Being a deer hunter for 40+ years, I never gave "scoring" a thought. It's meaningless to me.

 

Ahhh yes. The scoring method. I have never scored a buck I’ve killed. I don’t really care so long as it’s what I wanted. To each their own though. I don’t mind anyone scoring their buck. I get why they do it. It’s all personal preference and perception.

 

Never scored any of mine and never cared to.
My criteria has always been:
Legal Buck? - Y/N
Look tasty? Y/N
Have a valid tag? Y/N
Have room in freezer? Y/N

If the answers to all 4 are Y, I kill it.

I have a mount from a buck I killed in 2000, but had it mounted for reasons other than it being huge or score.
"Nice" or unique bucks I kill might get the DIY Euro treatment... have a bunch on the shed wall.
But hunting has never been about bragging rights or decor for me....

 

I grew up in Pa. at a time when there were a ton of deer but not many nice bucks. Most people didn't hunt doe and tags were not easy to draw. Killing a buck was a big deal and meat in the freezer. Nobody thought anything about scores. I also like a big buck as much as the next guy, but to me a buck is still a buck, and anything with a rack out to the ears and 8 points is a real nice buck.

I think scoring of any buck except those of potential record size is silly, and when a buck deserves scoring it's to honor the animal, not the hunter.

 

Depends on what your motivation is. I like to score my bucks but only for a size reference. I’ve zero desire to pay to have my name in a book.

 

If it's legal and you want to shoot it I say go for it.

 

i believe that those that started the antler restriction and got the game commission to go along with them are the root of all the problems. my belief is that if you want to wait for a trophy come along, thats your perogitive. those of us that dont care about antler size should not have to bow to those rules. its time to go back to the old way where as long as a buck had antlers 3 inches or longer it would be legal.

 

There’s a category you’re missing. Those who would prefer to take a mature deer that’s passed it’s genes on.
I’m no antler seeker, but I don’t long for the days of seeing nothing but spikes and 4 points, with the rare 6 mixed in.
Like it or not, it’s hard to argue that AR hasn’t helped make a net positive impact on the age structure and balance of the herd.

 

My wife and I have never scored any of the bucks we’ve killed, but I don’t have anything against it. If we are lucky enough to kill a giant, I will definitely have it scored. I have family that hold/held high spots with BC and PY in Kansas and Ohio. I think it would be very cool for our kids to have that story to tell.

 

Nope nothing wrong with it, it just shouldn't keep someone from shooting a buck they would otherwise be happy with.

 

Would never let antler measurement influence a hunt. Many hunts are unforgettable adventures without loosing an arrow or squeezing a trigger.

 

I fall into the same group as CMP. I hunted for a few years before the AR and the rest have come after. I don't want to go back. I remember being young, sitting with my grandfather and watching 10 deer run by and praying one would be a spike. That being said I'm far from a trophy hunter. I have scored my bucks, but I don't run to anyone and brag. My grandfather killed a buck every year for 34 years. The largest was a 12 inch wide 8 point with 4 inch long tines. Very legal, no problems with anyone who would want to shoot that buck, but I personally choose not to. There have been a few times where I watch that buck for 40 minutes and it moves on out of sight only to be shot. That's fine. No hard feelings. I like to display European mounts on the wall and look for nice antlers when deciding if I will shoot or not. That being said, I will also factor in the situation when deciding to shoot, not just a "score". 3 or 4 years ago I was hunting the second week of November and I called in a 13 inch wide 8 point with short tines. That buck put on a show. He tore up trees, he grunted, snort wheezed, the whole nine yards. I had so much fun on that hunt that I shot him when he got to 15 yards. I smile and remember every detail of that hunt every time I look at the mount on the wall. He was far from my largest buck, but one of my more fun hunts. After that incredibly long winded back story, I guess I fall somewhere in the middle. I like nice antlers, but I also just enjoy hunting and being outdoors.

 

I like the scoring but I don’t use it to decide on what to shoot

if it gets my heart pumping and I want to shoot it those are my factors.

 

I think the scoring system is flawed to begin with as I don’t think it gives enough consideration for mass. I’ve passed on a 140” buck hoping to get a shot at a particular mid 120’s/maybe 130” because he had better mass. In the end, the point system can steal your joy if you let it.

 

I usually hunt the late flintlock season and some during the rifle season with the flintlock. I am a deer hunter, and any deer I can take with one of my rifles is a trophy to me and I am happy and thankful to be able to live some where we can still do what we do.

 

I score all my bucks but I hunt for age. If it isn’t at least a 4.5 year old I don’t care to mess with it. I have a 120” 3.5 year old that if I see him I’d let walk no problem. I don’t hunt deer because I “need” the meat. I like to be out in nature and try to outsmart a mature buck. I love the chase and challenge aspect. The reward is great memories and a tasty deer.

 

I have never really cared about what a deer scores. If other people are into it, good for them. Just don’t push it on me because you like it. I’ve used a score as a frame of reference on some other animals, but for deer I just don’t care.

 

I don't think about what a buck will score...if I decide to shoot one...I look for body size...it cost the same regardless of size to have one butchered...that said...I did have one of my archery bucks scored by the PGC, (gross 139 7/8 net 133 7/8) and entered in the Pa big game book...not for self recognition...(I was just the lucky hunter)...but to credit the county and state.

 

I hunt the ANF, 500,000 acres I'm not fussy about size as long as it's decent. Score doesn't matter its all about the hunt.

 

Im just as happy taking a doe or a tiny 5 point as i would be getting a monster 10 point

 

Scoring is a personal preference it....... means nada to me.

 

I've shot a lot of spikes when they were legal. If it's a legal buck I'll shoot it.

 

I've shot a lot of spikes when they were legal...

I've killed a bunch of them 11 points too.

 

Funny thing is, I have quite a few 7and 8 point racks from that spike and fork horn era. I’ll say this. there was a lot less posted ground back then.

 

There was also alot less tv shows and YouTube channels showing everyone that you need to lease the land and manage it for mature bucks....

 

Although I've killed a few spikes in Pa, Va, SC & NC, I actually killed the majority of my spikes on public land in Maryland. The first decade or so I hunted down there the herd was way overpopulated, that was back before MD opened doe hunting full throttle.

 

Everyone knows size doesn't matter. Right? So who cares? A bucks score will give you a better idea about the buck than just its point count, however.

Hey! Did you get a deer this year? "Yea, I shot an 8-point!"

 

If you don't like it don't score or talk about it. Simple as that.
What gets me is all the 150"plus deer pa has, lol. People have no clue about scoring and over exaggerate so much. You'd think pa is number one in the py or bc record books but it's not even close.