Scoring White-tailed Deer Using Boone & Crockett Method

The single most well known method for scoring white-tailed deer is the Boone and Crockett Scoring method. The Boone and Crockett score, or B&C as it has come to be abbreviated, is so common that when someone ask, “what’s he score,” it’s already assumed the score is based of the Boone and Crockett system. The system is not only used to rank harvested deer, but by managers to monitor the progress of their deer management programs.

Although there are other methods to score deer antlers, the Boone and Crockett system does a very good job at measuring key antler parameters. The factors that contribute to a buck’s score are mass (circumference), beam length, tine length, and inside spread. Thus, heavier antlers have higher mass measurements than thin-horned racks, longer beams are better, more and longer tines add inches, and bucks with larger inside spreads get added inches and higher scores.

There are, however, “deductions” when scoring antlers using the B&C method. Deductions are based on symmetry, or better yet, how unsymmetrical a deer’s antlers may be. This is true for both typical and nontypical antlers, and we will discuss this in further detail in the future.

Hunters refer to the total undeducted score as the “gross score” and the score after deductions as the “net score.” The more symmetrical the antlers, the smaller the difference between the gross score and net score (because of fewer deductions).

Now that we’ve talked about some of the general scoring terms, the rest of the week we will focus on each of the key measurements and more specific antler scoring terminology when using the Boone and Crockett scoring system.

Scoring topics:

- Boone and Crockett Scoring Terminology

- Typical and Nontypical Antlers

- Mass and Beam Measurements

- Measuring Tine (Point) Length

- Scoring Equipment Necessary for Antler Measurements

- Step by Step Scoring Using Boone and Crockett Scoring Method

Want to locate a Boone and Crockett Club Official Measurer?

Email the Club at bcclub@boone-crockett.org and specify the state in which you are seeking a measurer. A list of measurers will then be sent back to you. If you do not have email, call (406)542-1888