How Big is That Summer Buck, Really?

by
posted on July 22, 2017
summer_bucks_f.jpg

You see a buck, antlers slathered in velvet, across a field on a humid late-summer evening and think it looks staggeringly big. But the velvet, the buck’s skinny summer neck and the warm glow of light can lead to gross exaggeration in your mind.

When field-judging a buck’s score on the Boone and Crockett scale, you need to calm down and look closely at specifics: the length of the tines, the inside spread of the main beams, the circumference (mass) of the beams at four locations and the length of the beams. It helps to practice by judging mounted heads; come to an approximate score then compare your estimate to the known score to gauge your accuracy.

Here are four ways to quickly judge a buck’s real proportions. These work anytime; just remember velvet can add the appearance of extra length and mass that will be gone come fall.

The average whitetail buck, when its ears are alert, has an ear tip-to-tip spread of about 16 inches. If its beams are just outside its perked ears, the inside spread of its antlers is around 18 inches.

A buck’s ears typically measure about 6 inches from base to tip. If you see the side of a buck’s rack or are looking at the buck from an angle, visualize this 6-inch increment and use it to judge the length of the brow tines and other points.

The circumference of a buck’s eye averages about 4 inches; use this to judge mass. A heavy-racked buck carries mass that appears to be wider than its eye. Judge the circumference of the main beam between the antler base and the brow tine, and between each point up to the third and fourth (mass beyond the fourth tine doesn’t count toward score). Velvet surrounding the antlers can make mass appear to be much greater than it is, so you’ll have to make some mental deductions.

The distance from the center of a mature buck’s eye to the end of its nose is around 8 inches. When viewing a rack’s profile from the side, this measurement can help you judge beam length. A rack that extends beyond a buck’s nose has very long main beams.

Latest

Early Season Mule Deer Hunting Tips Lead
Early Season Mule Deer Hunting Tips Lead

Early-Season Mule Deer Hunting Tips

Shorten your mule deer learning curve with five tips learned over years of trial and error.

First Look: Lucid Optics E7 Reflex Sight

Lucid Optics has announced the launch of its E7 reflex sight, with an unusual blue reticle.

Review: J.P. Sauer & Sohn SL5 Waterfowl

The semi-automatic J.P. Sauer & Sohn SL5 Waterfowl is an excellent step outside the rifle maker’s proverbial box, and one that waterfowl hunters will surely appreciate.

First Look: B&P Upland Game Classic

Baschieri & Pellagri USA (B&P), has announced the latest addition to its Upland Game line: Upland Game Classic. This product is designed to optimize the performance of bespoke and vintage shotguns.

First Look: Riton 5 Primal 15-45x60 Spotting Scope

The Riton 5 Primal 15-45x60mm spotting scope has been thoughtfully designed with premium features packed into a compact, lightweight package, which provides hunters with unmatched versatility in the field.

Nosler Raises Over $30,000 in Support of NWTF

Nosler Inc. has announced the success of its recent fundraising effort for the National Wild Turkey Federation’s (NWTF) Habitat for the Hatch Initiative.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.