Field Judging Help

[soupcreek]

I am just looking for a few field judging tips. I found out last year that I lack good skills. I have some experience with big bucks, but honestly its pretty limited.
Last year while hunting with my little brother, we spotted what I thought was a pretty good buck. Based on width past the ears, body size compared to other smaller 4 pts. in the area, I judged him to be 28 inches wide and fairly heavy. Once the deed was done, he was on the ground, 24 1/2 inches wide, and not very heavy at all. I have a tag for the same area this year and want to take a nice buck. I don't want to get fooled again.
What are some good tips that help you guys keep some experiencing similar ground shrinkage?
Thanks for the help,
Soup
P.S. I will try to post a couple photos of my little brother's buck. It is a good buck, but not close to as big as I thought it was.

 

[soupcreek]

 

[legacy]

LAST EDITED ON Oct-12-07 AT 01:30PM (MST)[p]I think after reading other posts, it is a concensus that the width of a majority of mule deers ears are 22" - 24" wide (Not always the case). I have also seen this with my own experience. I think one mistake that is often made is people judge the width of the antlers when the deers ears are not straight out! Looking at a buck from behind, with his ears back, usually looks a lot wider than it actually is as well. Many people judge deer to be a lot wider than they actually are. I think it can be easy to do in the heat of the moment. I would just say look at as many pictures of dead bucks that have a width measurement.

-Yup, surely not 28", but a decent buck none-the-less. Congrats!
__________________________
"Life's tough, it's even tougher if you're stupid." - John Wayne

 

[swbuckmaster]

It doesn't matter how wide the deer?s ears are if you see a buck that looks big in the area you hunt take him. You will now how big the deer is because you should be scouting it. If it is bigger than the rest you have seen don't pass it up.

If the buck you killed was from a general Utah deer hunt you did good. If it was from a draw unit you could have done better.

I always go with the scenario if it gives you the shakes than take it.

I also always go with 18-20" ears and have never had ground shrinkage.