. Hunting is something that everyone should be able to enjoy and if done responsibly it can be. Happy hunting everyone!