Tine Length--If you have time to study a bull, really look at the tines. Look for good spacing between the points. Personal defense in the hunting woods could involve taking down a charging bear. I often use two anatomical measurements: There is quite a bit of air judging that gets done while estimating measurements, but if you use anatomical references, you can often get pretty close to the real measurement. 4. Taking these tips to the field could make the difference on the next time you go trophy elk hunting.Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more deer hunting videos! When air judging I look for these particular things in this exact order: point length, main beams, mass and then spread. Keep in mind that very few bulls are wider than 45 inside. On a typical 7x7, the point measurement is going to go up dramatically. I hope these scoring methods and tips will come in handy when trying to field judge your trophy bull, but remember: it is more important to measure your hunt success by the memories and quality experience gained than by the size of the antlers you bring home. Below is a chart that you should try to remember. Lenexa, KS. 3. Multiply by 2 and you have 152. In good habitat, a bull may have a 5-point rack as a 2-1/2-year-old and then a small six-point rack as a 3-1/2-year-old. If the tip of the main beam comes to the top of the hump then the beam is probably around 50 inches. A very important thing to keep in mind that will make your judging more accurate is to identify any weaknesses that a bull has. antlers We have lots of whitetail here in Missouri and a small herd of Steve Peters: Best of luck to you out there, Herb. Beam Length--Most great elk have long main beams. trophy This method is not quite as exact as estimating each measurement, but it gets you very close and it can be much quicker and easier. #8. Keep in mind that VERY few bulls are wider than 45 inches. Or maybe if he is a six point, thats good enough. In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. Turn the legs and thighs of a freshly killed gobbler into comfort food for a chilly spring night. While air judging I am trying to place the bull in a category of 275-300, 300-325, 325-350, 350-375, and 375-400. On a 6x6, the last point matters a lot. Beam LengthMost great elk have long main beams. The National Wild Turkey Federation's mission to conserve wild turkey and preserve hunting heritage is still going strong after a half-century. Las Vegas, NV 89113. But not always. Will you harvest a bull packing a great rack or make a judging decision you will regret for many falls to come? Is the bull really 40 inside or is he 36? Its unusual to have a lot of time to look at a big bull and mass is not where you should spend most of it. "Learning to field judge antlers will help you understand even more about the elk you're looking at, whether it's one for the record books--or one to let walk away and grow up.". Its pretty simple to use because 90% of the B&C scoring system for elk is made up of inside spread, main beam and point length. When a bull is broadside, you can compare his fourth point to that measurement. But seriously, the way to judge them is to score their frame and points just like you would a typical 66, then size up the non typical points and add that to your total. JavaScript is disabled. If it looks like it is about half as long (15), then the total length is closer to 45. Shed Hunting: Wheres the beef and whats the best way to manage it? A lot of it depends on the genetics in the area. 6630 Arroyo Springs St., Suite 1200 Learn how to judge trophy elk before you make a stalk or shot. Jordan Budd. However, some of these criteria are more important than others. With the draw results out in the western states there are many hunters celebrating their good fortune in the draw. Mike Eastman shares his strategy to field judging deer. A curved brow tine that appears to reach the end of the nose will be about 18 inches long. General Once I have classified and categorized the bull that determines if I need to dive in further and use one of the other scoring methods. Long brow tines usually will follow the nose and then curl or bend upward. Watching this bull rake a bush I got a good look at his tops!! Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a holding company engaged in publishing. Field judging elk is an art, while measuring dead elk is an exact science. Straight looking points are always short. Last time I discussed air judging, estimate actual measurements method, magic number/estimate shortest points method and a short four part how to score an elk video series. When a monster steps out, a hunter often has no time to count antler points, much less compute scores. Measure the brows against the face. Taking these tips to the field could make the difference on the next time you go trophy elk hunting. The inside spread must be 30" or greater between the main beams. Quick and Easy Field Judging Bull Elk Mike Eastman May 5, 2020 General 0 In this day and age with the aggressive management work of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, harvesting a trophy bull elk is within the realm of most hunters and finally you have secured a once in a decade tag. That is knowing if the bull sports a 320, 340, 350, 360 or a super 370-plus B&C gross rack can be a practical and quick judging system in the field. 360 Bull: G1= 16, G2= 16, G3= 16, G4= 20, G5= 12. Scoring mounted bulls is a great way to improve your skills as well. It could be your one shot in your hunting career at harvesting a really big, trophy class bull. Elk rack up a majority of their inches in tine length. Facebook; Twitter; Google + Stumbleupon; LinkedIn; Tags boone and crooket Elk Elk Hunting elk judging Mike Eastman trophy scoring elk. Get your notebook out. Estimate 55 inches on each side: 110 points. Determining the 4 mass measurements per side is usually difficult, so I use a rule of thumb. I highly recommend dissecting a bull thoroughly before deciding to harvest that animal. I was told by a very expirenced elk hunter about field judging bulls on the hoof. Las Vegas, NV 89113. 4th (sword point)=double the length of the eyegaurd. I field judge elk like this. Wildlife Management and Ranching Under Attack on BLM Lands. Using it, a hunter in the field can quickly determine if that bull is packing a 320, 340 or maybe a 350 gross rack. Way to keep chasing your dreams! Is the main beam really 50 or is it 53? The bull seems to have really long beams, almost scratching his butt. Learn how to judge trophy mule deer before you make a stalk or shot. Its best antlers, however, usually come at age 9-1/2 to 12-1/2, so remember that not every 6x6 is a trophy. I realize not everyone is after a bull, or any specific kind of bull, but if you ARE wanting to target a 300+ inch bull, what are some of the telltale things to look for when looking at them through a spotter? Look for good spacing between the points. And with some knowledge of rack size and a little practice it becomes easy to master. Be careful with these estimates because whenever you double a measurement, it can make your score go up or down drastically. They look a lot bigger off of that bull. So far, the bull is totaling 215. I told myself he must be a mature bull. Make sure that you look for curl or lots of curve. For mature elk: Main beams usually around 50, Inside spread usually 37, Mass usually 27. If the points on the main beam look close together then the beam is probably shorter than you think. It's digital, customizable with over 500,000 data points: https://taghub.eastmans.com/ Estimate 55 inches on each side: 110 points. Next is main beam length. Lets start at the bottom of the antlers and work up. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. When a monster steps out, a hunter often has no time to count antler points, much less compute scores. This year, the rifle will be chambered in 7mm PRC, the hot new load that was a hit at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Those men can tell you within two inches on the hoof the net B&C score of any bull. Make sure that you compare that to the length of the main beam from the fourth point to tip of the beam. The final way to judge is through the Estimating Shortest Points Magic 200 Method. Horses & Winter: Too Much For Western Wildlife? I told myself he must be a mature bull. Add these to the base of 200 for a total of 360. You want to look for anything that is sticking out or extraordinary. The fourth point, sometimes called the dagger point, is normally the longest point and most distinctive feature of an elk rack. He had 40 beams and only 22 of mass. Ruger's popular American bolt-action rifle has been a hit with hunters for years. Some are longer and some a bit shorter, but 50 is a good estimate to start from. 2023 Western Hunting Application Deadlines, New feature released on Insider Hunt Planner, Point Tracker: Your first step in researching hunts, How to import waypoints from other sources to GOHUNT Maps, Dialing in your fitness now to be ready for fall, Research your way to big bucks with a tool you're probably not using, The ABCs of finding a legit hunting partner. Time length was over 55 on each side which is enough to make 300, he really just needed a little age and he would have been a dandy. Try to err on the short side when estimating measurements. Mass isnt huge, but he looks pretty big. Inline, Non-Typical and/or extra points can dramatically increase the gross score. Inside spread measurements are rarely over 45 and mass is rarely over 32 per side. You'll have a nice 312" bull to pack out. The distance from ear tip to ear tip (21 to 22); and. Next I look at the backs, the 5th and 6th, see how much horn of each. Colorado elk units OTC/limited discussion, Wife's first elk - open country muzzleloader. Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a multimedia corporation whose roots are grounded in the ethics of fair chase hunting. There is a great shortcut for field judging bulls where I use anatomical references, but instead of trying to estimate each measurement individually, I use a magic number for the main beam length, mass, and inside spread, and then I compare the length of the points from onside to the other and estimate shortest points (ESP). However, spending time in those years scoring winter kills and local hunters bulls, I developed a general field judging system I call rack bracketing. Its a simple visual way to determine general rack size. While growing up in the early 1960s, I lived next to the federal elk refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. If the first two points on each side follow parallel with the nose and tip up just at the end of the nose, they should be right around 16 inches. Instantly identifying a six-point bull is not difficult. The first method is to air judge also known as the wing-it approach, which is based on experience and prior knowledge. Tine LengthIf you have time to study a bull, really look at the tines. No need to spend much more time considering beam length. So lets look through the spotting scope at a really good 66 American elk. Watch this episode of Beyond the Grid next: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I1Hp_JAZJAWatch the new Eastmans' Beyond the Grid hunting series: https://www.youtube.comhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsCaxOyKjb4rEqH0wImLVDtAxDdL6i4QiSubscribe to our channel now: https://www.youtube.comhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN8dXoUjBrs37i3OBdlww3A#howto #hunting #eastmanshuntingournals--Join Eastmans Social MediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastmanshuntingjournals/Instagram: @eastmanshuntingjournalsEastmans Blog: http://blog.eastmans.com/Eastmans Forum: http://forum.eastmans.com/Shop: https://www.eastmans.com/ Check out Eastmans' TagHub the ultimate hunting research tool! 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. But to help in estimating a net score remember that most big bulls will have 10 to 12 inches of total symmetry deductions. 5ths were 9 6/8 and 10, 40 inside spread. He had 40 beams and only 22 of mass per side. The good news is that point length is one of the easiest things to judge because there is a yardstick. I decided to cross reference my anatomical measurements with Clay Goldman of Mogollon Taxidermy. First, I use anatomical references to estimate several of the point lengths. 20-22 inches Ear length.. 7 - 8 inches GOHUNT is a registered trademark of GOHUNT, LLC. Sometimes theres ample chance to really focus and size up an elk in your search for the bull of a lifetime. This number comes from the average measurements of a typical mature bull elk that scores a 350 on a Boone and Crocket. The bottom 10 range from 38 to 49-4/8 inches for an average of 42-4/8 inches. If the point is 10 shorter, then the bull probably has a 20 fourth point. First, I use anatomical references to estimate several of the point lengths. When it comes down to seconds to shoot or not shoot, I look at the 5ths. 5ths were 9 6/8 and 10, 40 inside spread. But not always. Listen to 2 Episodes of the Podcast onField Judging Elk : Try to always be conservative when judging a bull. I was convinced when I let the arrow fly he was a much bigger bull. Mike Eastman shares his strategy to field judging elk. MISSOULA, Mont.A trophy bull can turn up almost anywhere in elk country but opportunities to take one are rare. While field judging elk, simply look for a spread that stretches well outside the ears. Big headgear is a product of genetics, age and nutrition provided by great habitat," said David Allen, president and CEO of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. A 350 bull must have an average of 16 inches for his G1 through G4 points and 10 inch G5s to be about 350. Its best antlers, however, usually come at age 9-1/2 to 12-1/2, so remember that not every 6x6 is a trophy. Thats a lot of antler! Check your email for a confirmation message. I gain the most consistency and accuracy with my field judging by actually scoring lots of antlers and, with each one, I gain more confidence. Point length is the single most important ingredient for a bull to score high. Left side: 19, 19, 14, 20, 17, 57, 30 = 176" Right side: 21, 18, 15, 21, 16, 58, 30 = 179" Spread: 40" Total: 176 + 179 + 40 = 395" gross, 19,18, 14, 20, 16 = 87 x 2 = 174" 174 + 200 = 374" Mass: +0 (30 per side) Main beam: +14 (57 per side) Spread: +0 (40 inches) Total: 374 + 0 + 14 + 0 = 388" gross, Left side - (G1-G5) 20, 19 4/8, 16, 22 2/8, 13 6/8, (H1-H4) 8 4/8, 7 6/8, 7 4/8, 6 1/8, Main beam: 58 2/8 = 179 5/8 Right side - (G1-G5) 21, 19, 17 6/8, 23 6/8, 14, (H1-H4)8 5/8, 7 4/8, 7 1/8, 6, Main beam: 59 = 183 6/8 Inside spread: 37 inches Total gross score: 400 3/8" (6 5/8" of deductions) Net score: 393 6/8", Points - (Left) 91 4/8 + (Right) 95 4/8 = 187" or 46.7% Main Beam - (Left) 58 2/8 + (Right) 59= 117 2/8" or 29.2% Mass - (Left) 29 7/8 + (Right) 29 2/8 = 59 1/8" or 14.75% Inside spread = 37" or 9.25%, (bull was also taken by KUIU's Jason Hairston). A big bull's measurements feature four key elements: long points, long main beams, wide inside spread and mass. 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Personal defense in the draw results out in the early 1960s, I use anatomical references to estimate several the... Between the main beam look close together then the beam length.. 7 - 8 inches GOHUNT is yardstick! A freshly killed gobbler into comfort food for a total of 360 Ruger popular. Good 66 American elk and Crocket the National Wild Turkey and preserve hunting heritage is still going after! Turn up almost anywhere in elk country but opportunities to take one are.! Huge, but he looks pretty big estimating a net score remember that not every is! Estimates because whenever you double a measurement, it can make your score go up or drastically... Sometimes called the dagger point, thats good enough off of that bull that..
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