I will be traveling to hunt Illinois in a few days. I will only be allowed to take a buck with a minimum score of 140". In general, I am ok at looking at a deer and determining if he is a shooter. However, I am wondering if there is a "rule of thumb" for the base frame (main beams, spread, mass), G1, G2, etc. in order to check if he is a shooter. Any feedback would be appreciated. I'm trying to improve my measurement knowledge/vocabulary.
How to field judge a 140" Buck
Volfan
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net or gross?
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Not sure which outfitter you are using but most of them are more concerned with as long as the buck is a solid 4.5 year old than the 140" rule.Study more pics of how to age a deer than a bucks rack.No sure about you but if I look at a good 140"+ bucks rack too long,I'd be afraid of getting buck fever.Also what someone else said,you'll know that shooter that makes your heart pound outta your chest the second you see him.
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Amen.
The first time I went to IL I had the same concerns. The outfitter had a quick reference that helped a guy use to looking at PA bucks. Look at one side a calculate/guess the tines on that side. If they measure a total of 25 inches you will be in the ballpark. Kinda goes with the 90 inch general frame mentioned above. A 130 in would be 20 inches of tine on one side. Based off the length of a deer's ear, general 7-8 inches, this was the fastest way I could judge a cruising/chasing buck. Good luck
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This bucks official gross score was 178". Typical net score as an 8 pt is 163". Forget the exact measurement of the beams but they were right around 29".
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Here's a ten that scored in the low 170s. It's wider but not quite as long as main beams as the buck above. Long beams really help score. Not only do you get the extra inches in length but they tend to carry the mass further out the beam for added circumference score
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Well the last guy was just showing off with those pics...lol
If it's a 10pt you've got some solid advice....If it's an 8pt and you think "Holy Poopies that 8pt is 160"!!!!" then he's probably a 140" range 8pt....A lot of people don't realize just how big a true 140" 8pt is, it takes a hell of a deer to be an 8 and score much of anything. If you see an 8 and think "He looks like he will maybe make 140"???" then he's probably a 130" at best.
If it's a 10pt you've got some solid advice....If it's an 8pt and you think "Holy Poopies that 8pt is 160"!!!!" then he's probably a 140" range 8pt....A lot of people don't realize just how big a true 140" 8pt is, it takes a hell of a deer to be an 8 and score much of anything. If you see an 8 and think "He looks like he will maybe make 140"???" then he's probably a 130" at best.
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I'm not great at judging by no means. Here is a few pictures of a couple bucks I took in Montana in 2011 and 2012. While reading the post about the tines being out close to the nose I started going through my pictures to see how it related. I believe it could get you close but could leave margin for error. The place I hunted they had 115'' minimun, at one point or another on both of my bucks I was scared I was some where close to that number. These are my two biggest bucks taken to date, the 10 point from 2011 I automaticly said was a shooter from 300 yards away, at first sight I would have thought much higher in score as he looked like a monster. After getting closer I started second guessing if he would make minimum or not. The second year I did the same thing. I under estamated both bucks. If there would have been a 140 rule I would have been pushing my luck one year and the other I would be out of fine money. I best advise is to find out what the fine is for shooting one under the 140 rule and have it ready just in case, if you havent seen a buck that size before they look a lot bigger than what they are.
2011 - 145 6/8
2012 - 129 7/8
I have had several people see both mounts and think the 2012 buck is bigger than the 2011 because of the mass.
2011 - 145 6/8
2012 - 129 7/8
I have had several people see both mounts and think the 2012 buck is bigger than the 2011 because of the mass.
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This is a good read for me as I always try for a 140. I am not much help tho, everything I shoot usually ground shrinks 20". So I use one of the above methods and take 20" off the top. I can even over estimate with tons of trail cam pics but be spot on when guessing someone else's deer, go figure. If you are not used to seeing bucks that big try to be conservative in your estimates.
Marine, those are some nice bucks. Funny they look very similar to two I have on camera this year, thanks for scoring them for me!
Marine, those are some nice bucks. Funny they look very similar to two I have on camera this year, thanks for scoring them for me!
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There is definitely more to it than the guys saying a decent 10 point should make it. Here is a pic for reference. The 10 on the left is 126" and the ten on the right is 143". If you want more pics I can get them off my computer.
![Image]()
Left 126"
![Image]()
![Image]()
Right 143"
![Image]()
Left 126"
Right 143"
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Can I move in with you?
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A lot of misinformation posted so far, IMO.
A Midwestern buck of average mass, 8 points, ear wide and average tine length will be about a 125-130" buck. From that basic idea, you have to decide wether he has another 10-15" to make 140. Width will not get you very much score and not really a good determining factor whether a buck is 140" or not. Often times, beams to the nose are beyond 26", often much longer.
Mass and tine length will add inches on a buck very fast.
So, From the basic 130" frame, does he have a lot more mass than average? Is he much taller than average? Does he have extra points beyond the basic 8? Is the main beams very long? (No offense, but in my opinion the bucks listed above showing beam length to the nose is not the greatest example. To me, neither of those bucks have beams that reach the nose. Again, no offense...pics can be deceiving). Regardless, if a bucks beams are long enough to be even with the nose (when the bucks nose is parallel to the ground) then the deer is likely to be far beyond 140.
Another tip. If you get a look at a buck from the side look at the number of tines coming off his main beam...If you see 2 points, its most likely an 8pt. If you see 3 tines, its a 10pt (again, in general). So, from the side, 2is8, 3is10. Much easier and faster than 1,2,3,4,5
Take your basics everyday 8pt, ear wide, average tine length buck and see how he adds another 15" to make 140". The best scenario is to shoot a buck that you don't have to think whether he is 140" or not...you will know the very first time you lay eyes on him.
Best of luck to you.
A Midwestern buck of average mass, 8 points, ear wide and average tine length will be about a 125-130" buck. From that basic idea, you have to decide wether he has another 10-15" to make 140. Width will not get you very much score and not really a good determining factor whether a buck is 140" or not. Often times, beams to the nose are beyond 26", often much longer.
Mass and tine length will add inches on a buck very fast.
So, From the basic 130" frame, does he have a lot more mass than average? Is he much taller than average? Does he have extra points beyond the basic 8? Is the main beams very long? (No offense, but in my opinion the bucks listed above showing beam length to the nose is not the greatest example. To me, neither of those bucks have beams that reach the nose. Again, no offense...pics can be deceiving). Regardless, if a bucks beams are long enough to be even with the nose (when the bucks nose is parallel to the ground) then the deer is likely to be far beyond 140.
Another tip. If you get a look at a buck from the side look at the number of tines coming off his main beam...If you see 2 points, its most likely an 8pt. If you see 3 tines, its a 10pt (again, in general). So, from the side, 2is8, 3is10. Much easier and faster than 1,2,3,4,5
Take your basics everyday 8pt, ear wide, average tine length buck and see how he adds another 15" to make 140". The best scenario is to shoot a buck that you don't have to think whether he is 140" or not...you will know the very first time you lay eyes on him.
Best of luck to you.
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To play it safe If a deer isnt exceptionally big I like to use only 30" for mass and 22-23" for the beams. If you start figuring long beams and heavy mass you can be wrong by quite a bit. usually i will be a tad low but thats always a good thing 
If you really dont know how to score or havent had time around 140" deer then use this basic formula:
If the buck is mature, and has good mass and time length, you can assume he has 100" between his mainbeams, spread, and mass measurements.
Add all of his tines together from there and you ought to be within 5".
If the buck is mature, and has good mass and time length, you can assume he has 100" between his mainbeams, spread, and mass measurements.
Add all of his tines together from there and you ought to be within 5".
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- Odds of a 140 8 are low but you know when it's a shooter 8.I like looking for a 10 with 5 inch G1 and 10 to 12 inch G2's to get me North of 145 normally.big racks look enormous on a scrawny deer like in Texas so beware on using that As a guide.Good luck
do know this is a 11 year old dead thread that you responded to?
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Just account for ground shrinkage.. Aim for a 150 minimum and it will be 140
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