The massive buck on the left
comes in with a final net score
of 164 3/8, while his younger
counterpart has a final net
score of 159 4/8. These two
deer, while dramatically dif-
ferent specimens, end up with
net scores that are separated
by only 4 7/8 inches. The eye
test tells us that, while both
are nice bucks in their own
right, these two deer definite-
ly don’t belong in the same
conversation. Again, the sys-
tem just isn’t designed for the
heavy deer to score as well as
he looks. Does it make him less
our score for each misspelled
word. For example, did you
know that if the main beams
on a mule deer buck are longer
than the spread is wide, you
only get credit on your spread
that is equal to but doesn’t
exceed the length of the main
beam? It says so directly on
the spread sheet: SPREAD
CREDIT MAY EQUAL BUT
NOT EXCEED LONGER MAIN
BEAM. So, a buck with 20-inch
main beams and a 25-inch in-
side spread automatically los-
es 5 inches. Pictured here are
two bucks that illustrate how
differently this scoring system
can affect each individual ani-
mal’s score.
While both are nice bucks,
it is extremely apparent that
these two are not created
equal. The incredible deer
on the left supports a spread
of 30 inches while carrying
extreme mass and is a buck
that most hunters dream of.
He is a mature, healthy spec-
imen with quality genetics; a
testament to the principles
that the fine gentlemen at
Boone and Crockett set in
place some 70 years ago. But
alas, this buck is like a sumo
wrestler asked to be a ballet
dancer. He is an extremely
impressive specimen who
simply doesn’t fit well in the
system parameters. His mas-
sive main beams are 20 2/8
and 21 7/8, while his inside
spread of main beams is 27
0/8, remember, spread credit
may equal but not exceed lon-
ger than the main beam mea-
surement, so right off the bat
he doesn’t get credit for 5 1/8
inches. Point length accounts
for a whopping 44 percent of
a mule deer’s overall score,
whereas mass credit comes
in at 18 percent, so while his
mass looks extremely impres-
sive, it doesn’t add up nearly
as quickly as a buck with long
thin points would.
The eye test tells us that these two bucks were not created equal, but the numbers tell us a different story.
Educating yourself on the scoring system is key to understanding how it works.
of a trophy? Should the hunter
feel a sense of shame when he
tells people what he scores?
The answers to these questions
are different for everyone. For
me, the answer is simple, “heck
no!”
It is important for you as a
hunter in this fast-paced new
hunting culture to actually put
some thought into what the
concept of score means to you.
The most important thing I can
recommend is to increase your
education. Print out a score-
sheet and practice scoring.
Would you tell Michael Jordan
how to shoot a free throw if
you had never shot one your-
self ? Second, and arguably
every bit as important as ed-
ucation, is perspective. Each
hunter, each hunt, and each
animal is different, keep your
perspective on whether score
is an important factor to you.
Like the sportsmen and wom-
en who came before us, let’s
remember that the ultimate
goal is to promote healthy and
productive herds with quality
genetics that we can sustain
and admire for generations to
come. WHJ
www.westernhuntingjournal.com
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