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Scoring Your Whitetail Trophy
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Not every buck needs to make the records book to be considered a trophy, but if you‘re curious as to how your buck measures up, here are some tips on how to score your whitetail.
Before we walk through the process for scoring your whitetail, it will be helpful to know why the Boone and Crockett Club first developed a scoring system and why this system uses a final score after deductions.
The Club started keeping records in 1932. At this time in our history, some species of native North American big game animals were slowly recovering from unregulated market hunting and loss of habitat. Many were thought to be going the way of the Eastern and Merriam elk — headed for extinction. Back then our nation‘s conservation system was in its infancy and there was no biological record for big game animals. Since the Boone and Crockett Club was heavily involved in shaping this new system of game management and conservation, plus fact that its membership was made up of concerned hunters, the Club‘s copyrighted scoring system was adopted in 1950. It was originally designed to create a biological record of the most common, or typical antler configuration found for each species of antlered game — deer, elk, moose, and caribou.
Years later, after the work of the Club and other groups had taken affect, it became apparent that these species were not going to become extinct. Today, the Club‘s scoring system and Records Program is used by game management departments and wildlife agencies as a tool for grading the success of management activities, identifying potential problem areas, and accessing game violation fines. The Club continues to maintain records of native North American big game to provide vital data for future wildlife decisions, and to recognize and celebrate outstanding trophies and hunting accomplishments. The Records Program is also used by the Club to communicate the basics of conservation and Fair Chase to hunters, emphasizing that an understanding of species biology and proper habitat management is necessary to ensure the future of all species.
Tools of the Trade
To accurately score your buck you will need a 1/4” wide, flexible steel measuring tape graduated to measure in eighths of an inch. It is also helpful, but not necessary, to have a folding carpenter‘s ruler with a brass measuring extension. This is useful for taking the spread measurements. A scoring cable and clip is also helpful. This is a flexible, plastic coated steel cable that makes it easier to measure along the curve of the main beams. Once you have run the cable out to the tip of the beam, attach the spring-loaded clip onto the cable where your mark is. Then lay the cable out on the measuring tape to get your measurement. It is best to score your buck by following the instructions on an official scoring sheet. These are available as a downloadable PDF from the Boone and Crockett Club‘s web site (www.booneandcrockettclub.com) Go to “Records” then “Scoring.” Online scoring is also available on their site.
The Basics
Under the Boone and Crockett Club‘s scoring system, a typical whitetail buck‘s final score is the sum total of measurements (to the nearest eighth of an inch) of its spread credit, length of his main beams, length of points, and eight circumference measurements, less the differences of any abnormal points and lack of symmetry. The length of any abnormal points and the differences in symmetry between one side of your buck‘s rack and the other are used to calculate a final or net score. As an example, we will score a typical 14-point whitetail without any abnormal points (Figure 1).
What is a Point
To be counted as a point, a point has to be at least one inch long, but not exceed one inch in width at the point where it is one inch long. Sound confusing? See Figure 2.
Start at the Beginning
Although an official scoring sheet asks for the total number of points per side, the tip-to-tip spread, and the greatest spread (outside spread) these totals are not used to calculate the final score. These measurements are noted only as a reference for the Records Department when processing and checking entries. Your first measurement for an official score is the inside spread (noted on the score chart as “D”).
Inside spread of the main beams (20-3/8”) - this measurement is simply the distance in inches at the widest inside point of a buck‘s rack taken between or inside the main beams. The next measurement is the length of each main beam (23-6/8” and 24-2/8”). To measure each main beam start at the bottom of the burr of each antler, in line with the eye socket. Run your cable or tape outward along the outside curve of the main beam, out to the tip of the main beam. You will also see that Column 4 on the score chart asked for the differences between each measurement on the right and left antler. The total for this column will be used to calculate the final score. For our main beams the difference is 4/8 (24-2/8 minus 23-6/8 = 4/8).
You will note that the score chart then asks for the spread credit. This number is usually the inside spread measurement; however, you need to check the longest main beam measurement. Spread credit can be equal to, but not exceed the length of the longest main beam. If the inside spread is longer than the longest main beam, your spread credit is the length of the longest main beam. Our buck‘s inside spread does not exceed the longest main beam (24-2/8); therefore 20-3/8 is our spread credit.
Your next measurements will be the length of each point “G”. The length of each point is measured along the outer curve starting at the base of the point where it arises from the top of the main beam (Figure 3). There are six points, or tine length measurements on our 14-point buck. The seventh point is the tip of the antler, which is accounted for when measuring the main beams.
Finally, measure the eight circumferences along the main beam “H”. Circumference or mass measurements are taken from these four points along the main beam:
“H-1” (smallest measurement between the burr and the eye guard)
“H-2” (smallest measurement between the eye guard and the second point)
“H-3” (smallest measurement between the second and third points)
“H-4” (smallest measurement between the third and fourth points)
The Tally
Totaling columns 1 — 3, and subtracting Column 4 (symmetry deductions) you will be left with your buck‘s final score. Our sample buck‘s final score is 164-1/8.
Abnormal Points
Our buck did not have any abnormal points, therefore this section of the score chart (upper right) shows 0-0/8. If your buck has abnormal points, they would be measured and accounted for in this section, and added into Column 4 as deductions. If your buck has enough abnormal points, it may score better as a non-typical. In general, abnormal points are those additional points that do not grow upward from the main beam or points that fork.
Official Scoring
These are the basic instructions for scoring a simple whitetail rack. The Boone and Crockett Club‘s official scoring manual, Measuring and Scoring North American Big Game Trophies is a useful reference source for scoring more complicated trophies, as well as all species of big game recognized by the Club‘s Records Program.
To make the Boone and Crockett Club‘s All-time records book a typical whitetail will need a final score totaling 170 or more inches - 195 inches for non-typical. For the Club‘s three-year Awards book the minimum entry score is 160 typical — 185 non-typical. If you have taken a buck that you feel might make the book and you want to enter your trophy, it will need to be scored by an Official Boone & Crockett Measurer after the mandatory drying period (60-days from the date of harvest).
For a list of Official B&C Measurers in your area, or for more information on the Boone and Crockett Club, scoring, or becoming a B&C Associate, visit their web site at www.boone-crockett.com, or contact the Club at 250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801 406-542-188
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