Field Judging

Taking a record trophy requires three things. Although, this may sound somewhat ridiculous, the most important thing about finding that trophy buck is hunting where the big bucks are. You could hunt a life time in an area and never see a true record-book buck. So, first of all, find an area that produces record animals. Do your homework on the areas you are considering hunting. If the minerals, genetics, and feed are not right in an area, it will never produce a trophy book animal.

The second thing is to not shoot the first muley that comes along and wait for a trophy.

The third is knowing how to judge a trophy when in the field.

Here a few helpful hints to help you better judge that big mule deer so you can bag a big one.

1. Look for a boxy appearance. Most typical trophy bucks’ antlers will look square.

2. The antlers should be at least as tall, or taller. than one half the inside spread of the deer's rack.

3. The inside spread of the deer’s rack must be as wide as the deer's ears or wider. Look for one with at least an 18-inch inside spread. An average mule deer’s ears are usually around 20" inches tip to tip. If the inside spread is 24-26" with long symmetrical points, it should score over 170.

One note of warning, the ears will not be as wide when alert or on a sneak.

Try to judge the animal from different views before shooting. The view from one side can be deceiving. From the front, check to see whether the first fork on each side is out beyond the ears.

4. Look for long, symmetrical tines for a typical mule deer trophy. Any differences in the measurements will be subtracted. Very few mule deer will make the record books if they have only three points a side. To do so they would have to have very long, tines.

5. Heavy beams will add a little to the score, but the beam circumference usually does not add enough to make much of a difference. Keep in mind the racks look bigger in velvet.

To sharpen your judging techniques Get around as many racks or mounts as possible. Measure as many as possible. Try and judge animals in books, magazines, and videos. The more you can get accustomed to what you are looking for in a trophy the faster you can size up that buck before it disappears.

The following are some general guidelines on how a typical record mule deer is scored for acceptance in the record books. Refer to the Boone & Crocket Record Book or Pope and Young Record Book for complete instructions.

The Minimum Rifle Boone and Crocket score for typical mule deer is: 180 for awards and 190 for all time. The minimum archery Pope & Young score is 145. An average 200 B&C buck would have an average inside spread of 25 inches and the average length of beams would be 26 to 27 inches. An average 195 B&C would have an average inside spread of 22 inches and the average length of main beams would be 24 inches. These are merely guidelines. Actual scores may differ.

Actual Measurement/Boone & Crocket Entry

Mule Deer Final Score:	225 6/8
Inside Spread of Main Beams:	30 7/8
Length of Main Right Beam:	30 1/8
Length of Main Left Beam:	28 6/8
Total Deductions:	- 6 7/8

GENERAL GUIDLINES:

Add the following measurements:

1.	Spread Credit: The inside spread of main beams.
2.	Total of lengths of all abnormal points.
3.	Length of main beams, both sides.
4.	Length of each point, on each side.
5.	Circumference of smallest space between points.

Subtract any differences between measurements:

6.	Spread deduction: The inside spread of the main beams may not exceed the length of the longest antler. If it does, the difference is subtracted.
7.	Antler length deductions: Any difference between left and right point length is deducted.
8.	Circumference Deductions: Deductions for differences in circumference.

Once all subtractions are made, final number is your B&C or P&Y score.

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