Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: get one leakin on September 02, 2011, 09:34:25 AM
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Im sure someone has already started this thread on here but what is the consensus on field judging elk. Not a fool proof BC scoreing system, just a method to quickly judge a bull before he leaves the country. We hunt a lot of deer and theres a few things that you can look at quickly and know shooter from let him walk. On elk im not so sure... Is it tine length, width, main beam length? I know a rag horn from a decent bull but just a decent bull (under 300) to a really exceptional one?? The little ones and the really big ones are easy to tell, its the in between ones....
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I use the Holy Chit method! works good.
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Tine length, mass are the basics I guess. I personally like the holy SChit factor as well. I usually categorize them.....less than 300, 320,330, etc. similiar to categorizing muledeer. If you stare at enough of them and get your hands on enough of them, you get pretty accurate at classifying them.
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Big azz 4th (royal, dagger, sword tine) and 5th tines. Unless something's broken or non-typical, 20"+ 4ths and 12+" 5ths will almost always be 320+.
If you are talking B&C eligible big, the Holy Schlit method works.
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This method is about foolproof.... http://jayscottoutdoors.blogspot.com/2010/10/field-judging-elk-western-hunter.html (http://jayscottoutdoors.blogspot.com/2010/10/field-judging-elk-western-hunter.html) :tup:
I can usually come within 5" or so...
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i use the washington state regs to to judge mine... 3pt min or antlerless its going down
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I hunt the westside so it's 1,2,3 bang. Unless you have a draw tag I shoot the first legal bull I see and go home happy.
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Quick answer for me is the length of the third. If the third is as long as the 4th and it is a really mature bull, not just a new 6x6, then shoot.
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holly chit , huge threes and fours nothing broke , bust him.
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first things is your first impression of overall physical size and mass. If it looks big and heavy, it probably is. Then length of main beam, if it reaches well past the shoulders, it's big. Then comes the tine lengths. Look for 15" min. thru the G3's, 18-20" daggers and well defined, deep whale tale and you are over the 300 mark easily. For most guys, the "oh chit" method is fool proof!
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That link had some really good info on judging Bulls. Also as most of the other guys said, you know when hes really big. I usually look at the 5s to try to determine if hes mature or not. Where were goin you dont shoot raghorns or you packers might dissapear...
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bump
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I field judge by counting points. One on his right side.... one on the left.... He is legal! :chuckle:
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That link had some really good info on judging Bulls. Also as most of the other guys said, you know when hes really big. I usually look at the 5s to try to determine if hes mature or not. Where were goin you dont shoot raghorns or you packers might dissapear...
That's how I do it. My eyes go straight to the G5s. If they are long, it's a mature bull.
If I have time, then I look at the brows and how long they are compared to his nose. Then I look at the 3rds. Thirds are a genetic thing, and honestly, you find a lot of good bulls with crappy 3rds.
A guy 2 camps over from us killed a 350+ bull the night before last that only had 4 inch 3rds. I look for tops and brows first. :twocents:
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Personally, my bull was a "that'll do!" situation
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I use the Holy Chit method! works good.
:yeah:
