What makes a big buck

[hunter399]

Check out this shooter.
Still packing last year antler.
Unicorn baby.
Sometimes it's not the size,but the trash on the side.

[time2hunt]

Field judging deer is a hard thing to due.

When you've sized up bucks on the hoof and then later was able to put your hands on them what has been your most misjudged feature?

@boneaddict
@Karl Blanchard
@time2hunt

Mass is a must!!!  then you need that main frame/beam then it’s tine lengths g2-g4 and those need to be 10 inches plus to get you anywhere close to 170. As for me it’s usually tine length that the hardest to judge. At 300 yard 7 inch and 10 inches is hard to tell but but is a huge deal when you 2-3 inches off on 6 measurements. Those magical 180 buck drop to 165 real quick.


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[jjhunter]

I think when a deer gets a 180” frame is when they look/are big. 

[boneaddict]

Field judging deer is a hard thing to due.

When you've sized up bucks on the hoof and then later was able to put your hands on them what has been your most misjudged feature?

@boneaddict
@Karl Blanchard
@time2hunt

I suspect main beam is the hardest and mistakes add up or deduct quickly.  It’s also tied with spread credit so need to pay attention. 
Somebody mentioned crabs.   Need to pay attention to the weak forks.  Score is only as good as it’s weakest spot

[hunter399]

Field judging deer is a hard thing to due.

When you've sized up bucks on the hoof and then later was able to put your hands on them what has been your most misjudged feature?

@boneaddict
@Karl Blanchard
@time2hunt

I suspect main beam is the hardest and mistakes add up or deduct quickly.  It’s also tied with spread credit so need to pay attention. 
Somebody mentioned crabs.   Need to pay attention to the weak forks.  Score is only as good as it’s weakest spot

What about the buck in my avatar .
What does he score?
What say you.

[kentrek]

Field judging deer is a hard thing to due.

When you've sized up bucks on the hoof and then later was able to put your hands on them what has been your most misjudged feature?

@boneaddict
@Karl Blanchard
@time2hunt

Mass is a must!!!  then you need that main frame/beam then it’s tine lengths g2-g4 and those need to be 10 inches plus to get you anywhere close to 170. As for me it’s usually tine length that the hardest to judge. At 300 yard 7 inch and 10 inches is hard to tell but but is a huge deal when you 2-3 inches off on 6 measurements. Those magical 180 buck drop to 165 real quick.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

For me it's the mass that tosses off the time length judgement and then the body size will mess with the mass judgement...i struggle at official field judging and have been 10% off pretty consistent lol in a snap i stick to age, junky bases, having the weaknesses and strengths cancele each other out...hard to have much weak when over 190s but if it does it needs to be balanced out by somthing exceptional...if the goal is somthing big I find the weaknesses 1st...if it the goal is somthing decent I look for the strengths 1st

[boneaddict]

Until I get a better look, I'd say 140s

[hunter399]

Until I get a better look, I'd say 140s

That's spot on I think.
Just an average 4x4.
Bone ,what does the buck in your avatar score out. Alot of trash on that guy.

[hunter399]

I think when a deer gets a 180” frame is when they look/are big.

What does that buck score in your avatar.
If you don't mind me asking.
I've never had a buck scored,or scored a buck,
Just pictures and sports shows and stores where it shows the score.

I also want to say it's bigger than it looks,cause your sitting next to it.
And not two arm length behind it.

[boneaddict]

Big!   You know I never sat down with a scoresheet. 
When you run out of fingers and toes to count points, its probably a shooter. LOL

That one would probably take a panel of judges

[Karl Blanchard]

Field judging deer is a hard thing to due.

When you've sized up bucks on the hoof and then later was able to put your hands on them what has been your most misjudged feature?

@boneaddict
@Karl Blanchard
@time2hunt

I suspect main beam is the hardest and mistakes add up or deduct quickly.  It’s also tied with spread credit so need to pay attention. 
Somebody mentioned crabs.   Need to pay attention to the weak forks.  Score is only as good as it’s weakest spot

I'd eco this as well. I fancy myself as having a pretty good eyecrometer at this point in my life. I've been fortunate enough to measure many heads, probably 150 or more and almost always guys over judge on main beams and a close second is mass, though mass makes up far less of a deers score than length (even though mass is one of the coolest characteristics of a big deer). I'd say the vast majority of 150-170 deer I've measured have had 20-23" main beams.

The difference between an average deer and a heavy deer is literally like 2" per side, but short mains can have a catastrophic effect on total score. We took a buck in CO a few years back that was an absolutely perfect typical 4x4 but he only had 18" main beams and no eye guards. Grossed 182 missing all those attributes. If he had even moderate mains and eye guards he would have surely booked.

The stuff that trips me up is the crazy long stuff. The stuff that makes you think "no way can that be that long". Like 22" G2's etc. I ALWAYS judge conservatively though so it's usually a surprise for the better.

Field judging isn't rocket science, it's just math. Most guys seem to shoot from the hip when it comes to Field judging. "He looks 170 all day". Well he may look it but do the math. 5 length measurements,  4 mass measurements, and a spread credit (not to exceed the longest main beam). Simple as that. Error on the conservative side. I don't even try and guess main beam length anymore I just give em 22" on a mature buck when Field judging and you'll never be disappointed.

I think when a deer gets a 180” frame is when they look/are big. 

So true. They just don't even look like a real animal when they get that big. No brainer shooter.

[boneaddict]

 

Exactly.   Thats a great point about mass.   and toss in, its always measured at the smallest spot

[Karl Blanchard]

That buck in your avatar is 130 hunter399

[boneaddict]

THe newest trick besides long arming is the angle with a cellphone camera.  They do great about enhancing "depth perception and size"     I'll be very vague as to not upset anybody, but there was a nice buck that showed up on here this year and everyone was through the roof on size.   I dont think they paid much attention to ear length, etc.    I'd still love to see that buck in person or the scoresheet because eventhough I thought it was a nice deer, I think it got blown out of the park in score.   Curiosity wasnt worth raining on someone's parade even though the question was legit.   So beware of the cell phone pic.   

[hunter399]

That buck in your avatar is 130 hunter399

I shoot 130 bucks all day.
Big is different for everyone.