How to Field Judge Antler Size

A good rack should extend out past the deer's ears

Field judging a buck deer's antler rack requires mentally adding the points declared by the official scorer. The number and length of the points or tines, height and width of the rack and overall mass of the antler's thickness add together to make a trophy head. Mule deer and blacktail deer have antlers that grow up with branching tines. Whitetail deer have all the tines growing off the main beam. The racks are considered in different terms for trophy status, but the areas of measurement are the same.

Things You'll Need

• Spotting scope
• Binoculars

Instructions

Mule Deer

1. Count the number of tines. A good rack has four or five tines per side, with deep forks indicating good tine lengths. Brow tines over 2 inches are extra points.

2. Calculate the spread of the rack. Ear spread on an alert mule deer is 20 to 22 inches. Look for a rack that extends past the tips of the ears. A spread over 24 inches is good, while 29 to 30 inches is in the trophy class.

3. Look at the height of the rack. Mule deer ears are 7 to 8 inches long; a rack that stands up above the ears is good.

4. Study the symmetry of the overall rack. The forks should be even, giving a mirrored image to both sides of the rack. When looked at straight on, the overall rack appears square; it extends past and above the ears.

5. Consider the mass of the antlers themselves, the thickness of the beams and forks. Circumference measurements are made around the antlers in several different areas. The thicker the antler bases -- and the heavier the forks and tines -- the more points it scores.

Whitetail Deer

1. Count the tines on each main beam; five tines per side is a good rack. The deer's ears are 6 to 7 inches long; compare tine length to the ears. Look for tines that are at least 10 inches long. Brow tines over 5 inches earn extra points.

2. Estimate the spread of the rack. The distance between the ears of an alert whitetail is 16 to 20 inches. Look for a rack that extends past the tips of the ears; a 24-inch spread is a good rack.

3. Study the symmetry of the overall rack. The two sides of the rack must be even with all the tines growing out the top of the beam. The rack spreads past the ears and appears uniform.

4. Consider the mass of the antler beams and tines. Circumference measurements are made on several areas of the antlers. Thin beams and tines lose points, while thick bases and tines earn more points.

5. Compare antlers if studying a herd of deer possessing more than one buck. Select the one showing the best rack. Make a careful study of the potential measurements.

Tips & Warnings

• Official measurements are made in inches, and are rounded to the nearest 1/8 inch. One inch equals one point, and final scores are in points.

• Typical racks grow normally with symmetrical antlers. Non-typical racks are antlers that grow abnormally. Scoring is different for each.

• Antler points and tines are the same thing.

• Remain motionless while studying a buck. Use optical aids to get a good look at the buck and not scare it away.

References

• "Hunting North America's Big Game;" Bob Hagel; 1986
• Boone and Crockett Club: Scoring Typical Mule Deer and Blacktail Deer
• Boone and Crockett Club: Scoring Typical Whitetail Deer