For most bulls, inside spread is only 10-15 percent of its score. It has to be strong, at least 8 or 10 inches. My guesses have been wrong many times, yet it is amazing how practice lessens the gap between field estimates and the actual measurements. However, mass is very hard to judge. Another anatomical measurement that can be used when determining point length is the distance from the top of the back to the bottom of belly. Now add the total length of points to the magic number of 200 to get the gross score. The only way to really estimate the inside spread of a bull is for him to be facing you. I often use 2 anatomical measurements: first, the distance from ear tip to ear tip and second, the actual ear length itself. I was told by a very expirenced elk hunter about field judging bulls on the hoof. Mike Eastman Point length is the single most important ingredient for a bull to score high. Lenexa, KS. If it looks equally as long, then it is 60 inches. Now of course to be real here, I know that when we do draw a premium elk tag that we want to make the most of the tag. All elk hunters are fascinated by antlers, but not everyone recognizes what it takes to grow trophies. Instead rely on body conformation. Colorado Wolves: Killing Pets & A Safe-Space, Wyoming Passes 90/10: The Worst Article Youll Read This Year, More Costs Headed Your Way in Wyoming-Maybe. Avoid backlashes by making simple adjustments to your reel and matching your lures to your rod's power and action. antlers After you have seen quite a few decent 6's, you can guess pretty close if he'll hit the 300's. Non Typical bulls are undoubtedly the hardest to judge in the field. It begins with the magic number 200. Just remember that very few elk considered big in the more visible characteristics have thin antlers. Count the number of points on each side because if something looks odd it usually is. Is the bull really 40 inside or is he 36? Mass - Most really big elk have heavy antlers that carry good mass through the length of the main beam. Assuming both sides are equal, with no deductions for lack of symmetry, and you're looking at a bull that will score 375--a Boone and Crockett-class typical bull! The following methods I have used for a long time when picking apart a bulls rack. Its very easy to stare at great fronts or a big whale tail and miss those 6 third points! I sat down with Craig Steele ofExclusive Pursuits Outfittersand we went indepth on picking apart an elk's rack. Be careful with these estimates because whenever you double a measurement, it can make your score go up or down drastically. 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. 300 Bull: G1= 14, G2= 14, G3=10, G4= 16, G5= 8. The tip-to-tip ear spread is usually 26 inches. 5ths were 9 6/8 and 10, 40 inside spread. That measurement is generally 30 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. Next I look at the backs, the 5th and 6th, see how much horn of each. When a bull has his head down feeding, I determine whether the main beam is higher or lower than the hump on his back above his shoulder. Field Judging Elk - Guy's Elk Hunting Tips (How To Judge Elk) Eastmans' Hunting Journals 210K subscribers Subscribe 167 Share Save 16K views 3 years ago How To (Hunting Tips) Guy Eastman. In the field, simply look for a spread that stretches well outside the ears. Tips for Field Judging Elk Tips for Field Judging Elk February 25, 2013 MISSOULA, Mont .--A trophy bull can turn up almost anywhere in elk country but opportunities to take one are rare. Check your email for a confirmation message. Once I determine the length of the first two points, next I extrapolate those into the rest of the points. Tine LengthIf you have time to study a bull, really look at the tines. Sometimes there's ample chance to really focus and size up an elk in your search for the bull of a lifetime. This math means tine length accounts for about 40 percent of the score, sometimes more but rarely less. Here in the breaks the 3rds are typically the weakest point. If they're over 10", 9 times out of 10, that bull is gonna go 300" or better. 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. Counting PointsMost mature bull elk are 6x6s. Just remember that very few elk considered "big" in the more visible characteristics have thin antlers. If the point is 10 shorter, then the bull probably has a 20 fourth point. 4. That measurement is generally about 30. 3. That 200 comes from an average spread of 40", 30" of mass per side, and 50" main beams per side. Digiscoping is a must while scouting! The bull must have at least five points on each antler to make the book and six points will greatly increase your odds. Assuming both sides are equal, with no deductions for lack of symmetry, and youre looking at a bull that will score 375a Boone and Crockett-class typical bull! Having always rifle hunted, during high school she bought a bow and taught herself archery and every since has been hooked. field judging If the main beam goes straight back from the dagger youre almost certainly looking at a five-point antler. Now comes the truth-teller, the dagger point. This is meant to be used as a fun tool to help you sharpen your elk antler scoring skills. You should look for at least 4 of curl for a 20 tine). 702.847.8747 Beam length is worth close to 25 percent. That 380 bull with these extras would score around 417. These totals amount to right at 320. Thats a lot of antler! Many times we hunters get overly caught up with trophy hunting. Skills To a first time elk hunter a 240 bull looks big. Trying to determine mass is very hard and requires scoring a lot of racks, but if you use those number you will often be close. Of course, there is a great shortcut for judging bulls that uses 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 one side to the other and estimate shortest points. Obviously, I look at them. First, look for the number of points. The NWTF is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Mass is usually less than 20 percent. This series is based on "How to Score an Elk Antler and Field Judge Elk" per the Boone and Crockett scoring system. Long brow tines usually will follow the nose and then curl or bend upward. 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. Las Vegas, NV 89113. Now add the total length of points to the magic number of 200 to get the gross score. Now add 152 to our base of 200 and you have a 352 bull. Inside SpreadBoone and Crockett records show a wide variation on spreads of trophy elk. Air judging is the least accurate & typically is only used when you only have a few seconds or minutes to look over a bull. While growing up in the early 1960s, I lived next to the federal elk refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Now I'm looking at 3rd's and 4th's. You want to look for anything that is sticking out or extraordinary. Dude Ranches, Horse Riding and Pack Trips. Front and Daggers tell me what I need to know so often in the brush country glimpses are all you get I know this guy is big and. The bull seems to have really long beams, almost scratching his rump. Just remember that very few elk that look "big" have thin antlers. Hunters looking to break into the B&C minimums or hunters looking to figure out the difference from a 370" bull from a 390" bull all need to dissect a bulls rack long before they decided to pull the trigger. Field Judging Rules to Identify a PY Bull Elk 1. A lot of it depends on the genetics in the area. In the above video, NWTF's Jason Burckhalter talks about the group's accomplishments and future plans with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. It will help you tremendously! Hes actually around 305 really makes me wonder what a lot of the other bulls in that area are. 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). Mass isnt huge, but pretty good. For a typical American elk, Boone and Crockett requires a minimum of 360 points to enter the Awards Book, and 375 points for entry into the All-time Records Book. "All elk hunters are fascinated by antlers, but not everyone recognizes what it takes to grow trophies. So lets look through the spotting scope at a really good 66 American elk. GOHUNT is a registered trademark of GOHUNT, LLC. A curved brow tine that appears to reach the end of the nose will be about 18 inches long. Guy Eastman shares his tips for how to age elk on the hoof. An elks first antlers are usually spikes. Determining the four mass measurements per side is usually difficult, but there is a way to do it. Master the subtle nuances of the sidearm cast for increased accuracy. Is the mass heavy or light and how does it compare to 30 per side? Share. elk If you see a bull that's definitely an internet 370"er, hurry up and shoot! Again, most 400 bulls will have 54 to 56 inch beams, and a spread of potentially more than 40 inches. An elk's first antlers are usually spikes. Ask yourself if the bull is young or mature, then move on. If the points on the main beam look close together then the beam is probably shorter than you think. Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a holding company engaged in publishing. 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 measurements. Using our system, lets see what it would take to make a 350 bull. May 5, 2020 Straight looking points are always short. Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a multimedia corporation whose roots are grounded in the ethics of fair chase hunting. I realizethat not every bull will be a typical 66. Note that a 320 bull will likely have 46 to 48 inch beams, about 56 inches of total mass, and a 38 inch spread. Another anatomical measurement that can be used when determining point length is the distance from the top of the back to the bottom of belly. Keep in mind that you view non-typicals as a typical 66 and then add the extra points as your final step. Id be hunting the San Carlos Reservation every year! You'll have a nice 312" bull to pack out. Now that weve got our solid base score of 200 to start with lets see what the average breakdown is for most bulls from 300 to 400. Bulls with straight looking points wont score well. Once I determine the length of the first two points, I then extrapolate those into the rest of the points. Maybe not by much, but usually they'll make the 300 mark. Mass isnt huge, but he looks pretty big. Beam Length--Most great elk have long main beams. Get your notebook out. That bull has way over 22" in mass You mean per side? But not always. If a bull appears able to scratch his rear-end with his antlers, it likely has the frame to be a trophy. 5th =as long as the 3rd. I tried that technique last fall and it didnt work out well. For mature elk: Main beams are rarely 60 inches or more, inside spread measurements are rarely over 45 inches, and mass is rarely over 32 inches per side. Or maybe if he is a six point, thats good enough. Eric Lundgren of Ruger, which now owns Marlin, highlights the features of both rifles with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Next, I estimate the length of the shortest point for each antler, double it and then add them up. 2022 GOHUNT, LLC. When you get longer brows, good 3rds and well defined 6ths..you're in the neighborhood. A bull for the book needs to have the complete package. Next, I estimate the length of the shortest point for each antler, double it, and then add them up. 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Main beam goes straight back from the dagger youre almost certainly looking at a five-point antler they over.
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