Thirty Inch debate (poll)

[7mmfan]

I have always measured the widest inside spread. This years buck measured almost exactly 27" between the 2 matching points. I actually measured all kinds of different angles, and that was still the widest point.

It seems if you only measured main beams, you'd be selling him short most of the time.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Maximum outside spread!

[SureThing]

I’m impressed with all the different answers. I always assumed that everyone measured the same way since Boone and Crocket and Pope n Young defined how to measure the spread. Honestly i believe a trophy is in the eye of the beholder. My goal is to spot and stalk a true 30” and make a clean kill at least one mile from the truck. I want to feel like i put some skin in the game. I hold out for mature bucks and keep practicing on the smaller ones so when i get the chance it will work out well. Until then, when i describe my deer it will be widest inside spread western count.  I value the hunt and effort i put into the hunt more than deer’s measurement. 

[coachcw]

what ever it takes even if you have to split the skull plate .....just like stepping on a fish .

[boneaddict]

 

[Dan-o]

what ever it takes even if you have to split the skull plate .....just like stepping on a fish .

LOL

I see you've hunted and fished with my older brother.

[Whitenuckles]

I voted who cares..... that's bigger than any mulie I've ever had a chance at!!! I'd take him no questions asked. A truly amazing buck!

[baldopepper]

Years ago Wolfes sporting goods in Salt Lake had an annual widest spread contest, first place was a new jeep.  They always used a sliding box that they put the spread in and slid the one side of the box until it stopped. Basically using the widest spread including cheaters.  One fellow won it a couple of years in a row and finally he no longer entered. Rumor had it that he was actually soaking the horns in some sort of solution and spreading them out. They did actually look really weird and a lot of us questioned where they came from. Supposedly Wolfes was too embarrassed to admit the problem and just barred him from entering again. (usually took a spread of over 40" to win and winners were announced on a special TV show on a local station) I think they had a total of 30 prizes with 2nd place usually a nice rifle, my brother took 2nd one year with a 37" spread.

[boneaddict]

I’ve seen a lot of them. I have the book Utah’s biggest bucks and bulls.   I can see why they don’t do big buck contests anymore. A Jeep is pretty good incentive to do bad things.    Some of those looked like longhorns.   I have seen one that naturally did that though.  He was about a 35-40inch two point.  Bumped him two different days never got his picture

[baldopepper]

Funny thing is a lot of the winners were shot by first time hunters who just got lucky.  Guy who beat my brother out shot his deer about 10 minutes outside of Salt Lake while he was sitting about 100 yards from his car eating lunch.  Place he shot it is now a golf course. What's the old saying? "Better to be lucky than good".

[Skillet]

Every wide mule deer is measured as a 30'er in one way or another.

28", trash included = "almost 30"
29", trash included = "probably 30 before he dried"
30", trash included = "Honest to God 30!!!"
30" frame = "30 frame, plus some trash" -

Anything over a 30" frame is just "frame plus trash." Gotta stay humble 

[2MANY]

Some deer are a legit 30" widest inside spread and 30" out to out on the cheaters.
Weird but true.

[BULLBLASTER]

How many bucks with a legitimate 30 inside spread actually get the full spread credit? Should it have to be able to score with 30+ spread credit to count as a legit 30 incher?

[2MANY]

Nets are for fish.

[Rainier10]

How many bucks with a legitimate 30 inside spread actually get the full spread credit? Should it have to be able to score with 30+ spread credit to count as a legit 30 incher?

My guess is none but I would love to see a deer with a 30" main beam and a 30" inside spread.