Deer Scores

BWO · Nov 28, 2016

The Wyoming thread about 24 to 26 inch bucks brought up a question I have pondered about many times. This has probably been asked before, but I cannot remember reading it on here.
As a general rule of thumb, what score does a deer have to reach before it starts looking big. I know there are exceptions to every rule, I am just curious what everyone's thoughts are. I know personally I have seen several deer that wouldn't score much over 160, but have a big look to them.

Thanks

huntin50 · Nov 28, 2016

Big is in the eye of the beholder.

If you haven't seen many big bucks any 4 point is a big one.

Most hunters I would think a 160-170 buck would be big. A 175 plus buck a real trophy.

The average general hunter doesn't frequent this site. More avid hunters with big, to monster buck illness, frequent this site.

Some big frame and heavy 170 class bucks with small forks have about the same eye appeal as willow horned 180 class bucks with good forks IMO. Inches alone don't make a big buck IMO.

YELUM · Nov 28, 2016

Big is big, regardless of score. Heres an examnple buck. I don't think he every broke 180 in the 4 years I watched him, but Every time I saw him I screamed big buck.

Yelum

YBU

Homer · Nov 28, 2016

score.....and appearance are two different animals.

I had two heads in my shop at the same time to officially score...one was a 38" 4x4 and the other was a 25" 4x4.....the 38"er netted 176, the 25"er netted 193...........

if they were standing together, 99% of hunters would shoot the 38"er....me included

BOHNTR · Nov 28, 2016

LAST EDITED ON Nov-28-16 AT 08:36PM (MST)[p]>score.....and appearance are two different animals.
>
>
>I had two heads in my
>shop at the same time
>to officially score...one was a
>38" 4x4 and the other
>was a 25" 4x4.....the 38"er
>netted 176, the 25"er netted
>193...........
>
>
>if they were standing together, 99%
>of hunters would shoot the
>38"er....me included

Yup!

BOHNTR )))---------->

Zeke · Nov 28, 2016

The above posters are right, in my opinion.
Score doesn't always mean big and big doesn't always mean big score.

If I had to be pinned down, I'd saw once they top 170" they are pretty damn good bucks. But again, big is in the eye of the beholder and dependent on location.

Zeke

Pcjr21 · Nov 28, 2016

From my experience. My blood flows with any buck with somewhere around 38 and up inches of mass! I have seen 22" bucks with 38" of mass and I was fired up! I have killed 3 bucks over 38" and each time I never thought twice about pulling the trigger!