How to Measure the Shed Antlers on a Whitetail Deer

Typical male whitetail deer

Whitetail deer males typically shed their antlers during the months of January to March according to the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology's Animal Diversity Web. A shed antler can be measured using the universal scoring system put in place by the Boone and Crockett Club in the early 1950s.

Things You'll Need

• 1/4 inch flexible steel measuring tape
• Pencil and paper

Instructions

1. Firmly hold your 1/4 inch steel measuring tape at the base of the antler. Stretch along the main beam of the antler to the point. You may use a flexible steel cable for this measurement to allow you greater accuracy. Record to the nearest 1/8 inch.

2. Holding the antler, measure the G1 tine from the nearest base of the point to the tip of the point. The G1 is also known as the "brow" tine, is typically the shortest and is located just off of the base of the antler. Always make sure to measure on the inside of the point. Repeat this measurement for each available tine, not including the point of the main beam. For example the G2 and G3 tine would be measured on a typical eight point deer. The G2 is the tine closest to the G1 on the same antler, the G3 being the next in order. Record to the nearest 1/8 inch.

3. List in a separate column the total length of any abnormal points to the nearest 1/8 inch.

4. Locate the burr at the base of the antler. The burr is the mass at the base of the antler where the antler connects to the skull. Take a circumference measurement at the narrowest point between the burr and the G1. This is known as your H measurements. If the G1 is missing, you can take the H1 and H2 measurement at the smallest point between the burr and the G2 tine. Record to nearest 1/8 inch.

5. Take a circumference measurement between the G2 and G3 tines, as well as the G3 and G4 tines. If the G4 tine is missing, locate the halfway mark between the G3 tine and the tip of the main beam and measure there. This will complete you H measurements. Record to the nearest 1/8 inch.

6. Add all of your measurements except the abnormal points. Subtract the total of the abnormal points measurements from the total of your typical measurements. This will get you your final score.

Tips & Warnings

• Measuring shed antlers by each side will differ from measuring antlers still attached to the skull. There are two additional measurements when measuring antlers still attached. You will want to measure the greatest inside spread between the two antlers, as well as the distance between the tips of the main beams.

• You will not get an accurate measurement for your inside spread or tip distance with shed antlers.

References

• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web
• Boone and Crockett Club: Scoring your whitetail deer