1" antler point

[Man Tracker]

A very good Game Warden in Okanogan County told me the rule of thumb was if your wedding ring will hang on the tip and not fall off (no shaking) then that is a point.  That method was regularly used by the game wardens I knew. 

[cavemann]

I don't understand the confusion or debate..  Most of us understand the intent of 3pt minimum is to allow younger bulls to mature.  If at all questionable, let him walk.  It really is a case of common sense and ethics.  If you are having to strain your eyes or judgment to determine legality, let him walk.  An ethical kill is a clear judgment as to whether the animal is legal.  In this case a clear branched point on the main beam above the ear and at least an eye guard 1" or longer.  The grey area in the regs really isn't that gray and the point is, if the animal falls in that "gray" area, don't shoot.

I saw the episode and there really is no debate, the guy should not have pulled the trigger.  I'm letting that bull walk 10 times out of 10.

[Curly]

One could argue that all antler points are above the ear.  But I think the intent of the wording is that they mean above the tip of the ear.

I saw the episode too and I do wish they would have explained the rule at the time because it did have 3 points.  I bet there were a lot of people that don't hunt elk that were wondering what was illegal about the guy shooting that "3 point".

I seem to always find things in Rugged Justice that I wish the narrator or some of the officers would clarify.

[highside74]

I don't understand the confusion or debate..  Most of us understand the intent of 3pt minimum is to allow younger bulls to mature.  If at all questionable, let him walk.  It really is a case of common sense and ethics.  If you are having to strain your eyes or judgment to determine legality, let him walk.  An ethical kill is a clear judgment as to whether the animal is legal.  In this case a clear branched point on the main beam above the ear and at least an eye guard 1" or longer.  The grey area in the regs really isn't that gray and the point is, if the animal falls in that "gray" area, don't shoot.

I saw the episode and there really is no debate, the guy should not have pulled the trigger.  I'm letting that bull walk 10 times out of 10.

Thank you

[cavemann]

I'm hearing you highside.

[JBar]

I don't understand the confusion or debate..  Most of us understand the intent of 3pt minimum is to allow younger bulls to mature.  If at all questionable, let him walk.  It really is a case of common sense and ethics.  If you are having to strain your eyes or judgment to determine legality, let him walk.  An ethical kill is a clear judgment as to whether the animal is legal.  In this case a clear branched point on the main beam above the ear and at least an eye guard 1" or longer.  The grey area in the regs really isn't that gray and the point is, if the animal falls in that "gray" area, don't shoot.

I saw the episode and there really is no debate, the guy should not have pulled the trigger.  I'm letting that bull walk 10 times out of 10.

Agreed caveman...but! How old are the majority of 3 point bull elk anyway? My guess would be most are 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 years old. If you're going to exclude brow tines on an elk in a 3 point area exclude the verbage that brow tines at least one inch are considered a POINT! If its considered a point by WDFW definition then "a spike that has 2 brow tines is a 3 point"! As far as common sense , the WDFW has none and does their best to make sure we can't use ours.
Hypothetically: If you were hunting in an ANY bull area and shot the bull in the picture what would you tell your friends you shot (keep in mind the definition of an antler point)?

[JBar]

How about this one?

[Curly]

How about this one?

One could argue that all points on his left side are above the ear. Could you not? 

[cavemann]

I come from the school of thought that there is an exception to every rule.  Those 2 certainly fall in that category.  For me, I'm letting them walk as to not have to hope a game warded and I agree on the "exception" on a mutated elk rack.  We can agree to disagree and hope that luck would not have it that those 2 elk are the only ones I'd have a shot at...  LOL.. 

[highside74]

Neither one of those bulls are legal in Washington state. I called the wdfw today and spoke to Brockton who is the elk specialist. My interpretation of the rule is correct.

Interestingly enough one of his reasons he gave for having the rule written the way it is was to keep young bulls that have beenot damaged in velvet and grew extra points because of the damage from being killed. Both of those pictures are prime examples of young bulls with damage.

[JBar]

I come from the school of thought that there is an exception to every rule.  Those 2 certainly fall in that category.  For me, I'm letting them walk as to not have to hope a game warded and I agree on the "exception" on a mutated elk rack.  We can agree to disagree and hope that luck would not have it that those 2 elk are the only ones I'd have a shot at...  LOL..

So you're not going to answer the hypothetical question...Got it! I'm not arguing the the interpretation of the 3 point rule maybe I'm not making that clear I'm arguing the fact that by definition a 1" brow tine is considered a point and SHOULD be counted towards the 3 point minimum. I hunt east side so I really don't have to worry about this rule LOL!

[TONTO]

 The spike  rule defines eye gard as originating less than four inches from the skull. Going by that I would say that above the ear is originating four inches above the skull.