How to judge width?

C

cssoccer5

Guest
I can judge width ok on most deer, but there are a few that seem to have me fooled. Here are a few pics from our scouting this weekend. How wide do you think the bigger buck is and how can you tell? Thanks.
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I added the elk picture just for fun.
 
sometimes it matters where the deer are living. if it were out in the bookcliffs I would say 15-17 on the little guy and 21-23 on the bigger buck.

out on the front I would say
16-18 wide on the three point
22-24 wide on the bigger buck
the front bucks have larger bodies and bigger heads!!

I don't care to get down to the 1/4inch. I would classify them as shooters or non shooters on general hunts. if they are above average they are shooters. the big buck is a shooter and the little guy is a non shooter.

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Archery is a year round commitment!!
 
The way it works around here in MM land is that if it is your own deer and the antlers are as wide as the ears it's a 23 - 24 inch buck. If it belongs to someone else, especialy if it not a regular MM poster, then it is only 16 - 18 inches wide.
 
>The way it works around here
>in MM land is that
>if it is your own
>deer and the antlers are
>as wide as the ears
>it's a 23 - 24
>inch buck. If it belongs
>to someone else, especialy if
>it not a regular
>MM poster, then it is
>only 16 - 18 inches
>wide.


AAAHHHHHHHHHH hhaaaaaa haaaaaa haaaaa haaaaaaa

Then they'll ##### about ya havin a trailcam on a seep on "a hole they watch regularly".....
 
I completely agree. I see alot of "downgrading" of other mmer animals. I saw a post regarding the size of a deer and it was ridiculous! It was definitely a 150-160 class buck and someone gave it like a 130 score. Either the poster was just trying to get a rise or was jealous that he didn't have the same trophy to "brag" about. Give credit where credit is due! As for my guess on width, I go off the ears when (and if) they are straight out. If they are the same width, then it's at least 22 inches, more like 24. Like that 4 point, my guess would be a solid 24 inches, maybe as high as 26-definitely a shooter. Kill him and post a picture of a tape stretched across his horns to dis-prove all the haters.
 
I hope you guys aret getting you panties in a bunch over my post. the buck in the first picture looks 17 inches to me. the buck in the second picture could be the same buck but Im not sure. The big buck looks to be 23 to 24 wide and is a dang nice buck. like I said Id shoot it. Ive learned to be on the conservative side when scoring deer or judging width. ive been burned even on the deer I shoot. Why does score even matter if you see a buck you like during the hunt shoot it. if it doesn't turn your crank then let it live another year.

I dont know why you guys went and changed the topic of this guys post. he asked a question why get off on some tangent.

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Archery is a year round commitment!!
 
SW,
Definitely no jabs at you, but you have to admit that some of the posters on here get pretty critical. You've always been one of the straight shooters on here (punn intended). If it turns your crank then nail him- prophetic words man.
 
The average Mule deer, in an alert posture with it's ears forward, has an average ear tip to ear tip measurement of 20"-22". This can of course vary on region and maturity of the animal. It's a guide I use to judge antler width.
 
SW, My panties are rarely in a bunch. My smartass comment was not directed at anyone on this thread, least of all you. It's just the way it is around here. I think you have those bucks about right.
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-11-09 AT 10:57AM (MST)[p]Well I am guilty of under-judging quite often, but not because I want to depricate anyone's trophy - but because I am honest and would rather err on the low side and be happily surprised when he tapes out bigger than I had originially judged rather than be disappointed by ground shrinkage. Plus I think there is a lot more trophy inflation and over-judging that goes on around here than there is under-judging, though there is too much of both. At the same time, I ALWAYS maintain that a "trophy" is in the eye of the beholder and could really give a rat's behind what any particluar animal "scores". The story is what interests me most, and the experience is more important than an arbitrary number that only takes into account antler measurement. There is soooo much more to hunting than antlers. However, anyone who posts a pic on here better have tough enough skin to be able to take it both ways because someone is going to miss a perfectly good opportunity to keep their mouth shut guaranteed!

UTROY
Proverbs 21:19 (why I hunt!)
 
>LAST EDITED ON Aug-11-09
>AT 10:57?AM (MST)

>
>anyone who posts
>a pic on here better
>have tough enough skin to
>be able to take it
>both ways because someone is
>going to miss a perfectly
>good opportunity to keep their
>mouth shut guaranteed!
>
>UTROY
>Proverbs 21:19 (why I hunt!)


top 5 statements of the year!! thats funny!
 
My fool proof is to use the man ruler. No like someone mentioned above the mentioned 20-22 inches from full alert ear tip to tip is what i have done. seem to get me with in 10 inches or so
 
I shot a buck like hm a few years back on a ML hunt Thinking that he was just outside his year he should be about 25-26" wide with 23" ears well I was in for a suprise his ears was only 19" smallest ears I have seen on a mature buck. With that being said I think big one will be pushing 23 1/2" wide.
AND TO ANSWER THE QUESTION WITH A TAPE MEASURE.LOL


"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 
In Wyoming where we hunt the deer that we have look at range from alert 22-23. If the ears are straight out of its head its about 26 inches tip to tip. I always look to see how the ears are in position to the head. I would say your last pic would look like he's 26 inches that's my guess.



quest
 
Judging by ears can be very risky at best. I perfer to judge acording to the chest of an animal. In our AZ desert ears very from young bucks at 22-24 and big old mature bucks will be as high as 26-28 at the ears. I have found using the chest as 18" wide has kept me within 2" or so. Basic rule--If you like him--shoot him, if you have to make him grow--let him go!
 
26" ears are rare especially on high alert. Most mule deer ears average about 7 1/2"-8" long from the V where the auricle starts to the tip. Some deer ears will measure over 9" but it's uncommon. When a deer is on high alert looking right at you the ears are forward and tipped up, hence they are foreshortened. When the ears are in that position the V is very close to the widest part of the head behind the eyes. The average width across the head is 6". Like elkaholic stated 18"-21" is the norm in that pose. If the ears were held staight out on a flat plane they might go 24" or more but not when the deer is on alert.
 
I guess I was speaking about judging deer at a distance thru bino's or a spotter. We have killed and have had clients kill bucks that are 26-28 inches from tip to tip, flat, a few times over the years. The reason for these desert bucks growing 10-11 inch ears here is to radiate the heat. With temps over 120 degres, you can probably see why this has happened. We never give a deer 28 while jugding, but I can give a buck an honest 24" , on the ears, pretty frequently. I am not speaking of mountain deer, these are true "burra" deer I am talking about. Rocky mountain muleys will have smaller ears to hold the heat and to keep them from freezing off during extreme temps. The desert deer where I live and hunt may see only a few days below 30 degrees. Heat conservation is pretty non existant here. Sorry for the confusion, I should have made myself more clear.
Here is a 32" buck with 27 &1/2 inch ears
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and here is 30 &1/4 inch buck with 27 &1/2 inch ears
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Here is a 28 &1/2" buck with 26" ears
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Keep in mind these are measured flat and are AZ desert muleys, not rocky mountain deer
Travis
www.southwesthuntingadventures.com
 
That makes sense. Their hair is much thinner as well. Obviously I was only talking about Rocky Mountain muleys.
 

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