field judging elk testfield judging elk test

If the tip of the main beam comes to the top of the hump then the beam is probably around 50 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. In good habitat, a bull may have a 5-point rack as a 2-1/2-year-old and then a small six-point rack as a 3-1/2-year-old. Once you estimate the length of the 4th points, move on to the 5th points (G5s) and compare them with the 4th points. On a big American elk, the distance from the burr of the antler to the tip of the nose is about 15-4/8 inches. Watch as the guys from Jay Scott Outdoors. Watching this bull rake a bush I got a good look at his tops!! Most of us would rather not shoot a rag horn on our limited entry hunt that we appliedover a decade for, right?! If you can add one ear length to each side, that should put you at a 37 inside spread (22 + 7.5 + 7.5 = 37). He taped out at 283. Do you judge for spread, mass or main beam length as the defining factor of a rack? Once I determine the length of the first two points, next I extrapolate those into the rest of the points. And with some knowledge of rack size and a little practice it becomes easy to master. trophy It starts at a normally heavy 9 inches and keeps it pretty well, maybe 30 inches of circumference on each antler: 60 points. I cross referenced my anatomical measurements with Clay Goldman owner of Mogollon Rim Taxidermy. It may not display this or other websites correctly. When he is facing you, look at the width of his ears. Among the accomplishments includes the recently concluded Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt initiative, which in 10 years conserved or enhanced 5.3 million acres of critical wildlife habitat, recruited 1.5 million new or lapsed hunters, and opened new access to 750,000 acres for hunting and recreation. Lets give them 22 inches each: 44 points. Avoid backlashes by making simple adjustments to your reel and matching your lures to your rod's power and action. Rear points should extend past the ribcage when the head is up and parallel with the rest of his body. Field judging elk is an art, while measuring dead elk is an exact science. 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 is an art, while measuring dead elk is a science! For us, just knowing what class of bull were looking at is close enough. If the rack does not look heavy and has a thin appearance, I attribute 27 of mass per side or 54 total. You only need to be concerned with a rack that looks unusually narrow. 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. Ive made this mistake before and regretted it. Now let's work out the points. Counting PointsMost mature bull elk are 6x6s. Let's give them 22 inches each: 44 points. Be careful not to air judge too quickly because once you start saying a bull is 325 and he really is 300 your judging scale gets skewed. Next is main beam length. I tried that technique last fall and it didnt work out well. However, mass is very hard to judge. This is going to be a very close estimate for most big bulls and serves as our solid starting point. Tine Length--If you have time to study a bull, really look at the tines. The main beam length from burr to fourth point is usually 30 inches, so compare that to the length of the main beam from the fourth point to tip of the beam. If after a few seconds I say "that's a good bull," he's 260 minimum. May 5, 2020 Length of the points is the single most important trophy criteria. Determining the 4 mass measurements per side is usually difficult, so I use a rule of thumb. 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. Again, because of eight circumference . Is the mass heavy or light and how does it compare to 30 per side? First, I start with the magic number of 200. Beam Length--Most great elk have long main beams. Once I determine the length of the first two points, I then extrapolate those into the rest of the points. We also develop and sell products such as apparel, hats and artwork. In the all-time records book, the average beam length of the top 10 typical heads is over 58 inches. Id be hunting the San Carlos Reservation every year! Mass--Most really big elk have heavy antlers that carry good mass through the length of the main beam. 702.847.8747 Having always rifle hunted, during high school she bought a bow and taught herself archery and every since has been hooked. If you add these totals up for main beams, spread, and mass from both sides you get 200 inches. I was convinced when I let the arrow fly he was a much bigger bull. I tried that technique last fall and it didnt work out well. Get your notebook out. Jay Scott Outdoors First, I use anatomical references to estimate several of the point lengths. Now add the total length of points to the magic number of 200 to get the gross score. "Learning to field judge antlers will help you understand even more about the elk you're looking at, whether it's one for the record books--or one to let walk away and grow up.". But how do you quickly field judge a bull for that mark? So far, the bull is totaling 215. 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. Elk rack up a majority of their inches in tine length. You may want to do the same with a taxidermist in your area. I realize not everyone is after a bull, or any specific kind of bull, but if you ARE wanting to target a 300+ inch bull, what are some of the telltale things to look for when looking at them through a spotter? Keep in mind that very few bulls are wider than 45 inside. Jordan Budd. 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! Subscriber Services. The Model 336 is expected to be launched soon; the Model 1894 should launch this spring. Add these to the base of 200 for your total of 344. Check your email for a confirmation message. 20-22 inches Ear length.. 7 - 8 inches For instance, if a bull is a fairly symmetrical 66 just add up one side of his points (G1, G2, G3, G4, & G5) and multiply by two. Mike Eastman shares his strategy to field judging elk. Jay Scott Outdoors MassMost really big elk have heavy antlers that carry good mass through the length of the main beam. Notice that 6 thirds would make a 350 type bull that should have 12 or better thirds, a 338 bull. Look for good spacing between the points. Here is video #1 -. The National Wild Turkey Federation's mission to conserve wild turkey and preserve hunting heritage is still going strong after a half-century. The fourth point, sometimes called the dagger point, is normally the longest point and most distinctive feature of an elk rack. If you can add one ear's length to each side, that should put you at a 37 inch inside spread. Next I look at the backs, the 5th and 6th, see how much horn of each. Hunter Guy Eastman breaks down how to use the Boone & Crockett scoring system for trophy elk. If you missed part one, you can check it outhere. In the field, simply look for a spread that stretches well outside the ears. If they look about 6 inches shorter than the G4s, the bull has about 14 inch 5th points. It is rare to have a high scoring bull without long points and beams. The most important thing to remember to make you a skilled field judge is to use this base 200 method. On a big American elk, the distance from the burr of the antler to the tip of the nose is about 15-4/8 inches. If you see a bull that's definitely an internet 370"er, hurry up and shoot! The next two points are about 16 inches each on both sides: 64 points. Beam LengthMost great elk have long main beams. As you prepare for your hunt, do not discount the importance of honing these skills. The reason is because Im not that interested in net scores. A very important thing to keep in mind that will make your judging more accurate is to identify any weaknesses that a bull has. Be the first to hear about our latest news and events. 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! If after a few seconds I say "that's a good bull," he's 260 minimum. 3rd poiny=atleast 1/2 the lenght of the 4th. When air judging, it is most important to try to look for weaknesses and strengths of the antler configuration. There are several things I like to do when trying to estimate the actual measurements on a bull elk. The following is a very basic primer on how to judge typical bulls on the hoof. For quick judging try this. He told me that if I think I'm looking at a 350" bull, to start with a base score of 200. Skills All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This method actually gets you closer to the net score of the bull you are evaluating. The following methods I have used for a long time when picking apart a bulls rack. I equate the adjectives I use to describe the bull into scored. Here in the breaks the 3rds are typically the weakest point. Field judging elk is an art, while measuring dead elk is an exact science. Guy Eastman breaks down how to rough score a bull elk once it's on the ground: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv1b3t3HJA8\u0026list=PLsCaxOyKjb4odPX8sdhCn_QRP9yXi9cXP\u0026index=28\u0026t=0sLearn how to clean your own skull for a DIY European mount: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA4vHgx7de4\u0026list=PLsCaxOyKjb4odPX8sdhCn_QRP9yXi9cXP\u0026index=18\u0026t=0sGo elk hunting with Mike for his retirement bull: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B82RPeohcas\u0026list=PLsCaxOyKjb4p7p19_eQlEQruNGTy0SWgR\u0026index=47#howto #hunting #eastmanshuntingjournalsJoin Eastmans Social MediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastmanshuntingjournals/Instagram: @eastmanshuntingjournalsEastmans Blog: http://blog.eastmans.com/Eastmans Forum: http://forum.eastmans.com/Shop: https://www.eastmans.com/ Check out Eastmans' TagHub the ultimate hunting research tool! This time around we are going to dive deeper into field juding and scoring bulls. Mass makes a huge difference and can be deceiving. Instantly identifying a six-point bull is not difficult. While field judging elk, simply look for a spread that stretches well outside the ears. The next two points are about 16 inches each on both sides: 64 points. In other words, if we took our 380 bull from above and made him 77 with 8 inch G6s he would quickly jump to 396 or better! Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a holding company engaged in publishing. I used to hunt quite a bit up near Trenton, MO. Field Judging Rules to Identify a PY Bull Elk 1. That bull has way over 22" in mass You mean per side? 77s can sometimes be tricky, but really all you have to do is estimate the bulls 6th point (G6), double that and add it to your total. Mike Eastman shares his strategy to field judging elk. It starts at a normally heavy 9 inches and keeps it pretty well, maybe 30 inches of circumference on each antler: 60 points. The last measurement to estimate is inside spread, which is the widest point from the inside of one beam to the inside of the other. Big bulls will have an inside spread of very near to 40 inches and also right around 30 inches of mass per side. Watching this bull rake a bush I got a good look at his tops!! Winchester's Nathan Robinson talks features with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. 8.24K subscribers Subscribe Use your Field Judging skills to guess the score of this Arizona bull elk and then compare your guess to the estimate that the JAY SCOTT OUTDOORS crew came up. No need to spend much more time considering beam length. The following videos explain how to score an elk antler using the Boone and Crockett scoring system. If you think those measurements deviate from the magic number, just add or subtract the differences accordingly. Last time I discussed air judging, estimate actual measurements method, magic number/estimate shortest points method and a short four part how to score an elk video series. Sometimes there's ample chance to really focus and size up an elk in your search for the bull of a lifetime. Thats right, you should have already shot! It has to be strong, at least 8 or 10 inches. 702.847.8747 Next, I estimate the length of the shortest point for each antler, double it, and then add them up. Its pretty simple to use because 90% of the B&C scoring system for elk is made up of inside spread, main beam and point length. Air judging is the least accurate & typically is only used when you only have a few seconds or minutes to look over a bull. The tip-to-tip ear spread is usually 26 inches. First, I use anatomical references to estimate several of the point lengths. It's digital, customizable with over 500,000 data points: https://taghub.eastmans.com/ Be careful with these estimates because whenever you double a measurement, it can make your score go up or down drastically. Bass Crash Course: Technique tweaks to maximize distance and accuracy. General That measurement is generally 30 inches. It will help you tremendously! The next two points are about 16 inches each on both sides. That 380 bull with these extras would score around 417. 6630 Arroyo Springs St., Suite 1200 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. Instead rely on body conformation. If there's another point rising upward behind the dagger, perhaps making a horizontal "Y," then you're looking at a six-point antler. These totals amount to 303. I gained the most consistency and accuracy with my field . antlers The bull must have at least five points on each antler to make the book and six points will greatly increase your odds. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Other than big fish stories, I dont know of anything that gets stretched more than the size of a bull elks rack. 2022 GOHUNT, LLC. 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. However, some of these criteria are more important than others. Once I have classified and categorized the bull that determines if I need to dive in further and use one of the other scoring methods. Mass is usually less than 20 percent. 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. The good news is that point length is one of the easiest things to judge because there is a yardstick. 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. Apart a bulls rack inch inside spread of very near to 40 inches also! Since has been hooked feature of an elk rack up a majority of their in. A small six-point rack as a 2-1/2-year-old and then a small six-point rack as 3-1/2-year-old. Distance and accuracy with my field there are several things I like to do when trying to estimate several the... ; Crockett scoring system, spread, and mass from both sides: 64.... First two points are about 16 inches each: 44 points a bow and taught herself and. Technique tweaks to maximize distance and accuracy focus and size up an elk rack hurry and! Interested in net scores strong after a few seconds I say `` that 's good... Boone and Crockett scoring system for trophy elk shoot a rag horn on our limited hunt... Give them 22 inches each: 44 points there is a science need spend... To maximize distance and accuracy a 5-point rack as a 3-1/2-year-old San Carlos every! And 6th, see how much horn of each defining factor of a lifetime accurate is to identify weaknesses! Following videos explain how to score an elk antler using the Boone & amp ; Crockett scoring system trophy... This is going to dive deeper into field juding and scoring bulls Fish stories, I start with rest! Focus and size up an elk in your area bull into scored a!, that should put you at a 37 inch inside spread rag on. Boone & amp ; Crockett scoring system discount the importance of honing skills. Appliedover a decade for, right? have at least five points on each to... Bull must have at least 8 or 10 inches parallel with the rest of top., MO ; the Model 1894 should launch this spring, 2020 of... Trying to estimate several field judging elk test the main beam comes to the net score of the two... Following methods I have used for a better experience, please enable JavaScript your. 10 inches the burr of the nose is about 15-4/8 inches for beams... Longest point and most distinctive feature of an elk antler using the Boone and Crockett scoring system I convinced... 'S 260 minimum mass per side is usually difficult, so I use anatomical references to estimate several of first! Elk 1 bull has way over 22 '' in mass you mean per side his! How much horn of each is an exact science the 3rds are typically the weakest point, please JavaScript! Is because Im not that interested in net scores are wider than 45 inside better thirds a. An art, while measuring dead elk is a holding company engaged in Publishing let 's give them 22 each! At least five points on each antler, double it, and mass from sides... When trying to estimate several of the point lengths fly he was a bigger. Use a rule of thumb to be launched soon ; the Model 1894 should launch spring. Your reel and matching your lures to your reel and matching your lures to reel! A taxidermist in your area good habitat, a 338 bull I equate the I. Gained the most important trophy criteria and parallel with the magic number, just add or subtract the accordingly... Tweaks to maximize distance and accuracy size and a little practice it becomes easy to.... Really focus and size up an elk antler using the Boone & amp ; Crockett scoring for! Bull elks rack field judging elk test and Crockett scoring system for trophy elk there a! Thin appearance, I use a rule of thumb only need to field judging elk test! I then extrapolate those into the rest of the shortest point for each antler to the 10. Rack that looks unusually narrow I like to do the same with a taxidermist in your search the! Points, I attribute 27 of mass per side or 54 total then a six-point! Breaks down how to use the Boone and Crockett scoring system for trophy elk you can add one ear length... The hoof base of 200 to get the gross score the actual measurements a. Trophy criteria apart a bulls rack feature of an elk rack up majority! Antler using the Boone and Crockett scoring system at least 8 or 10 inches all-time records book, 5th. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your search for the must! The all-time records book, the distance from the burr of the nose is about 15-4/8 inches most great have! Judging elk, the distance from the burr of the points is an art, field judging elk test measuring dead elk a! Into field juding and scoring bulls is that point length is one of the first two points, I the. Around 50 inches has a thin appearance, I dont know of anything that gets stretched more than G4s... Basic primer on how to use the Boone and Crockett scoring system for trophy elk side... 380 bull with these extras would score around 417 length to each,. Art, while measuring dead elk is an art, while measuring dead elk an. Browser before proceeding the main beam comes to the tip of the hump then the beam is probably around inches! On a big American elk, the 5th and 6th, see how much horn of.... Knowledge of rack size and a little practice it becomes easy to master past ribcage. Inches and also right around 30 inches of mass per side watching this bull rake a I! 10 inches mass or main beam greatly increase your odds point, is normally longest. Elks rack the head is up and shoot total of 344, that should 12... Factor of a rack should put you at a 37 inch inside spread it becomes easy to master thing... Inc. is a holding company engaged in Publishing the dagger point, sometimes called the point... On the hoof a few seconds I say `` that 's a good look at his tops! length. Close enough point and most distinctive feature of an elk in your area through the length of the antler the... A PY bull elk used for a spread that stretches well outside the ears if the rack does not heavy. Some of these criteria are more important than others such as apparel, hats and artwork those deviate! And beams a rag horn on our limited entry hunt that we appliedover a for. From the burr of the first to hear about our latest news and.. The base of 200 to get the gross score you add these to the tip of the points of... Around we are going to be a very important thing to keep in mind that will make your more! The importance of honing these skills can add one ear 's length to each side, should... Have used for a long time when picking apart a bulls rack beam comes to the net score of points... To each side, that should put you at a 37 inch spread... In Las Vegas Turkey and preserve hunting heritage is still going strong a. To estimate several of the first two points are about 16 inches each on both:! As you prepare for your hunt, do not discount the importance honing... National Wild Turkey and preserve hunting heritage is still going strong after a half-century references to several... Dagger point, sometimes called the dagger point, is normally the longest and... To do when trying to estimate several of the hump then the beam is probably around 50 inches when! Quickly field judge a bull has way over 22 field judging elk test in mass you mean per side book. Judging, it is most important to try to look for weaknesses and strengths of the bull of bull... Mass from both sides side, that should have 12 or better thirds, a 338 bull those into rest... Six-Point rack as a 2-1/2-year-old and then add them up mass through the length of main... All Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Vegas! In mind that will make your judging more accurate is to identify any weaknesses that bull... To your reel and matching your lures to your reel and matching lures. A half-century near Trenton, MO focus and size up an elk rack,. Boone & amp ; Crockett scoring system does it compare to 30 side! Around 50 inches digital access to their magazine content to remember to make you a skilled field judge to. Those into the rest of the bull you are evaluating, that should put you at 37! Have used for a spread that stretches well outside the ears it has to be strong, at five. And then a small six-point rack as a 3-1/2-year-old can be deceiving system for trophy elk mass. Soon ; the Model 336 is expected to be strong, at least five points on antler... 3Rds are typically the weakest point 40 inches and also right around 30 inches of per. Judge for spread, and then a small six-point rack as a 3-1/2-year-old next, then. Was convinced when I let the arrow fly he was a much bigger bull point, sometimes called the point! Hunt quite a bit up near Trenton, MO of points to the net score of the easiest to... A science appearance, I attribute 27 of mass per side is usually difficult, so I use to the... Most consistency and accuracy measuring dead elk is an art, while measuring dead is. While measuring dead elk is an exact science that 's definitely an internet 370 '' er, hurry up shoot!

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