Measuring Up - Whitetails

Measuring Up – Big Game Scoring Part III

By Wayne Muth

Three Part Series on Scoring Pronghorn Antelope, Mule Deer,

and Whitetail Deer

               From the northern reaches of Canada, to the southern deserts of Mexico and across the continental United States, these is one big game animal more sought after than all others. This cunning and savvy deer has humbled the most knowledgeable hunters and harvesting a trophy buck I an accomplishment to be proud of.                                             

               This is the final article of a three part series on scoring the most popular big game animal on the continent, the whitetail deer.

               There are four basic measurements that are calculated for the total score:  Inside Spread, Main Beam Length, Point Length, and Circumferences.  Supplementary data such as greatest spread, total number of points on each side and tip-to-tip spread are also added to the score sheet, but only as identification purposes and not as part of the total score.   

               All measurements are taken with a 1/4” wide tape measure and/or cable and are list in eight’s of an inch.                                                                                                                                      

Inside Spread                                                                                                                                           

The inside spread is the measurement taken at the great inside distance from main beam to main beam. This must be taken parallel to the base of the horns and is best measured with a carpenter’s ruler with a sliding extension at one end and held at the center of each main beam. (Illustration A)  Record this measurement on Line D.                                                                                       Note: If the spread credit is greater than either of the two main beams, then enter the value of the length of the longer main beam in Column 1, Line D.  If one of the main beams is equal to or greater than the inside spread credit, then record the value of the inside spread in Column 1, Line D. The spread credit will only be determined after the main beam measurement.

Main Beams                                                                                                                                                                             Main beam length is measured from the lowest outside edge of the burr over the outer curve to the main beam end. This measurement begins at the outside center of the burr slightly off center of the eye socket and continues along the middle of the beam to the tip. Use either a one-quarter inch steel tape or measuring cable. (Illustration B) Right and left beam measurements are recorded on Line F.                                                                       

Determining Abnormal and Normal Points                                                                                         

Normal points are points that extend upwards from the top of the main beam.                                                
          Abnormal points are points located in a non-typical location, in short, any point projecting off another point or downward projecting must be treated as abnormal.
         Abnormal points can also be a point that is in a typical location (between normal points) but has no matching point on the other antler. This point upsets the          normal spacing and pairing of the remaining normal points, and if counted as typical this would penalize the antlers because of length differences. This rule does not apply to mismatched points at the tip end of the main beam. I have found the most difficult encounter when scoring whitetails is determining abnormal and normal points. If a rack has abnormal points, I view it from all sides, determine matching points and mark all abnormal points with colored tape.

Length of Points                                                                                                                                                                                     Determining Base Lines - Before starting to measure points on the set of antlers, we first must determine the base lines of both normal and abnormal points. To determine this, stretch your tape measure or cable at the base of each point in contour with the main beam. (Illustration C)  If any point arises off another point, mark your base line where that point begins. Make a pencil mark on the bottom of the cable or tape at the center of the base of each point.                                                                                                           

Point Length - The length of each point is then measured over the outside curve between the centerline of the point’s base and the tip. Using a tape measure simply hook the tape to the end of the point and follow the center of the point down to its base. (Illustration D)
(Remember:  To count as a point, the point must be at least one inch long and must exceed the width at some location on the point at least one inch down from its tip. In others words any triangular shape points having a wide base line and is shorter in length will not count as a point.) Measure each point starting with the brow point or G-1 and continue until all normal points are measured. Record these in the appropriate Columns on Lines G-1 through G-7 or however many points you have. The last point (beam tip) as not recorded again because it was measured as part of the main beam. Record any differences in the Difference Column.

               Abnormal Point Lengths - After all normal points are completed, measure each abnormal point in the same manner. Record each of these in the Abnormal Points box and add the total. This total measurement is recorded on Line E.  

Circumferences                                                                                                                                                      

All antlers must have four circumference measurements taken.   Circumferences should be taken with a ring end steel tape. Do not use a cable. The standard measurements are taken at the smallest place between the following locations on typical whitetail. Record these in the appropriate Column and Line. (Illustration E)

H -1  - Smallest place between the burr and the first point G-1. If the G-1 point is missing, take the smallest measurement between the burr and the second normal point G-2. This measurement is recorded in both the H-1 and H-2 lines.

                       H -2  -  Smallest place between the first point
                        and second normal point.

                       H -3  -  Smallest place between the second and third normal points.

                       H -4 -  Smallest place between the third and fourth normal points.

Many whitetails have less than five points on a side. In these circumstances, a line must be drawn at a right angle to the axis of the beam in the center of the last normal point. From this line, measure to the end of the main beam, at the halfway mark is where the circumference measurements are taken. If the fourth point is missing, this will be the H-4 measurement. If the third and fourth point is missing, this will be the H-3 and    H-4 measurement. Record any differences in the Differences Column.

Final Score 

Typical Total - Calculate the total by adding Columns 1, 2 and 3. Then subtract Column 4.     This is your Final Score.                                                

Non-Typical Total - Calculate the total by adding Columns 1,2 and 3. Then subtract Column 4. Next you add the total of abnormal points       - Line E. This is your Final Score.

       * To qualify for in the non-typical category the antlers must score higher         from the minimum than as a typical.                                                                                                                                                                                                           Minimum Scores for Record Book Entry

                           Pope and Young         Boone and Crockett       Longhunters Society

               Typical          125                               170                            130

               Non-Typical   150                               195                            160                                                                                                             

Whitetails are easy and fun to measure but can be very challenging when you have a non-typical with many points. Putting a tape to these large whitetails truly makes a person respect this majestic animal.

As a Pope and Young measurer, I have been fortunate to score many trophy animals. When bowhunting with my Mathews bow, I reflect back on these great trophies, dreaming of the opportunity to one-day harvest the trophy of a lifetime and give the animal the respect it truly deserves by entering it in the record books. 

This completes the Three Part Series on scoring pronghorn antelope, mule deer and the whitetail deer. Many questions may arise from the variations of animals we encounter, by following the score sheet; most can be solved without problems. Regardless of trophy size, knowing the score makes us better at field judging the animals we pursue. By understanding these basics of measuring we can also manage our hunting areas to allow them to produce larger, trophy animals.

To enter a trophy in the record books, it is required to be scored by an official measurer and a sixty-day drying period from the time of harvest must have passed. A list of official measurers can be obtained through Fishing Buddy Outdoors or through your local Game and Fish Departments.