Field Judging Muleys

[trophyhnter]

Bohnter,

How much did the buck you shot during the archery hunt on the strip score? Its a dandy!

 

The second photo I posted is the buck I arrowed in 08 on the Strip. He grossed 197" and netted 191 2/8" officially.

 

 

That's what I thought......Maybe we can get you to post the "after" pic that is in your avatar or another harvest pic. Awesome buck for sure and I'm dreaming of one day getting one like that!

[JLW]

Wow - I way over shot it! Looks like I gave him an extra 20 inches. So, maybe for myself, the best way to guage if it's over 185 is if I lose control of my bowels when I see it.

 

Told you I stink at this.

haha!

I hear ya there Coach.

I've been on several stalks with bucks of that caliber and whenever I get within 100yds I start getting the fever!

 

James

[JLW]

KaibabHunter,

I found this.... hope it helps.

http://www.nevadarecordbook.com/stories/field%20judging%20deer.pdf

 

James

[BigGameHunter]

Wow - I way over shot it! Looks like I gave him an extra 20 inches. So, maybe for myself, the best way to guage if it's over 185 is if I lose control of my bowels when I see it.

 

Told you I stink at this.

 

Now that's funny!

[KaibabHunter]

KaibabHunter,

I found this.... hope it helps.

http://www.nevadarec...udging deer.pdf

 

That does help! Here's a couple more:

 

http://gothunts.com/field-judging-mule-deer/

 

http://www.liveforhunting.com/hunting/big_game/how_to_field_judge_mule_deer

[JLW]

KaibabHunter,

I found this.... hope it helps.

http://www.nevadarec...udging deer.pdf

 

That does help! Here's a couple more:

 

http://gothunts.com/...ging-mule-deer/

 

http://www.liveforhu...judge_mule_deer

1 more here are some directions with a score sheet.

http://www.trophymuleys.com/measuring/MDSCORE.pdf

James

[elkhunter]

If you buy the Outdoorsman resource guide magazine there's a good article on how to judge Muleys, there's several pics included and very helpful

[Coach]

This is quickly turning into my favorite thread ever on CWT. I've read most of the articles posted by JLW and KaibabHunter and there is some very solid advice there. I know I'll be memorizing every line of these articles.

 

As I've pointed out (and proven) sizing up mule deer is a little mysterious to me. That is probably due to the fact that I haven't actually seen many (if any) true giant mule deer on the hoof. I've seen plenty of pictures of them - but that's totally different.

 

Coues, I find, are pretty easy to judge, even from a distance.

 

I have to look at scoring mule deer much more like field judging elk. You can have a great looking 6x6 bull elk that makes you want to pull the trigger. But you have to really look at a lot of characteristics if you want to break through that 350 - 370 class range. I've hunted a lot of elk with friends and my own tags over the years and I'm really learning about how to break through that over-zealous mode when it comes to field scoring them. You really have to get picky about the fronts, the thirds, more importantly the overall width and the 5ths.

 

Most people I've been with get so caught up on the royals - which almost always look impressive, they forget about things like how far back are the 5ths, how tall are they? You can judge a bull much better by his 5ths and width than you can his royals. How far past the 5ths go to the end of the main beam? How far up the snout do the fronts go?

 

90% +/- of the time somebody thinks they have a 370" bull, they are looking at a 340 bull. And the rumors of a 400" bull usually are in the 370s, maybe 80's at best.

 

There's the "wow factor" when you see a big bull that you start throwing out numbers based on how impressed you are to see such a manificent animal.

 

I'm sure it is pretty much the same with mule deer. I've been hunting all over AZ for decades now, and I've probably only seen 2 - 3 mule deer bucks that would top the 150 range. Sometimes I tell people looking for a really huge bull that it will look almost like a cartoon - it will be so big you won't even have to start adding up inches - you'll just know it. I think this might apply to mule deer too. If you are super picky about a 185 vs. 200 mule deer, you're going to have to really look at width, depth, mass, kickers... on the other hand, you just might just see something that immediately know is exactly what you are looking for without having to pick it apart.

 

So, if you saw this, would you be measuring through optics, or shooting? LOL.

 

[Coach]

BTW, I love this quote...

 

"After familiarizing yourself with these guidelines and if you are willing to

scrutinize a buck to see if he has what you are looking for, then the decision

to keep looking or settle for what’s in your spotting scope is yours. If you

are willing to pick up your optics, repack your personal gear, smile and turn

your back on a buck lying totally unaware of your presence because “it’s just

not there” you’ve just reached a new pinnacle in hunting.

Remember, big trophies look big because they are! On the other end of the

spectrum, if there is any doubt about the quality of a trophy, “it isn’t big

enough,” do not talk yourself into seeing something that isn’t really there."

[huntjunkie]

This is quickly turning into my favorite thread ever on CWT. I've read most of the articles posted by JLW and KaibabHunter and there is some very solid advice there. I know I'll be memorizing every line of these articles.

 

As I've pointed out (and proven) sizing up mule deer is a little mysterious to me. That is probably due to the fact that I haven't actually seen many (if any) true giant mule deer on the hoof. I've seen plenty of pictures of them - but that's totally different.

 

Coues, I find, are pretty easy to judge, even from a distance.

 

I have to look at scoring mule deer much more like field judging elk. You can have a great looking 6x6 bull elk that makes you want to pull the trigger. But you have to really look at a lot of characteristics if you want to break through that 350 - 370 class range. I've hunted a lot of elk with friends and my own tags over the years and I'm really learning about how to break through that over-zealous mode when it comes to field scoring them. You really have to get picky about the fronts, the thirds, more importantly the overall width and the 5ths.

 

Most people I've been with get so caught up on the royals - which almost always look impressive, they forget about things like how far back are the 5ths, how tall are they? You can judge a bull much better by his 5ths and width than you can his royals. How far past the 5ths go to the end of the main beam? How far up the snout do the fronts go?

 

90% +/- of the time somebody thinks they have a 370" bull, they are looking at a 340 bull. And the rumors of a 400" bull usually are in the 370s, maybe 80's at best.

 

There's the "wow factor" when you see a big bull that you start throwing out numbers based on how impressed you are to see such a manificent animal.

 

I'm sure it is pretty much the same with mule deer. I've been hunting all over AZ for decades now, and I've probably only seen 2 - 3 mule deer bucks that would top the 150 range. Sometimes I tell people looking for a really huge bull that it will look almost like a cartoon - it will be so big you won't even have to start adding up inches - you'll just know it. I think this might apply to mule deer too. If you are super picky about a 185 vs. 200 mule deer, you're going to have to really look at width, depth, mass, kickers... on the other hand, you just might just see something that immediately know is exactly what you are looking for without having to pick it apart.

 

So, if you saw this, would you be measuring through optics, or shooting? LOL.

 

 

NO, I WOULD BE SHAKING LIKE A LEAF AND CRAPING MY PANTS!!

[KaibabHunter]

Coach, that buck definitely fits the no brainer category! Hopefully a no brainer gives me the opportunity so I can just skip the whole should I, shouldn't I dilemma.