Tinesup Report post Posted March 9, 2013 Does all this over scoring of animals bother you? For example everytime I see a post or text message of a buck or bull it seems like most of the time the animal has been over scored. I noticed on another site I visit they had a guess the score contest and not one person but myself got close to the actual score of the antlers. All newbies on here are learning and judging these animals over these ridiculous over scored numbers. Im not saying Im anything special I just think all these numbers 400", 200", 120" always seem to be everyones target so If someone gets a 385" bull elk all of a sudden its a 400". I recently saw a blog post of a very reputable outfitter claiming his clients coues deer to score 120" broken and 127" unbroken. I would bet my life, wife and kids that this buck didn't score over 115" max. Tell it how it is folks. Geez! Ok so now that I got that out I feel allot better. I say lets post up the most over scored trophys you've seen lately and humble these individuals. Post up a pic and the claimed score and see if the majority agree or disagree with the score. This should be fun. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
THE RIFLEMAN Report post Posted March 9, 2013 So what..... Hunters are are known for telling exaggerated stories and bald face lies! !!! It will never change!!!! Did I tell you about the 200" typical Coues that my grandfathers neighbors brother shot !!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Redman Report post Posted March 9, 2013 I always over scored until I actually learned how to score. Its like the OJ case, "if the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit". But with that being said, pictures are deceiving and without a known measurement of an object.... a inch here and there can make a big difference. But I really don't care what other scores are thrown out, I still have to wake up everyday.;..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couzer Report post Posted March 9, 2013 If someone over scores, oh well! If it makes them feel good, fine by me. Didn't a member on here say something like don't get hung up on scores? I am glad to see folks huntin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elkaholic Report post Posted March 9, 2013 what are you calling - the only one who got close to the actual score ?? within an inch?? i've been on most of the contests on Az hunting sites and if i get within 3-5 inches thats a good guess. telling it like it is - are we talking gross or book score - my coues grossed 119 5/8 but officially booked 108 - so do tell everyone its a 108 or a 120 a shed antler on another site was just up for guess the score - at least 80% or better underscored the antler to many important things going on in our world today , to worry if someone shows a rack and you disagree with the stated score - be carefull what you bet - its easy to lose! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rossislider Report post Posted March 9, 2013 I wouldn't jump down anyone's throat for scoring a bit off. Its not hurting anyone. Why not let them have that extra bit of pride in their success. I would never want to deprive a fellow outdoors man of that, especially a "newbie". We have all been a "newbie" at one point. I think the better approach would be to congratulate and coach rather than chastise. Today's newbie will be tomorrow's veteran, coaching the next generation of hunters. Lastly, one of the best parts about hunting, fishing, the outdoors, etc are the stories that are passed on for years. With time the stories only "grow" bigger and better. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AverageJoe Report post Posted March 9, 2013 I think a lot of people really dont know what it takes for an elk to actually be 400". I have seen a guess the score contest on a 360 bull and many guesses were 380-400. But like you said mostly by new hunters. That is the problem with the trophy hunting world we live in. Everyone wants their bull to be 400 or somehow its not a good bull?? Lol! So new hunters come in and the first big bull they see they say well that's gotta be a 400" bull! When in reality its around 350. Same goes with deer too but i see it mostly on elk where there is more room for error. No big deal though, live and learn. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted March 9, 2013 It doesn't really bother me.....not sure why it bothers anyone. Unless someone says it's an official score, I figure it's not accurate and it's just a guess. Appreciating the animals is what counts to me. Whether they score well or not and whether the person is accurate or not doesn't really matter. It's just a way to give other people a rough idea of the caliber of buck/bull. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cbryant11 Report post Posted March 9, 2013 I dont like the guess the score contest unless theres an official score sheet with it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted March 9, 2013 I dont like the guess the score contest unless theres an official score sheet with it That's why I only use animals that I (or another official measurer) have officially scored for contests here. If it's not officially scored, then it's harder for someone learn how to judge an animal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted March 9, 2013 Does all this over scoring of animals bother you? I noticed on another site I visit they had a guess the score contest and not one person but myself got close to the actual score of the antlers. All newbies on here are learning and judging these animals over these ridiculous over scored numbers. I say lets................. humble these individuals. This should be fun. Newbie, to answer your question honestly, no it doesn't bother me because I was taught a long time ago huntin is like fishin. Everyone but newbies know the size never stays the same. Heck, my wife caught a trout years ago and it's put 3lbs on in over 2 decades. My friend shot and killed a pig this year that gained 5lbs overnight. Now for me, I have never ever exaggerated the size of a buck, fish, or ever used a wide angle lens to make my trophy look bigger than it really was but then again. Welcome to the site Tinesup and don't take this personal. Just having some fun with ya. ps...........you are not allowed to enter any quess the score contest. TJ 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues Sniper Report post Posted March 9, 2013 Who cares 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues 'n' Sheep Report post Posted March 9, 2013 Today I am all about gross score not book score, however, I went through a time when book score was what mattered. We quit putting our critters in the books a few years back... mostly cuz it didn't do the animal true justice in many cases, and the "books" are quite honestly just not as important to us as they once were. There are many broken spokes in the scoring wheel, IMO... but what has created the problem that you are agrivated with is $$$$ and egos... Tape stretching and lying about score starts a chain reaction and then the next guy's trying to keep up, pretty soon the first liar doesn't stand a chance. Hunting is suppose to be more like Golf... You against the animal, just as golf is you against the course... My son's late coues hunt was a great example of that: We passed a buck on the 2nd day and again on the 5th or 6th day that I felt was a Solid (and likely conservitive) 110"-112" mature coues buck... he was a great trophy deer and my son liked him because he was a bit trashy. But he felt that since he already had a 112"er that he (we) could do better and we had seen many bigger bucks in his unit. We spent the Entire 2 weeks trying... He ate tag soup...and... We had an amazing hunt! Were we stupid... Nah... it was about the great hunt we had and his personal goals. And if he would'a smoked that buck then he would have spent the rest of the year wondering if he had sold himself short... that in my mind is a true trophy hunter. I told you that to say this.... If a hunter is true to himself and to his own goals then tape strrtching becomes less common... However if everyone is too busy trying to keep up with the Jones's then you get to where we are now. I have come to the conclusion that I really don't care who is doing what any more... and I am just gunna do my own thing... However to answer your question... YES... it does bug me when you see a critter pic that does not appear to even come close to the number under it...HaHaHa, but who am I to judge... I have under and over judged critters many a times depending on the circumstances. And Tinesup.... I see your a newby... don't let them get you down in the mouth for asking a great question! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azgutpile Report post Posted March 9, 2013 Today I am all about gross score not book score, however, I went through a time when book score was what mattered. We quit putting our critters in the books a few years back... mostly cuz it didn't do the animal true justice in many cases, and the "books" are quite honestly just not as important to us as they once were. There are many broken spokes in the scoring wheel, IMO... but what has created the problem that you are agrivated with is $$$$ and egos... Tape stretching and lying about score starts a chain reaction and then the next guy's trying to keep up, pretty soon the first liar doesn't stand a chance. Hunting is suppose to be more like Golf... You against the animal, just as golf is you against the course... My son's late coues hunt was a great example of that: We passed a buck on the 2nd day and again on the 5th or 6th day that I felt was a Solid (and likely conservitive) 110"-112" mature coues buck... he was a great trophy deer and my son liked him because he was a bit trashy. But he felt that since he already had a 112"er that he (we) could do better and we had seen many bigger bucks in his unit. We spent the Entire 2 weeks trying... He ate tag soup...and... We had an amazing hunt! Were we stupid... Nah... it was about the great hunt we had and his personal goals. And if he would'a smoked that buck then he would have spent the rest of the year wondering if he had sold himself short... that in my mind is a true trophy hunter. I told you that to say this.... If a hunter is true to himself and to his own goals then tape strrtching becomes less common... However if everyone is too busy trying to keep up with the Jones's then you get to where we are now. I have come to the conclusion that I really don't care who is doing what any more... and I am just gunna do my own thing... However to answer your question... YES... it does bug me when you see a critter pic that does not appear to even come close to the number under it...HaHaHa, but who am I to judge... I have under and over judged critters many a times depending on the circumstances. And Tinesup.... I see your a newby... don't let them get you down in the mouth for asking a great question! +1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
