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Hurteau: Help Me Score This Buck
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November 13, 2009
Hurteau: Help Me Score This Buck
By Dave Hurteau
A guest post from Special Projects Editor (and Field Notes News Blogger) Dave Hurteau.
I know. It’s not the greatest photo. But it was the best I could do from a treestand, in low light, as the buck cruised by on the heels of a doe.
Last night I returned from an 8-day bowhunt in southern Iowa with F&S Whitetail columnist Scott Bestul. We had a mission: Kill a 150-inch buck. On November 6th, the third day of the trip, with the rut kicking in, we hung a stand in a pinch point between thick doe bedding cover along the edge of a standing corn field. That afternoon, I ... ... staked a subdominant buck decoy about 15 yards off the stand in a small opening in the otherwise thick hedge pasture, then climbed up to my perch.
Before long, a yearling 8-pointer cruised in from my left, spotted the fake and moved closer, slowly circling the decoy as a snapped a few pictures.
All was quite after that until about a half hour before dark when I heard hurried steps to my left and saw a mature doe running toward the pinch point, looking harried. She spotted the decoy, balked for a moment, then blew through at 10 yards. I thought, “Here we go.” And there he was—a big-bodied buck dogging in the doe’s footsteps, showing lots of bone between the brush and branches. As I drew my bow, he spotted the decoy and stopped dead. Every hair on his body stood up and he started slowly circling the deke in a wide arc, first along the far side, then round to the near, and eventually straight downwind of the imposter, not 5 yards from the base of my tree.
That’s when I decided.
I let down, and quietly reached into my backpack for my camera. So my question to you is--considering that the goal was 150 inches and this was the third day of the hunt—did I make the right decision? Am I nuts? Go ahead, I can take it (I think). But here's one thing to consider. The blur of the camera makes the buck look like he could be a 10-pointer. He’s isn’t. I had plenty of time to count tines. He’s a straight 8.
Anyway, that said, what do you think he scores? If you were shooting for a 150, would you be shooting?
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Comments (33)
I would guess him to have a 16" spread possibly 8 inch g2's and 6 inch g3's.
I would score him around 125 to 135.
I agree, probably a touch wider than 16" but low 130's would be my guess. Th blurred pic makes it hard to figure mass but he doesn't appear to have a whole lot of it.
I agree that he probably isn't 150 class, but I'm very unfamiliar with the way scoring is done and terrible at guessing the numbers. Don't feel too bad about leaving him be. I'd probably pass on him until the late season. Plenty of time to fill a bunch of doe tags. I've been spoiled, and hunting here makes me wait for the really big older ones now. This guy doesn't look terribly old. No way he's more than 3 1/2, but I don't know, we have 2 1/2 year olds looking like him here in OH.
I score this buck at 125"
I shot about a 150" 8 point mulie, he isn't nearly tall enough, good call on waiting for 150 is that is your goal.
1.past the ears
2. tines longer than the ears
3. symmetrical looking
4. dominant looking
I'm just guessing but I would say he's close to that 150" mark you were hoping for (just a touch less). I think I would've taken him based on your conditions.
i would have to say 140's to mid 140's any way you look at it it's a nice buck
I have two 16" wide bucks on my wall, he's wider, 17 or 18". Though he won't go 150", it's tough to score them on the hoof. I applaud your restraint, as i probably would've shot him even with that goal in mind. No regrets though. It feels good to let nice bucks walk. Hope he makes it till next year. He's got good body size and is definetly mature.
I agree with the rest, he is not 150. Very respectable buck; would be hard to pass up.
a solid 120 buck, maybe next season he'll be closer to your standards.
I'd call him about 130" gross
Tough call. I have past up a lot of bucks smaller than him waiting on 1 his size. The deer don't have a long enough life span to get super huge here. Not saying that they don't but most of the time they get shot early in life. I would not agree with 120-135. If I was guessing which I am I would say 135+ just my guess though. There are a lot smarter guys on this site than me though.
I'm sure who ever is hunting on the adjoining properties where you were hunting will be able to let you know.
17 in spread
22 in rt beam
22 in left beam
16 in mass rt
16 in mass left
18 in tine lenght left
18 in tine length rt
I have no calculator but I think it scores 129
142 IS THE NUMBER FOR YOU
Good call, I wouldn't put him much past the mid 130's. But the photo is really hard to tell for sure.
Mid-130s to 140 range, nice looking deer
Dave, you made the right call letting him walk. This same dilemma has had many a hunter in it's grips in my area, especially the out-o-state kind. Many err on the side of just wanting a buck and end up killing a two or three year old that would be an absolute giant if he kept his walking papers. You practiced good management in this instance. I hope you took home a couple does for your trouble. That'd earn you an +A with the locals around here.
20 inches from ear tip to ear tip. he's well past that. the problem is that he has no mass. i'd say around 130-135. i would have taken him but i'm mainly a meat hunter and that is a nice rack.
I wouldn't be able to pass that buck! I would say around the mid 130's . Good job geting him in though. Just think of how big he will be next year!
this buck is not quite 140. My guess would be 138.
Yep, I agree with most everyone... 130's. I just shot a ten that should score mid 140's and he is way bigger than the eight. Good decision to let him walk, just hope it pays off now! Good luck and happy hunting!
Oh for gods sake just shoot him, enjoy the venison and throw the rack in the corner of the garage with the rest of them.
well said Walt. There was a time when you never put a tape measure to a rack,... it was either "nice" or it was "piddly", either way it was meat in the icebox.
I think it funny every time I hear "I would pass up on that buck". If that was on our property, he would be down so fast he didn't know what hit him! We just don't get bucks like that around here. And here you are "eh I can get better". It's sickening.
Nate
I think he just fell short of your 150 goal he looks 130-140,but I'd do anything for a deer like that!
If it is only the third day i would hold out for the buck you came for. he is a strong 130 but not the 150 you were looking for. with five days left i think you made the right decision to pass
Looks like most of you have pretty much confirmed my guess. Thanks. The angle of the photo foreshortens his spread a bit; he was a little wider than it appears here. When I let down, I was thinking 135-ish.
I passed because we had a stated goal--and this was a rare opportunity. At home in upstate New York, where I'm pretty much a meat hunter, this buck goes down in a heartbeat (assuming I don't screw up the shot).
wow i said 130-135 and a id say a 3 year old deer he will make 150's possibly next year good potential from what i can tell. you made a good decision..
I've scored plenty of bucks and I would guess this one to do 126" gross, a few inches less net. To judge tines remember a bucks ears are usually 7" long and 16-17" tip to tip to judge spread. Their eyes are 4.5" around roughly to judge mass. It takes a lot for an 8 point to make 150", they are as rare as Booner bucks. The biggest 8 point ever shot in MN was just recently poached, it scored 190" gross and 185" net B&C!
Truthfully I don't know, have no understanding of the scoring system.
If it makes you fell better you made the right call,that was a 138 for sure!
I bet the deer is around 135 to 140 inches
He's a nice buck, but I agree with everyone else he just won't make the 150 mark. I'm going to guess 130 or so. He should be a real nice one next year!
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Oh for gods sake just shoot him, enjoy the venison and throw the rack in the corner of the garage with the rest of them.
I'm sure who ever is hunting on the adjoining properties where you were hunting will be able to let you know.
a solid 120 buck, maybe next season he'll be closer to your standards.
I would guess him to have a 16" spread possibly 8 inch g2's and 6 inch g3's.
I would score him around 125 to 135.
I score this buck at 125"
I agree, probably a touch wider than 16" but low 130's would be my guess. Th blurred pic makes it hard to figure mass but he doesn't appear to have a whole lot of it.
I shot about a 150" 8 point mulie, he isn't nearly tall enough, good call on waiting for 150 is that is your goal.
i would have to say 140's to mid 140's any way you look at it it's a nice buck
I have two 16" wide bucks on my wall, he's wider, 17 or 18". Though he won't go 150", it's tough to score them on the hoof. I applaud your restraint, as i probably would've shot him even with that goal in mind. No regrets though. It feels good to let nice bucks walk. Hope he makes it till next year. He's got good body size and is definetly mature.
I agree with the rest, he is not 150. Very respectable buck; would be hard to pass up.
I'd call him about 130" gross
Tough call. I have past up a lot of bucks smaller than him waiting on 1 his size. The deer don't have a long enough life span to get super huge here. Not saying that they don't but most of the time they get shot early in life. I would not agree with 120-135. If I was guessing which I am I would say 135+ just my guess though. There are a lot smarter guys on this site than me though.
17 in spread
22 in rt beam
22 in left beam
16 in mass rt
16 in mass left
18 in tine lenght left
18 in tine length rt
I have no calculator but I think it scores 129
Good call, I wouldn't put him much past the mid 130's. But the photo is really hard to tell for sure.
this buck is not quite 140. My guess would be 138.
Yep, I agree with most everyone... 130's. I just shot a ten that should score mid 140's and he is way bigger than the eight. Good decision to let him walk, just hope it pays off now! Good luck and happy hunting!
well said Walt. There was a time when you never put a tape measure to a rack,... it was either "nice" or it was "piddly", either way it was meat in the icebox.
I think it funny every time I hear "I would pass up on that buck". If that was on our property, he would be down so fast he didn't know what hit him! We just don't get bucks like that around here. And here you are "eh I can get better". It's sickening.
Nate
I think he just fell short of your 150 goal he looks 130-140,but I'd do anything for a deer like that!
Looks like most of you have pretty much confirmed my guess. Thanks. The angle of the photo foreshortens his spread a bit; he was a little wider than it appears here. When I let down, I was thinking 135-ish.
I passed because we had a stated goal--and this was a rare opportunity. At home in upstate New York, where I'm pretty much a meat hunter, this buck goes down in a heartbeat (assuming I don't screw up the shot).
wow i said 130-135 and a id say a 3 year old deer he will make 150's possibly next year good potential from what i can tell. you made a good decision..
I agree that he probably isn't 150 class, but I'm very unfamiliar with the way scoring is done and terrible at guessing the numbers. Don't feel too bad about leaving him be. I'd probably pass on him until the late season. Plenty of time to fill a bunch of doe tags. I've been spoiled, and hunting here makes me wait for the really big older ones now. This guy doesn't look terribly old. No way he's more than 3 1/2, but I don't know, we have 2 1/2 year olds looking like him here in OH.
1.past the ears
2. tines longer than the ears
3. symmetrical looking
4. dominant looking
I'm just guessing but I would say he's close to that 150" mark you were hoping for (just a touch less). I think I would've taken him based on your conditions.
142 IS THE NUMBER FOR YOU
Mid-130s to 140 range, nice looking deer
Dave, you made the right call letting him walk. This same dilemma has had many a hunter in it's grips in my area, especially the out-o-state kind. Many err on the side of just wanting a buck and end up killing a two or three year old that would be an absolute giant if he kept his walking papers. You practiced good management in this instance. I hope you took home a couple does for your trouble. That'd earn you an +A with the locals around here.
20 inches from ear tip to ear tip. he's well past that. the problem is that he has no mass. i'd say around 130-135. i would have taken him but i'm mainly a meat hunter and that is a nice rack.
I wouldn't be able to pass that buck! I would say around the mid 130's . Good job geting him in though. Just think of how big he will be next year!
If it is only the third day i would hold out for the buck you came for. he is a strong 130 but not the 150 you were looking for. with five days left i think you made the right decision to pass
I've scored plenty of bucks and I would guess this one to do 126" gross, a few inches less net. To judge tines remember a bucks ears are usually 7" long and 16-17" tip to tip to judge spread. Their eyes are 4.5" around roughly to judge mass. It takes a lot for an 8 point to make 150", they are as rare as Booner bucks. The biggest 8 point ever shot in MN was just recently poached, it scored 190" gross and 185" net B&C!
Truthfully I don't know, have no understanding of the scoring system.
If it makes you fell better you made the right call,that was a 138 for sure!
I bet the deer is around 135 to 140 inches
He's a nice buck, but I agree with everyone else he just won't make the 150 mark. I'm going to guess 130 or so. He should be a real nice one next year!
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