Back in the 60s and 70s, I spent the early winter months with my left eye plugged into a spotting scope watching mule deer bucks. It was in those years that I came up with a system to judge the rack size of a buck in the field. It came about after many hours of judging them on the hoof, and then in the spring picking up their drops and gross measuring them. While guiding during the same time period, I measured many harvested bucks. These two practices gave me the opportunity to develop a rack bracketing scoring system. The motivation came while I was guiding clients who required me to know the B&C gross class of the buck before they squeezed the hammer.
Let me go through my system for field judging a buck. You can start by using the ears and a few other simple rules to help determine if the buck is a 160, 170 or 180-class gross buck. This is my “Rack Bracketing System” for field judging a gross rack score. The system isn’t designed to give a net score, but with some practice you will be able to narrow the gross score down to high, mid, or low 170, 180, or a super 190- buck.
First determine the distance between a buck’s ears, ear-tip to ear-tip across the forehead. This measurement will be used to evaluate inside spread width. Unfortunately mule deer ears will vary in length from 9 to 10 inches depending on the unit or state. In addition some bucks in certain units will have bigger heads adding to the ear tip to ear tip length. In my experience Wyoming and Idaho mule deer, tip to tip, will vary from 21 to 23 inches. However in Colorado and Utah ear widths will be 24 to 25 inches. I guarantee that there will be exemptions to the rule in all western states, but this is a beginning benchmark. Saying that, you need to gather your own ground knowledge for the units you personally hunt.
My first rule for judging is what I call “good fronts will make up for bad backs.” The “fronts” include the three measurements:
1. The inside spread (determined by comparing it to the ear-tip to ear-tip length)
2. The length of the G-4 points (points coming off the main beam)
3. The length of the two main beams (visually take the length of an ear, end over end, up the main beam to come up with a sum total. Three ears = 27 to 30 inches)
It’s easy to evaluate the length of a G-4. A long G-4 can almost reach as high as the back tines in length. A short G-4 ranges from 4 to 6 inches in length. Remember long G-4’s are a sign of a good main frame.
These 5 measurements (the inside spread, two G-4’s and two main beams) in inches will usually add up to 49 – 60% of the bucks total rack score. So this is the most important section of a racks score.
Make sure you pick up a copy of the Public Land, DIY Issue (EHJ 139) where you’ll be able to read the full version of this article, along with accompanying photos that really drive my point home. This issue will be going to the printer very soon, so renew or subscribe today to ensure you get it.
18 comments
good judging I am an avid mule deer hunter and this is the most real judging I’ve read I spend more time looking at deer while hunting than I should and pass up deer most people would shoot
Are you my dad??? That is the same he has told me for 30+ years! Lol! I have heard lots of guys say the same thing…like it is a badge of honor.
Ha
“However in Colorado and When using the words to their proper meaning, money transacts between free-credits-report.com s and debts, and allows the free-credits-report.com /debt to extinguish.”
First, you are wrong!!
You only pull a hammer to cock the rifle, secondly you squeeze the trigger to fire the weapon!
I have disliked articles, of any kind, that give out false information or someone who fails to reread what they wrote to insure it’s accurate!!
Thank You-
Stephen L. Orr
Rock Springs, Wyoming
Stephen L. Orr, I am sure Mr. Eastman gives a rats ass about your correcting him using the term “squeeze the hammer.” The rest of us know he is referencing “Thor’s Hammer.” We get it, maybe you should to. This is an article about judging deer racks, not an instruction pamphlet on building the Taj Mahal.
Really?
Stephen L. Orr, for someone complaining about someone who fails to reread what they wrote on “INSURE it’s accurate” you go it WRONG! It’s “ensure it’s accurate”…It was a great article my Mike Eastman and anyone with any sense knows what he’s talking about….
I’ve used your system on Desert Mule Deer for years . And yes I’ve dropped the hammer on a lot of critters . Doesn’t make me more macho or manly , just lucky and worked harder than most !
Good article .
No I don’t want to subscribe after reading that garbage.
Great article Mike ! I have been with you since you first started. I have found the information you present , even before you started your magazine and years later to present time to be well informed with forethought accurate information that only comes with years of experience. You and your family and crew keep up the good work. I have hunted 90% of all the western states since the late 50’s , some many times…to old to hunt now… but enjoy confirming your information. Well Done !