So I have a question…

[Encinal]

What is the antler trait is the biggest non-direct measured inch contributor of score?

Say Mass contributes 18% of the average deer’s score. On the bell curve… as mass of a deer goes up 5”, does the score average of deer go up linearly 5” or does it begin to deviate from the average score of that deer?

Which antler measurement of a deer contributes the most via non direct measurement of the 5 types of measurement. (mass, spread, beams, typical tines, and non-typical tines).

I think that it is either going to be mass or beams.

I discount inside spread, because spread is directly associate with beam length. Longer the beams… the greater the spread (more beam length before the turn on average)… but that's just a suspicion…

I don't know about typical tines because they are such a disproportionately large part of a total score already…

Maybe non-typical tines? Is a deer with non-typical tines more predisposed to be larger than just the measurement of those tines?


Thoughts?

[texas shag]

it would certainly depend on how you are scoring the deer. Are you using B&C net score, or gross score? Non-typical points would win if you are using net score.

If you are using gross score, I would be inclined to say mass. I feel mass reflects age, and deer with more mass also tend to have trash, which helps the score.

[cattlelackranch]

Yes kinda

[cattlelackranch]

I think mass is one of those things that bite you in the backside or surprise you on a score

Mass is a hard thing to score on the hoof unless you have a lot of experience with it. I get surprised some still. Good mass can add to a score quick.

[8pointer]

Inside spread is the least contributor to score. To the OP inside spread does not directly associate with beam length in all cases

[Encinal]

Inside spread is the least contributor to score. To the OP inside spread does not directly associate with beam length in all cases

It's certainly a large contributor… deer with longer beams are wider on average than deer with shorter beams.

High off the head or "swoop way back" narrow deer with long beams and "straight out" wide deer with short beams are the extremes.

[trophy8]

One thing that gets me on mule deer is the spread credit.... if the spread is wider than the longest main beam, you have to use the main beam length as the spread credit. Ticks me off to no end lol.

Mass is the hardest for me to judge and seems to make the biggest difference for me. The buck in my avatar surprised us with how much mass he had. I knew he had decent mass when i shot him. But he was a good ways off when i pulled the trigger. Walked up and was all smiles

[Coach W]

Interesting subject.. Im in.

I think the State of Texas says its inside spread. ie 13" rule.

[Encinal]

Interesting subject.. Im in.

I think the State of Texas says its inside spread. ie 13" rule.

They think that a narrow spread is a highly correlative to AGE before 2 or 3, and they are correct.

This is a little bit different thought process.

[Aggieivy06]

They think that a narrow spread is a highly correlative to AGE before 2 or 3, and they are correct.

This is a little bit different thought process.

A bit philosophical for a saturday morning but this is how I thought of the correlation as well. However, I was thinking of mass instead of width. Narrow spread is generally indicative of a young deer but only until 2 or 3. With mass, generally a heavier deer is older, so the buck has a better chance of being at max antler potential.

But, taking age out of the equation, an increase in mass is not going to affect width, tine length, or beam length. Longer beams generally means a wider spread and the potential for more tines. Tough decision, but I would go with mass because historically, my higher scoring bucks have been the heavier deer (5"+ bases).

[Aggieivy06]

But I will say the mulie in my avatar had a weird genetic trait and only had 15" main beams. It absolutely killed his score--he had great forks for a panhandle mulie.

[GarGuy]

I think beam length. It takes pretty good mass to keep a 27 inch beam from getting snapped. Long beams give room for more tines too.

[TxAg]

One thing that gets me on mule deer is the spread credit.... if the spread is wider than the longest main beam, you have to use the main beam length as the spread credit. Ticks me off to no end lol.

Mass is the hardest for me to judge and seems to make the biggest difference for me. The buck in my avatar surprised us with how much mass he had. I knew he had decent mass when i shot him. But he was a good ways off when i pulled the trigger. Walked up and was all smiles

I understand your frustration, but I'm the opposite....I can't wrap my head around giving deer credit for "air" which is all the spread is

[Mex. Bowhunter]

I would go with Beam Length all the way and I have not seen to many times where deer have long beams just due to being wide. Most I have seen had shorter beams. Mass is awesome and does help with score but, I have seen deer seem to loose Tine length as they pick up Mass yr to yr.

[Encinal]

I would go with Beam Length all the way and I have not seen to many times where deer have long beams just due to being wide. Most I have seen had shorter beams. Mass is awesome and does help with score but, I have seen deer seem to loose Tine length as they pick up Mass yr to yr.

I'm not saying that wider deer have long beams. I'm saying that deer with longer beams are wider than deer with shorter beams on average.