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