Here’s a Guide To Scoring Your Whitetail’s Rack
OutdoorHub Reporters 11.09.18
Most hunters ‘score’ their whitetail’s rack in a very simple way: by simply counting the number of points on the antlers on either side.
So, if you bag a buck with five points on each antler, the typical weigh to ‘score’ that buck would be to call it a 5×5. Conversely, a buck with one point on one another but two on the other would be called 1×2.
This is a simplistic way to score the rack of a buck, but a little more complicated way (and the way that is used to measure trophies and records) is to measure the points, beams, and the circumference of the beams in between the points using the Boone and Crockett score method. Other measurements may be taken as well, but are not added into the total score.
NOTE: for this score method to work, you must ensure that both the skull plate and each of the antlers are fully intact
These measurements will also need to be taken with a steel cable or steel tape. Measurements must also be recorded down to one-eighth of an inch.
If this sounds a little confusing at first, that’s okay. We’ll go over how it’s done in greater detail.
To start, you’ll need a steel measuring tape that can measure down to an eighth of an inch, and then you’ll need a yard stick, paper and writing utensil, and a flexible measuring tape as well.
Once you have those items accumulated, you can proceed to follow each of these steps to officially score your buck:
- Count the number of points on the antlers on each side, and record them (NOTE: a point counts as a ‘point’ if it’s greater than one inch, otherwise, it’s simply an abnormal feature on the rack and should not be counted).
- Next, measure each point on the antlers on each side, and record the measurements. The Boone and Crockett scoring sheet will have enough room for seven points on each antler side. The vast majority of deer will not have that many, but in case yours does, you can simply add space yourself.
- Next, measure the spread of the antlers from the further tip on one side of the antlers to the other side at the widest point. The wider the spread, the higher your buck is going to score. Make sure that the tape measure is held parallel to the top of the deer’s head. Record the measurement.
- Next, measure the spread of the antlers from the highest tip on one side to the highest tip on the other side. Again, record the measurement.
- Next, you need to measure the inside spread of the beams. To do this, simply measure the horizontal distance in between the widest part of the curve on the inside of each side of the antlers. Record the measurements
- Next, measure the length of the main beam on each side of the antlers. Measure in a straight line from the base of the antler to the tip of the beam. This is where you will want to use a flexible measuring tape as you want to bend around the curve of the antlers.
- Next, you need to measure the circumferences points for the antlers, or the narrowest point between one spot on the antlers and another. You’ll need to use a flexible measuring tape in order to measure circles. Simply wrap around the measuring tape in a circle around a point. You’ll specifically want to measure the circumferences between the burr and the first point on one side of the antler (repeat on the other side), and being sure to always use the narrowest point.
NOTE: if you do not have a flexible measuring tape but do have a flexible steel cable, you can use the cable instead, and then mark the points on the cable after wrapping it around the circumference of the antlers. You can then lay out the steel cable on a yardstick, and determine what the measurements are according to the marketings that you made.
- Repeat the process above in between each points, always remembering to use the narrowest circumference.
At this point, the measuring process is complete. All that is left for you to do will be to total up the points. If you want to receive an ‘official score,’ you will need to get into contact with your nearest Boone and Crockett Club and have a professional measure the antlers as well.
