I think lastoneouts pics are a good example of pic angle making a difference! In the first pic i'm thinking maybe 110 tops...second pic, maybe 120 and last pic, pretty sure gross pope! If I saw only first pic and someone said 130, my reaction would be "no way, your crazy"...last pic, i'd say "yea, could be"
Those up close just the rack pictures always make them look smaller in my opinion...as there is no reference or comparison things in the photo. With a hunter in the picture we begin to be able to compare width to chest width of the hunter, thickness to arms/hands....etc.
I think part of the problem is all the hunting shows and their bucks. They shot an 8 pt and say, that's a good 140's buck. It takes a lot to get an 8 to the 140's. So I think a lot of people have no idea and go based off what they see.
Very good and informative post!! I would venture to say that a lot of the scores you are seeing are likely the first animal most have ever scored. I would struggle myself as I have relied on my neighbor/taxidermist to do it for me. If you really want some sort of accuracy for a forum contest like this then you could have the person take pictures while they are scoring. Either that or simplify it some by doing just number of points, inside spread and maybe antler base measurement, etc..
I hear ya, and honestly I could care less about the contest as it's for fun. However, I know a lot of guys that brag about a "so big inch" wise buck only to be laughed at or corrected. It's a learning experience and one which I'll admit I'm not perfect at. I usually have mine scored, and then I double check their measurements myself.
My question is... where do you get the extra numbers at if you measure it... it's either there or it's not... I really felt like my buck from last year would go 115-120" .... Nope... unless I'm doing something wrong... 110 4/8" You can add a few inches here and there by giving your self some heavy 1/8ths and such... but it's not gonna add up to some of the big numbers I've seen put on deer. Not that it really even matters... but if it's something you wanted to shoot and your happy with it...why stretch it? My next buck may be smaller... I'll still be proud regardless.
aaron, post up another pic or 2, I'm thinking you MAY be doing something wrong unless that is "net"...which no one seems to use...is his left beam broken or is that just the angle? inside spread?
After looking at the scorecard, there's a couple "Veterans" from the board that need a lesson in scoring too.
He looks bigger in the hero shots... and Yes his main beam was broke in velvet and re-grew... And make that 108 2/8" If I did my math correctly this time... 13 5/8" inside spread. MB 19 5/8 -- 16 3/8 G1 4 1/8 -- 4 5/8 G2 4 -- 3 4/8 G3 4 6/8 -- 3 4/8 G4 -- -- 3 2/8 H1 3 5/8 -- 3 3/8 H2 3 3/8 -- 3 H3 3 2/8 -- 3 6/8 H4 3 1/8 -- 3 3/8 Abnormal 4 1/8 This is him beside a 100" 8 pointer... kind of puts it into perspective.
