Help me score please!

[HottyToddy]

Alright - 2 different deer here. I've been told by many people that the one with both brow tines would be 120-125"ish, and the one with the broken brow would be 115-120"ish. I've scored both, multiple times, but I don't really know what I'm doing. I've scored the one with both brows at 107" and the one with a broken brow at 105". Am I scoring wrong, or are people over exaggerating the size (I would guess it's the latter).

First 3 pics are the broken brow deer, last 2 pics are the intact brow deer.

Thanks!

 

[TNGunsmoke]

105 and 107 measured with a tape trumps eyeballs on a picture every time.

 

[HottyToddy]

105 and 107 measured with a tape trumps eyeballs on a picture every time.

So 105 and 107 doesn't sound crazy low? I'm inclined to believe the tape, but again, I don't know what I'm doing with a tape.

 

[TNGunsmoke]

So 105 and 107 doesn't sound crazy low? I'm inclined to believe the tape, but again, I don't know what I'm doing with a tape.

Not to me.

 

[megalomaniac]

pretty simple, you get 4 mass measurements on each side, total beam length on each side, inside spread, and then tine length from tip of tine down to where it arises from the beam. As long as you got all those boxes checked, I'd say you were close on your measurement.

Just based on pics, the first buck 'looks' to be 110-115 to me, and the second one 'looks' around 115

 

[HottyToddy]

pretty simple, you get 4 mass measurements on each side, total beam length on each side, inside spread, and then tine length from tip of tine down to where it arises from the beam. As long as you got all those boxes checked, I'd say you were close on your measurement.

Just based on pics, the first buck 'looks' to be 110-115 to me, and the second one 'looks' around 115

I'll have to go back and check, but I think I only took 3 mass measurements? Base/G1, G1/G2, G2/G3. I looked up whether to take the mass between G3 and end of main beam, but I think what I saw said no? I'll have to double check. That would add a couple inches to each...

 

[megalomaniac]

I'll have to go back and check, but I think I only took 3 mass measurements? Base/G1, G1/G2, G2/G3. I looked up whether to take the mass between G3 and end of main beam, but I think what I saw said no? I'll have to double check. That would add a couple inches to each...

the last mass measurement is halfway between the last point (the g3 on a typical 8pt) and the end of the beam. It will probably be around 2in, so it should add 4 inches to each buck's score

 

[Volbuck777]

They look to be between 105-115. Nice bucks

 

[Ski]

Without putting tape to it there's no way to know for sure, but your measurements don't sound way off. Maybe a touch low but that could for sure be accounted for if you're not taking all 4 mass measurements.

Yes people very, very often grossly over estimate score. That becomes quite apparent once you begin measuring for yourself. A lot of hunters would be surprised to see just how big a legit 120" rack is.

 

[quackaholic]

105 and 107 give or take looks about right to me. It takes a lot of antler to break 125. Most people dont realize that.
But those are very nice bucks. Don't get too hung up on score. This Ohio buck just breaks 125 net.

 

[HottyToddy]

They look to be between 105-115. Nice bucks

Thank ya much

 

[HottyToddy]

Without putting tape to it there's no way to know for sure, but your measurements don't sound way off. Maybe a touch low but that could for sure be accounted for if you're not taking all 4 mass measurements.

Yes people very, very often grossly over estimate score. That becomes quite apparent once you begin measuring for yourself. A lot of hunters would be surprised to see just how big a legit 120" rack is.

That's why I started this quest… see a lot of people's pics with 120" deer and I'm like… I don't think these are equivalent…

Kinda like @quackaholic above! Nice deer!

 

[TN Larry]

I'll agree with others that your measurements are close and maybe a tad low since you didn't add the last mass measurements. Also, make sure on tine length that you are measuring from where the tine intersects the main beam to the tip. Some start mid main beam and others the bottom of the beam, but the intersection is the right spot.

Some people don't realize how big a 120 or 130" 8pt really is.

 

[TN Larry]

A lot of hunters would be surprised to see just how big a legit 120" rack is.

Say it louder so the ones in the back can hear it! This is spot on.

This deer score 121" but had several guess it a lot more.

 

[Ski]

This deer score 121" but had several guess it a lot more.

Yessir that is a great example of a 120" rack. Beautiful full frame!

 

[Ski]

This Ohio buck just breaks 125 net.

A lot of times there's a big difference between gross and net. With 10 points to score and wide spread I'm guessing that guy grossed quite a bit above 125".

 

[Snake]

105 and 107 give or take looks about right to me. It takes a lot of antler to break 125. Most people dont realize that.
But those are very nice bucks. Don't get too hung up on score. This Ohio buck just breaks 125 net.

Yeah net but they don't like that term here probably alot closer to 130 + gross .

 

[Lost Lake]

Around 110-115 sounds right.

Like others have said, a 120" rack ain't small. There's been many a long face when that 140 incher turns out to be quite a bit lower by the tape.

Nice bucks you have there!

 

[Snake]

They look to be between 105-115. Nice bucks

X2 !

 

[MickThompson]

Post your score sheet

 

[quackaholic]

A lot of times there's a big difference between gross and net. With 10 points to score and wide spread I'm guessing that guy grossed quite a bit above 125".

Broken brow really hurt. He actually broke both sides as he was split browed.

 

[bowtechgump]

I see 96 and 111. But I am blind in one eye and the other is spastic. The only thing that I can admit is they are both great deer.

 

[tbadon]

I overestimated a target deer this year by 20+ inches. What is difficult to tell sometimes from trail cams is how wide the rack is. If you overestimate that, then you will overestimate the main beam length on both sides. Turns out the body of the deer was much smaller than expected making the rack look larger. Tooth wear indicates 6.5 yrs but he only field dressed at 125 from ag land, the lightest buck we have taken. He was only 13 inches wide and scored about 134.5. Still a very nice buck.

 

[Ski]

I overestimated a target deer this year by 20+ inches. What is difficult to tell sometimes from trail cams is how wide the rack is. If you overestimate that, then you will overestimate the main beam length on both sides. Turns out the body of the deer was much smaller than expected making the rack look larger. Tooth wear indicates 6.5 yrs but he only field dressed at 125 from ag land, the lightest buck we have taken. He was only 13 inches wide and scored about 134.5. Still a very nice buck.

Scale is always my biggest problem when trying to estimate score. A small stature buck can make a rack look enormous, and likewise. That's just part of it I guess.

 

[backyardtndeer]

I overestimated a target deer this year by 20+ inches. What is difficult to tell sometimes from trail cams is how wide the rack is. If you overestimate that, then you will overestimate the main beam length on both sides. Turns out the body of the deer was much smaller than expected making the rack look larger. Tooth wear indicates 6.5 yrs but he only field dressed at 125 from ag land, the lightest buck we have taken. He was only 13 inches wide and scored about 134.5. Still a very nice buck.

That happens to all of us sometimes. I actually underestimated the width of the one I killed this year. Watched the deer in the 2024-2025 season and had him at 21+ inches inside. Actual inside spread was 24 inches. Antlers made his body look small, but he was a solid bodied 5.5 year old. I haven't scored him, his short tines will hurt his score, the deer had slightly longer 2's and 3's last year.

 

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

That happens to all of us sometimes. I actually underestimated the width of the one I killed this year. Watched the deer in the 2024-2025 season and had him at 21+ inches inside. Actual inside spread was 24 inches. Antlers made his body look small, but he was a solid bodied 5.5 year old. I haven't scored him, his short tines will hurt his score, the deer had slightly longer 2's and 3's last year.

Inside spread of 24" is impressive. That just doesn't seem to be a prevalent trait in my area. I wish it were.

My best buck ever scored 161" but only had a 14" inside spread.

 

[HottyToddy]

Appreciate all the responses! Score sheet below:

Broken brow

	Left	right
Main beam	19 7/8	18 3/8
Inside spread	12 2/8
G1	3 6/8	0 (1 0/8?)
G2	8 4/8	8 7/8
G3	5 7/8	4 6/8
Base/G1 Mass	3 4/8	3 4/8
G1/G2	3 1/8	3 2/8
G2/G3	3	2 7/8
G3/Main Beam	2 2/8	2 1/8

Total: 105 7/8 (106 7/8 if you can count what's remaining of his broken brow)

In tact brow:

	Left	Right
Main beam	17 1/8	17 5/8
Inside spread	15 4/8
G1	4 2/8	3 5/8
G2	7 3/8	7 2/8
G3	5 4/8	3 7/8
Base/G1	3 6/8	3 7/8
G1/G2	3 1/8	3 2/8
G2/G3	3	3 1/8
G3/MB	2 3/8	2 1/8

Total: 106 6/8

Guess I did include 4 mass measurements! Included pic of both of their skulls for comparison.

 

[HottyToddy]

Inside spread of 24" is impressive. That just doesn't seem to be a prevalent trait in my area. I wish it were.

My best buck ever scored 161" but only had a 14" inside spread.

Let's see that deer! 161" with 14" inside sounds neat

 

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

Let's see that deer! 161" with 14" inside sounds neat

it's in my avatar.