| Many archery deer hunters today have set higher | | | | end total. When estimating the length out in the field |
| personal standards as far as hunting trophy bucks. | | | | you should note that most antlers curve backwards |
| They seem to be putting more demands on | | | | before going forward. If the beam curves backward |
| themselves simply to locate a record buck and to | | | | then forward to its nose, you are looking at |
| harvest it, only to have it put into the book of | | | | approximately 24 inches. A total of 48 inches would |
| records. There is one problem with this theory, | | | | then be added to the end total. |
| record bucks are far and few between. Harvesting a | | | | A mass measurement is a little more difficult to |
| record white-tail buck while bowhunting is like winning | | | | identify in the field. Mass is a measurement of the |
| the lottery, rare, but it can happen and does happen | | | | circumference of the antler in four different positions |
| every year. | | | | on the beam. A total of 8 measurements are then |
| In the top ten big buck states, Michigan ranks | | | | collected and added to the total. Identifying the mass |
| number nine, while Wisconsin is at the number one | | | | of an antler should be known by the archery deer |
| position. The state of Wisconsin averages about | | | | hunter as to whether it is heavy or light. Learning the |
| 893,000 hunters each year, while Michigan will | | | | average mass of big white-tail bucks in your area can |
| average around 1,125,000 white-tail deer hunters per | | | | be critical to the aiding of your measurement in the |
| year. Wisconsin has 3,125 Pope & Young bucks and | | | | field. Practice makes perfect! |
| 273 Boone & Crocket bucks. Michigan has 576 Pope | | | | Tine length and the number of points contribute the |
| & Young, 60 Boone & Crocket bucks in their books. | | | | most to the total inches. Identifying how many points |
| In order to harvest a record buck during your | | | | by the archery hunter should be done quickly. In |
| archery hunting season, you must first be able to | | | | order to identify the number of points at a quick |
| identify and score a buck out in the field. Now, how | | | | glance, simply count the points that are projecting |
| often does it happen that you see 150-class or even | | | | straight up. For example; two points up, it's an |
| 160-class bucks out in the field? So how do you | | | | 8-pointer; three up, a 10-pointer and so on. If you are |
| know when you do see one? First, practice makes | | | | having a hard time counting points because they are |
| perfect. Go to your local taxidermist and have him or | | | | all over the place, then you should be shooting. This |
| her help you score some of the bucks on the wall. | | | | rack is probably a non-typical buck and will more than |
| Estimate its inside and outside spread, length of | | | | likely get you into the record books. |
| beam, average mass, length and number of points. | | | | Measuring the length of the tine can also be aided by |
| By practicing on wall mounts, your judgment out in | | | | knowing that the length of white-tail deer ears is on |
| the field will be much easier. | | | | average 8 inches long. Thus, a 10-point buck with an |
| Antler spread is one of the easiest to identify. An | | | | average of 10 inch tines will score very well, or an |
| average deer in the state of Michigan has a | | | | 8-point buck with an average of 12 inch tines will do |
| measurement of about 18 inches from tip of ear to | | | | very well also. The length of the tines contributes |
| ear. You can then estimate the antler spread of the | | | | most to the total inches in the end. |
| buck you are estimating by using this measurement. | | | | As for myself, I'm an archery meat hunter, but I do |
| But don't put too much emphasis on this. The inside | | | | try to practice letting smaller, younger bucks go, |
| spread of the antlers is only one total. If it's 20 | | | | allowing them to mature in hopes of hitting the |
| inches, then a total of 20 inches is added at the end | | | | lottery someday with a huge Pope & Young record |
| of the final score. | | | | buck. I know that living in Michigan with over a million |
| The length of the beam will be doubled. In other | | | | hunters out in the field each year, my chances are |
| words, if the length of the beams were 20 inches | | | | slim, but that's my dream and dreams sometimes |
| each, then the total would be 40 inches added to the | | | | come true! Stay Focused and Keep Dreaming! |