Gross Score is the amount of bone on the head...net is the result of how perfectly matched the sides are. A world record net is going to be much more admired and reverred over a world record gross. Large and perfectly symmetrical now that's the pinnacle of success. That being said..I understand and can admire the Net aspect of the game for world class animals. I just can't relate it to my woods...My cousin once told me, Nets are for fish! And Siman..I appreciate your woods..but 160 aren't dripping off the trees in NE Ohio.
I like and use the gross score. Doesnt bother me if net score is needed for P&Y as I don't plan on entering any. Tim
I have to agree. Gross score seems more indicative to me. Truthfully I like all bucks racks, big, gnarly ones and truly symetrical racks. All are nice to admire and respect.
I'm not a big fan of the Net measurement either. I also look at inside spread as it has no bearing on how much bone the deer is carrying. We are measuring the distance of air between antlers, yet if it is too much in some scoring systems it causes a deduction. Scoring can get downright confusing from system to system and in my opinion a deer should be rewarded for everything he has.
Symmetry in nature is few and far between. I think it's a joke to discount anything an animal has developed b/c it isn't symmetrical.
The scoring system is used as nothing more then a relative gauge for me. When my uncle says "I saw a 150 running through the field". I use it to size up the deer. I agree with net's - they are for fishing. Dumb concept, IMO.
There's no real reason to sweat it either way. If you want to score your buck using a net system, then enter him into P&Y. If you want a gross score, then enter him into SCI. Both are great organizations. The hunter can choose which avenue he wishes to travel... Bone is a great way to document a healthy herd...it's human nature to find the best means to define that health. You guys are all smart fellows. You will figure it out when the time comes-if it's that important.
Just a thought. Did you hit one with your vehicle? Ha Ha. As far as the points deductions I do not agree with it either I think it should be scored an never penalized.
I have no idea what your problem is, Ark....but you're barking up the wrong tree. I'm a huge Baseball fan. If someone stated the majority of Americans care little about the game, that wouldn't bother me in the least. It's likely true.
We have standards for everything, why should the Pope & Young Club be any different. An ugly uneven or broken rack that scores 125 will not score the same as a perfect even 125" rack and it shouldn't. Typical means typical. I mean lets get for real here, you going to take your car to a car show and expect it to win with a crushed front end? My problem is with the Nontypical category not scoring every inch of rack, there should be no deductions in the nontypical category. I like the Inside Spread measurement. Again it rewards the Typical looking rack, too narrow and you score a few inches less, too wide where it exceeds the beam lingth and looks unnatural and you get a deduction. It's a good system. Would splits, drops, stickers, to narrow or too wide a rack keep me from droping the string on one, No.
