How do you score deer antlers in the field? It’s not as simple as simply adding up the points. You must follow one of the accepted methods to score antlers if you want to officially score them.
You can score your deer antlers and see how it compares with others. To be awarded the title of the largest set of antlers in each category, you must have your rack officially scored. If you don’t have it officially scored, then other lower-scoring antlers could take your title.
Boone and Crocket, also known as “B&C”, is one of the most popular methods to score deer antlers. The Boone and Crocket method is the most precise way to score your antlers. They focus on the number, length, circumference, and length. These are only a few factors that affect the official scoring of your antlers with the B&C method.
B&C scoring is popular because it doesn’t depend on how many times a rack holds. The weight and mass of antlers are the main focus. You’re likely to know from experience that larger bucks produce heavier antlers. However, heavy antlers won’t have many tines. B&C considers this when scoring heavy antlers.
Important to know that abnormalities will result in a reduction of points by the B&C method. Points are also deducted if the antlers that you are scoring are not symmetrical. This means that straighter, more pleasing antlers are preferred.
B&C, among other scoring methods, can help you distinguish between typical and unusual antlers. You might expect those typical antlers will have equal tines on both sides. Non-typical antlers, on the other hand, have unusual features such as five times on each side and seven on the other. Antlers that are not typical can have unusual growths of tines protruding out from other tines.
Pope & Young (P&Y), a popular method for scoring deer antlers, was established in 1961. The P&Y method, although not as popular as B&C for scoring antlers, is still the most widely used.
You can score your antlers using any method, but you need to be familiar with the rules and goals. This information is available on both the P&Y and B&C websites.
