How often are mule deer eye guards greater than 1"?

[huntnphool]

Sadly, there are a lot of people that will shoot a small 2x2 and claim the eye guard as the third point. Maybe it's just me, but that drives me crazy.

 You are not alone, welcome to the site.

Is it ok if it's a big 2 point with an eyeguard?

 That would be a matter of opinion. IMO size is relative and to each his own, a "mature" 2 point with or without a brow tine should be legal.

[cavemann]

I've seen a few near dirty face that were wide, tall and mature deer...  Huge forks and I was trying to put eye gaurds on them for quite sometime but couldn't see them..  I definitely would have pulled the trigger if they were visible and not in doubt.  The one would have been the tallest and widest rack I have.

[Dan-o]

If they didn't want brow tines to count as points they could have easily written the regs that way

I have no issue with someone shooting a legal buck.

[JBar]

Sadly, there are a lot of people that will shoot a small 2x2 and claim the eye guard as the third point. Maybe it's just me, but that drives me crazy.

 You are not alone, welcome to the site.

Is it ok if it's a big 2 point with an eyeguard?

 That would be a matter of opinion. IMO size is relative and to each his own, a "mature" 2 point with or without a brow tine should be legal.

Totally agree with a mature 2 pt reduction, unfortunately people will try to pass off a small or medium size 2 pt as mature. Hard to regulate even though it should be common sense.

[RB]

If they didn't want brow tines to count as points they could have easily written the regs that way

I have no issue with someone shooting a legal buck.

 

[couesbitten]

Are any of them two points?

No, they are all at least four points per side.

[Rainier10]

I would say between myself, my wife and my daughters we have shot about 20-25 mule deer bucks in the last 15 years.  All of them have been 3pts or better, most have been 4pts and 60-70% of those have had eye guards bigger than one inch.

My thought process is always make sure it is at least three without the brow tine then you are good to go.  I will say that most that I have seen an eye guard on at 100 yards ended up being over 1" long.  Some that I have come up on that I didn't think had an eye guard actually did but it was under 1".

All of the above is just for reference and is no way meant to suggest if you can see an eye guard at 100 yards it is an inch long.  Making that call in the field is 100% your responsibility and I would suggest that you error on the side of caution and not take the shot.

[WAcoueshunter]

I don't disagree that a lot of 3+ point bucks have 1" eye guards (making them 4+ points under the regs).  I don't think anyone is.  The OP is concerned about 2 points and relying on the eye guard to be a legal third point.  That's pretty rare. 

[Rainier10]

I don't disagree that a lot of 3+ point bucks have 1" eye guards (making them 4+ points under the regs).  I don't think anyone is.  The OP is concerned about 2 points and relying on the eye guard to be a legal third point.  That's pretty rare.

Fortunately for me I have been lucky to not have to worry about if a small two point has an eye guard big enough to make him legal.

I have had to pass some really big two points that I just couldn't put an eye guard on and man I would have really liked to have been able to get them to grow one real quick. 

[OutHouse]

In my experience, a 3/4 inch eye guard (vertical measurement to the beam) measured along the longest edge will almost always be 1 inch or more. I talked to a game warden around Yakima about this and he agreed and said if he were to measure he would choose the longest side and then run his flexible measuring tape down that side until it hit the main beam. He said that usually adds a lot more to the length than people expect. I guess it depends on how they measure but the slightest curve along the edge of the eye guard adds a lot to its length. Best to be cautious though. Here is a nasty two point I stared down last year. I wish he had an eye guard would have dumped him.

[Rainier10]

I will add this as well.  During hunter safety class I preach to always pass a questionable shot if you have any doubt of legality, safety or ethics of the shot.  It will only be your last chance if you take it.  If you pass there will most likely be another chance.

With that in mind, whenever I see smaller buck I immediately start dissecting the immediate area.  More times than not there is a larger buck close by that just hasn't made himself as obvious as the younger buck. 

[DOUBLELUNG]

Last year I let a small 2x2 with one eyeguard walk, and ended with tag soup.  I'm pretty sure it would have probably measured 1", but too close to risk it.  Probably easier for me than some, as I've seen the pain and anguish a couple thousand dollars fine and restitution cause for killing a 2-point buck - and I've driven those seized carcasses to the homeless shelter to be donated.  If it's any consolation, those homeless guys are absolutely ecstatic to lay hands on a nice deer or elk and cut it up - they say it's the best meat they ever get.

[boneaddict]

Simple enough.   Shoot!

[huntnphool]

Here are 3 different two points.

 The first is the type of buck I see killed about every year. I seriously doubt the nubs are a inch, yet guys take chances with these type of decisions. It would be nice to see guys look at the rest of the buck and realize even if one of those were a inch, they should pass anyway.

 The second is likely a year, older. The brow he has I would bet is at least a inch. He looks to have knobby bases and poor genes, take this buck out all day long.

 The third is clearly a mature buck but is only a two point. I'd love to see WDFW create a permit targeting these type of bucks.

[PastorJoel]

I'd love to see WDFW create a permit targeting these type of bucks.

That sounds hard to regulate.