That's a good point, Bruce. Fletch...What if I told you I killed a 103-1/8" buck in 2007? What would that tell you? Just curious.
True Bruce. Guess I am actually interested in both. Some of the neatest bucks I have seen are relatively small in inches but had impressive body size and age. Antlers size is just one piece of the puzzle. I'm interested in all of it. Good point.
Yes and no. If your talking with your neighbor who shot a buck, you'd like to know the details of that buck (at least I would).
If you killed it at home, it would tell me that you took a great deer for the area. Congrats on that. If you also told me the age of the deer and configuration of the rack I would have a pretty clear picture of your deer and that is fun for me. I understand that score alone does not provide enough information, nor does points, or age. But together, I have a pretty good understanding of what you are talking about. For me, score is useful with photos too because we all know that photos can be quite deceiving. Some people like cars, some like coins, some like deer. The more information they can get about their interests the better.
Don't necessarily disagree but the details surrounding the taking of a buck that would interest me are age, location, time of day, time of year, on/off a trail and more. Yes, I would be interested in seeing the rack but that is pretty low on the list. The actual inches don't make my list.
That is certainly a good thing. I am not interested in inches but, to tell the truth, I am glad that a lot of folks are. Anything that generates more interest, and would get more people involved in hunting, is a good thing in my book. Sure, the focus on inches can have a downside but, at least to me, the upside far outways any downside. Inches don't appeal to me but that doesn't mean I don't like it or think it is bad.
Bruce, thats because you are open minded enough to understand that not everyone interested in "inches" is worried about ego. Good post.
Remember when I was telling you about my 3x5 mule deer and called it Bambi? You asked me if I was being sarcastic or blowing off a potentially big deer. The numbers 3 and 5 didn't mean anything in points. I explained that it really was a small deer (15 inches wide) and was too small to even bother measuring. It just needed to be taken out of the gene pool. As soon as I said "15 inches wide" you immediately went on the Bambi side of the fence. Simple as that. Points don't mean much. I measured a 3x3 mule deer down in Colorado that we all had bets ranging between 140-155. It measured 189. Who would have thought, right?
I agree. Hell I didnt' even know my "10 pointer" that I shot 3 years ago was an 11 pointer until someone pointed it out to me recently lmao.
I played Football & Basketball, and now I enjoy watching it but....................................... Honestly I do Not care about the score I just enjoy the Games. Dan
Score could tell me that it is not a spike. It could tell me that its not likely a 1 1/2 year old. If told the mass measurements, I might even come close to the age. So, actually, yes the score can tell me a fair amount of information. It's just one part of the equation. Maybe we dont share a lot of "sense" in common.
I like deer. They have always fascinated me. So has their antlers. I get great satisfaction from examining them, this includes measuring and scoring them. I really enjoy scoring them on the hoof. I find it fun to see how close you were when you or your buddy kill one that's been seen before. When I'm asked for a description of the buck I saw or killed, I can't think of a more useful tool to use for this than some numbers. Score. For describing all out size, my friends and I use the gross score. For further info we also come up with an estimated net score to help point out any glaring differences from side to side. Number of points. We like to know this too and were give the configuration..... 5x5, 6x4......4x2 ..... etc. Along with this info we also guestimate age and body size. Most of us weigh the dressed out deer and have that info as well. This is fun for us. Who's to say it isn't? When one of my buddy's asks, "What'd ya get?" I say, "I got a 9 pointer, 4x5. He grosses in the mid 130's but will only net about 116 as a 6 pointer, missing g-2 and a couple of stickers. Big hit on deductions. However, this thing was huge!! Dressed out at 220 lbs, 28 inch neck under the jaw. Figured him to be 5 1/2 (based on sightings from the previous year). This buck demanded respect!". I think it's a damned good description. BTW, were usually smart enough to only give as much info as needed to satisfy who ever asked. Why go through all that for someone who don't care?
Fletch....really, we're beyond "score", now. Of course....if I shared the score sheet and told you he was 4.5 and weighed 200#'s....it would tell you a lot. But, simply knowing he's a 103" and some change buck....doesn't tell you much, at all (in this instance). I really have NO problems with people wanting to know scores AND any/all details the hunter wants to share. None. But, again....we've progressed way beyond just a gross score for an animal. Whether that's "common sense" or not....is not for me to judge. Again...I have NO ISSUES with you wanting to know these things. It's just not important to me (any more).
It tells me that it was a branch antlered buck. Probably at least 2 1/2 years old. Might even tell me its a top end animal for the area. Not a bad start. I would call that something. Look, you are the one that said "its an 8 pointer", is all anyone ever needs to know. I think I have shown that is not necessarily the case. If you told me it was an 8 pointer, I would know far less.
