Buck Scoring...Need help.

[Napalm68]

Howdy

     Drew Desert A this year and my biggest worry is knowing whether or not the deer I may or may not choose to drop is a good choice. I've been hunting the Okanogan/Oroville area for the last 9 years and the largest Muley I have seen the is the 4x4 that I dropped about 5 years ago which was nice, but was no monster.  I keep hearing stories of mammoth Mulies in the area but have not experience in scoring.

Is there a good deer scoring resource for Mulies that any of you can suggest for me?  I  am starting to scout this week and I would love to have a good idea what I am looking at out there. 

Thanks!

[boneaddict]

Lets start by.....
Whats a trophy to you or what are your goals?  Is there one thing about a rack you like better or not.  the desert has alot of variety, but is one place where width can be found in this state.  Keep that in mind. 
There are lots of pics and scoring threads on here.  Take for a grain of salt what some folks say about scores, but you cna have a good idea of what to expect in Washington. 

[huntnphool]

I keep hearing stories of mammoth Mulies in the area but have not experience in scoring.

 If you see a "mammoth" you will know it and wont have to worry about scoring. There are so many variables its really a tough question. You can get a general idea by starting with the ears and comparing the spread, a very important part of the score. Large deer will be up to about 24" but in Washington a 20"-22" ear spread will be the norm on a decent buck, you can make most of your other guestimates from there.

 I wouldn't worry about the score if you have only harvested one 4x4 in the past, just find a good buck and drop him, score him up later

 

[boneaddict]

A desert a buck.  Nice buck as any are, but probably would want something much bigger.  This is about the size that gets dumped out there ALOT.  Mostly because its what is out in the open, an age class that isn't brilliant yet, and when moving and the adrenaline is pumping, people start blazing.
  

[boneaddict]

Does this excite you?  Can you  do better?  Yes there are better ones out there.  If I got within bow range though. THUMP......His score sufferes because he is opposites on his forks.  You only get credit for the smallest ones. 

[huntnphool]

His score sufferes because he is opposites on his forks.  You only get credit for the smallest ones.

Huh?

[boneaddict]

You're kiddin right.
If you have a weak g3 on one side and a big one on the other, you only get credit for smallest measurement.  Same with fornt forks.  If you have a huge fork on one side, but a little crab on the other, you only get points for the biggest.  The buck pictured above has a nice fork on one back but a weak on on the other.  Then again on his fronts.   If you are hunting for score only, I assume you are after Net score as its the only one that counts in any book.  (whether nets are for fish or not)  Gross really gets you no where and you are better off shooting a buck that is appealing to you anyway. Which is what I would do anyhow.

[huntnphool]

Last time I checked you get credit for points on both sides.

[Bigshooter]

Last time I checked you get credit for points on both sides.

For a gross score.  Not a net score.

[huntnphool]

For a gross score.  Not a net score.

Nets are for fishing, Bone scores for net and I score for gross I guess.

[blacktailer]

Great thread and great comments Bone.  I also agree.  The big ones are just big and when you see one, don't worry about the score and start shooting!!!.  Regarding score, it is simply a number to most people that don't understand what it takes to derive at the score.    Go out and kill a buck that you would be happy with hanging on your wall.  There are guys on here, including myself, that would be tckeled to death with a 140-150 class buck.  Others have that number more in the 170-180 range.  If it doesn't net 190 (which is highly unlikely) it really doesn't matter.  Nets are for fish for some guys, but when it comes to Boone & Crockett, which many consider the foundation for trophy scoring and record keeping, nets are everything.  Bone, I like the picture of the buck with the "reverse forks"  It is a good reference photo for trying to explain how a critter is only as good as his weaker point/side; that is when it comes to a "net score"

[jackelope]

For a gross score.  Not a net score.

Nets are for fishing, Bone scores for net and I score for gross I guess.

i think bone is actually pretty big on gross and giving the buck credit for what he grew...what he was saying was for the book scores...which is net.

[boneaddict]

Basically thats it, thanks Blacktailer.  Generally if anyone is interested in the books or a specific score, Net is the only thing that matters.  Often times it means nothing.  Like the buck I just harvested.  I knew for a fact it wouldn't score crap, yet it was a trophy in my book for several reasons.  If Napalm is interested in only score, then net is really the only one that matters.  We haven't heard from him yet specifically what he is after. 

[stringflinger4elk]

Dang I can't see these photo's from work computer. 

[BLKBEARKLR]

Dang I can't see these photo's from work computer. 

WOW Really??? You do not know what you are missing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CoryTDF]

you should just mount the tag! It is a trophy in and of itself. Good luck getting a big one!!

[Napalm68]

Yea....the tag will most definately be mounted. 

This is the buck that I dropped  a couple of years ago.  Could not figure out how to insert it so i just attached the photo to the post. 
 

Largets buck that I had personally seen brought out of the area in the years that I have been hunting around Oroville.  Pretty heavily hunted though.

Would have a hard time passing one like him up in the Desert A.

[Bigshooter]

If that's all you are looking for should be a 1 day hunt from the truck.

[Napalm68]

Kind of why I started this thread.  Have not hunted any other GMU's and I worry about pulling the trigger too early.  I'm not the kind of hunter that is in a hurry.

[Bigshooter]

If you are not in a hurry then shop around for a few days.  This is one of the better hunts in the state.  With a little effort you should be able to kill a buck like the second buck bone posted or bigger.

[boneaddict]

Take 5 days and hunt your heart out.  If you see something over 30 inches, or has more than about 7 points a side, dump him and enjoy.  Figure out what you have seen after 5 days of the best hunting with little hunting pressure in your life.  ENJOY IT, you'll never draw it again.  After that, figure out what you would "settle" for and then take it.  You can see 20 bucks a day that are as big as the one you posted if you are vigilant.  Have fun!

[h2ofowlr]

When it's way past it's ears on both sides, you will definately have a mounter mule deer.

[Lowedog]

One thing to consider in that unit is the deer are big bodied and you may be deceived a little thinking the rack is smaller than it is.  Not uncommon for a mature buck to have the tips of it's ears at 24" +.  

-Lowedog

[markts]

If you see the buck of your dreams what difference does any score mean. Mark (That second pic Bone posted is always in my dreams )

[boneaddict]

and just for the record Napalm, though this buck doesn't meet either of those two criteria I mentioned. 
SHOOT!

[Napalm68]

Got it.   Hopefully I can put  myself in a good place for that.

Have a buddy I hunt with that works in the farming supply business that tells me he will be able to get me permission to hunt on several farm areas in that gmu.  Still waiting for his call.....

[Ridgerunner]

Enjoy the tag, do lots of window shopping unless you see an absolute toad like the one bone just posted, finding a deer like teh one you shot and you'll be done in an hour.   I'd spend at least 3 or 4 days just enjoying it then pull the trigger on one you like. Its a hunting experience like no other in this state.

[georgia redneck]

Well I would score that buck WITH the eye guards :jacked:heeeheeeheeee!

[stringflinger4elk]

Ok I checked these out from home and now I know what you are talking about.
Not real impressive though anyone got any better pictures from the desert?

I had a Quilimene tag back in 02 and the dear I saw on the ranches just below and on the way up that were on private property were bigger than this.  made my mouth drool but I had to go higher up to be on public ground.

I have the Desert D this year I have seen some massive sheds my buddy and I that drew this year as individuals mind you have picked some up in the potholes while bowfishing as we cruise around we usually find them on the islands that are probably land accessible by that time of year when they drop and we find them the next spring/ early summer including some complete skulls probably deer dying from old age I'd guess. but they are huge. I guess I was expecting more length on that 4x4 after what I've seen first hand unless he is just average to run of the mill out there.
 

[PacificNWhunter]

That's a stud buck bone 

[stringflinger4elk]

sorry bone that last picture of yours I didn't see a second ago that is way more like it!!!!
 seen plenty of sheds and deer on the hoof like that    

[boneaddict]

I was like Dang dude....you are hardcore. LOL

[stringflinger4elk]

might be going out soon for the duck season opener. I will get my fix on big antler drooling trying to acclimate like climbers on Mt. Everest with all those big deer out there. Hopefully I won't let one fly on a little guy after I build up my immunity.