ELKSLAYER, I bet your pumped about this falls hunt, sounds like a good draw. Remember when feild judging animals there are EXCEPTIONS to all of the "general" rules.
Its always easier to visually see the top part of a bulls rack than the lower (or at least in most cases) so that is a good place to start. As far as "score" goes, generally length of tines/mains adds up alot quicker than mass or inside width. Look for a good "whale" on top. I always feel that is the MOST IMPORTANT "general reference" when feild judging. If you see a bull that the main seems to carry on forever and the whale looks like somone doing the "Y" in the "YMCA" dance, hopefully the length is good on the lower part of the rack and you are looking at a hog. 16" fifth is good. 20" - 22" sword is common on a 350+. (23" - 25" is super)Even on a 380 bull.
The thirds can be really important, some geographical areas because of genetics, even mature bulls can have little 8" thirds. Sometimes the thirds are hard to see depending on which angle the animal is. I have seen 350" bulls with only 10" thirds but pencil out the difference when the thirds are a sweeping 18"-25" or more!
Look for those lower end brows to dart out AND sweep up, as opposed to just ending. A "sweep" or "curl" in the brows I king of think is similar to a main, you can get several extra inches with a nice "little" upward curl in the brows. With 16" brows, you have to have a fair amount of growth up high to be sure of thatr 350", 18" to 22" brows will really help you pass that 350 mark easily.
Look for a main over 50", not sure how to describe in writing how to be sure a main beam is pushing 50". Seems like bulls with long mains ussually have a couple pretty good turns in their beam on the way to the end, and bulls with a real good "wowwie' on the home stretch beyond the fifth can really make that 50" a 55" main. (sorry, not sure of the proper termonology, but thats the word I use, wowwie)
By the way, I am refering to a basic six, just for ease of reference. So if you see a 9x12 non typ, this may not pertain and you will have to "ground check him" yourself. Try to judge some mounts as opposed to pics, they can be decieving. Mabey mounts in a large sporting good stoe you can look at from a distance?
By the way, so I dont get bashed by MBJB guy, the following is a diclaimer.
Bittersweetmuleymeat, poster of above said statement, herby declares he is NOT a self proclaimed proffesional elk scorer and therefore cannot be held responsible should ELKSLAYER shoot a 349 7/8" bull based on the information in his post.
Good luck, hope this helps!