The final way to judge is through the Estimating Shortest Points Magic 200 Method. Watching this bull rake a bush I got a good look at his tops!! Rear points should extend past the ribcage when the head is up and parallel with the rest of his body. Jordan Budd. Next, try to figure out how mature is the bull that you are looking at and keep it simple. 6th=ifit passes his huanch (or ass) 7th=bonus. Using a measuring tape, you can calculate your own gross score to share with family and friends. 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. A great skill to have when hunting for elk is "field judging". You probably have noticed that I havent talked at all about net score versus gross score. Eye guards=as long as the forehead to nose tip. Sometimes there's ample chance to really focus and size up an elk in your search for the bull of a lifetime. Again, not a significant difference. 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. 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! Lots of belly or curve in the points and the main beam means greater length. Learn how to judge trophy elk before you make a stalk or shot. That bull has way over 22" in mass You mean per side? Instantly identifying a six-point bull is not difficult. 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. The brow tines curve nicely and seem to pass the tip of the nose, about 18 inches each: 36 points. Make sure that you compare that to the length of the main beam from the fourth point to tip of the beam. Next, I estimate the length of the main beams by using an important anatomical measurement. An elk's first antlers are usually spikes. 20-22 inches Ear length.. 7 - 8 inches The top 10 typical entries range from 38-2/8 to 53 inches of inside spread for an average of 46-2/8 inches. An elk's first antlers are usually spikes. However, the average beam length of the bottom 10 is 55-4/8 inches--not much difference. Counting Points--Most mature bull elk are 6x6s. If the 3rd's aren't diminutive (and a lot of times they are) he's 300 if the 4th's look right. Let me tell you, it became quite taxing trying to determine what B&C class rack each bull was packing. Main beams are rarely 60 or more. 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. 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). Be the first to hear about our latest news and events. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. The dagger point is usually the longest point, and on a monster bull it will be half-again longer than the burr-to-nose yardstick, or even almost double that measurement. How to Accurately Score a Bull on the Hoof by Steve Chappell You do not measure the bases as the first measurement which I have seen some hunters mistakenly do. The distance from ear tip to ear tip (21 to 22); and. Counting Points --Most mature bull elk are 6x6s. Taking this into account gives us 378 to around 385. MISSOULA, Mont.--A trophy bull can turn up almost anywhere in elk country but opportunities to take one are rare. The bull seems to have really long beams, almost scratching his butt. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 320 Bull: G1=15, G2= 15, G3= 12, G4= 16, G5= 8. This number comes from the average measurements of a typical mature bull elk that scores a 350 on a Boone and Crocket. An elks first antlers are usually spikes. Still not a bad bull, but not 350! Looking at all these pictures I would guess hes about a 275-280 bull. An elk's first antlers are usually spikes. These totals amount to 303. Try to err on the short side when estimating measurements. 380 Bull: G1= 18, G2= 18, G3= 16, G4= 20, G5= 15. You should look for at least 4 of curl for a 20 tine). Ask yourself if the bull is young or mature, then move on. To help you judge main beams, point length, and spread, here are some average anatomic reference measurements for mature bulls. Wildlife Management and Ranching Under Attack on BLM Lands. An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 elk drop in each year to spend the winter. Is the main beam really 50 or is it 53? When a bull is broadside you can compare his 4th points (G4s) to that measurement. This is less important if the bull is a 7x7, but you still need some inches in the top of the rack. 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. If theres another point rising upward behind the dagger, perhaps making a horizontal Y, then youre looking at a six-point antler. field judging Inside Spread--Boone and Crockett records show a wide variation on spreads of trophy elk. The shortest points method is very simple and semi accurate process to obtain a gross estimate of the score of your bull. 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. Yeah I noticed on your thread, NP Hunter, that the older bulls really have that saggy belly, like I look for to identify a mature whitetail. Trying to determine mass is very hard and requires scoring quite a few racks, but if you use those numbers, you will often be close. Learn how to judge trophy mule deer before you make a stalk or shot. 340 Bull: G1= 16, G2= 16, G3= 12, G4= 18, G5= 10. The bottom 10 range from 38 to 49-4/8 inches for an average of 42-4/8 inches. First, look for the number of points. The good news is that point length is one of the easiest things to judge because there is a yardstick. Now add 152 to our base of 200 and you have a 352 bull. 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. Many times we hunters get overly caught up with trophy hunting. Don't forget to subscribe to. Turn the legs and thighs of a freshly killed gobbler into comfort food for a chilly spring night. Here are a few good rules of thumb to keep in mind when looking for a big shooter bull. Check back next week when I go into even more detail and provide indepth examples on field judging elk. 360 Bull: G1= 16, G2= 16, G3= 16, G4= 20, G5= 12. I tried that technique last fall and it didnt work out well. This series is based on "How to Score an Elk Antler and Field Judge Elk" per the Boone and Crockett scoring system. However, mass is very hard to judge. August 9, 2011 Tips for Field Judging Elk MISSOULA, Mont. A trophy bull can turn up almost anywhere in elk country but opportunities to take one are rare. | You must log in or register to reply here. That measurement is generally 30 inches. 2022 GOHUNT, LLC. He taped out at 283. Mike Eastman shares his strategy to field judging elk. Just as you used ears to judge the length of the main beam, use them to judge the spread. Mass is tough to field judge. Usually your first impression of a bull is pretty honest and accurate. The daggers are quite good, about half again longer than the burr-to-nose yardstick. If a beam or point looks straight, then it will be shorter than you think. Estimating a bull's measurements allows you to really break down a bull, to insure you are as accurate as you can be. The daggers are quite good, about half again longer than the burr-to-nose yardstick. If a beam or point looks straight, then it will be shorter than you think. 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. I passed up on this bull opening weekend a couple years ago. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation celebrates National Volunteer Week by shining a spotlight on the significant contributions of its volunteer army in [], Go to Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls and sign up for your chance at a full elk hunting set up from Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls and [], Were still dreaming of the day when suppressor ownership is legal in all 50 states. Below is a chart that you should try to remember. Field judging For me, elk are the hardest animal to judge. Will you harvest a bull packing a great rack or make a judging decision you will regret for many falls to come? So far, the bull is totaling 215. 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. Beware of straight looking points because they are often shorter than you think. Now add the total length of points to the magic number of 200 to get the gross score. I equate the adjectives I use to describe the bull into scored. Personal defense in the hunting woods could involve taking down a charging bear. Is the mass heavy or light and how does it compare to 30 per side? scoring While field judging elk, simply look for a spread that stretches well outside the ears. All elk hunters are fascinated by antlers, but not everyone recognizes what it takes to grow trophies. Elk. 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. Mike. 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. Finally, go back to the main beam, mass and inside spread in order tofurther review. Will you know a world-class trophy if you see one? 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. Look for good spacing between the points. Measure the brows against the face. Note that most 380 bulls will have 52 to 56 inch beams, and a spread of potentially more than 40 inches. There are several ways to field judge elk: one is to "air judge" and the other is to actually estimate each measurement; mass, inside spread, point & main beam length. OtoPro SoundGear Phantom and Impulse Review, Vortex Razor HD 4000 GB Rangefinder Review, Toric UHD 2.5-15x44mm FFP Hunt Series Riflescope Review, Hunting Big Mule Deer after Mid-October with Cliff Gray. 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