What score gets you excited? I grew up hunting in central Texas and back then, a 110 - 115 deer was definitely a shooter.

This may have affected my judgement permanently because I still get excited when I see something in the mid-120's.

It also may have something to do with only hunting 4 or 5 days a year and never having seen a true "monster" or "hoss".

I took a 135 gross a couple of weeks ago and am tickled to death. I look at 140 class bucks and think those things are huge.

So, anyhow, what gets your heart pumping? (I honestly don't know what I'd do if a 150 class, or better, buck showed up - probably start an earthquake with my shaking)

Biggest buck I've ever killed was a 8pt that netted 116, if it hadn't of had a broken brow tine it would of netted 126. Since that time though I have been on a crappy lease until this year. I am way more patient than I used to be and understand deer management better than I ever have. I have already passed up one buck this year though that would have scored higher than that one.

So now I would say it would have to be at least a 130 in buck before I would get excited

depends where im huntingg.... if i was at my uncles old lease, a 140 class buck is a cull... whoop tee doo...

If im huntin out at my place, and a 125 walks out, thats a pretty big buck and i get excited.... if a 145 walks out, that is a once in a lifetime moster lol.

Anything over 130" is very good. Most people either don't know how to measure or add to the score as I have seen many, many deer on this forum that are not close to what the people claim.

it depends on the area I am in, some areas a 130 is exceptional, in others it is a 2.5 year old that hasn't really started growing yet. What really gets me going is an old buck that has seen and survived many seasons, he might be short tines or tight racked or whatever, the places I hunt those are the smart ones which makes them a trophy of another sort

I have wondered on a few pictures, if they were using inches or centimeters to total up the score

On my ranch it takes a 180+ to get me excited.

What ever gets you excited, could be a spike or a monster. Everyone doesn't get to hunt where the monsters are.

130+ in my area


Now generally just sitting in the blind seeing deer is usually all it takes.

130 is big for us for sure.

What is "Big" is an individual and relative kind of issue. But, I agree with the majority of the Posters that 130"+ is a "big" buck. That is a nice antler size. 95% of the Hunters would be happy to put one of this size on the wall. Of course, then there are the "Really Big" once you get over 150" and at 170", you have a "Record Class" buck.
As I noted at the start, it is relative to each individual; as the one Poster noted-takes a 180"+ for him. That is relative to what he has taken and has the opportunity to take!

To me I kinda of break it down by points. For an 8 point, I think over 130 is big, for a 9 point over 140 is big and a 10 point over 150 is big.

depends.... 140+ in our parts seems to be big, but like rtp, depends on pts contributing to the inches.

130" is my breaking point. That would be the biggest buck I've ever taken.

that is true...to kill a big buck, you have to hunt where they live.

some places just won't produce much over a 140 inch deer. that dosen't mean you should't have a good time hunting.



For me, a 140 class deer is about average, a 150 inch 10 pointer is a nice deer and anything over 160 is a big deer.


I've seen probably 3 or 4 bucks that would hit the 170 mark with the biggest about 175.


I'm really more of a frame guy......I'd rather shoot a 140 inch 8 than a 140 inch ten point any day.

I think a lot depends on the hunter and the trophy. I was fortunate enough the first year I hunted at 13 to take a nice wide 9 point that scored 135. That was 16 years ago and I still judge every deer by him. I haven't taken one since then that has beat him. To me then, he was a monster. Today, I still look at him and smile. He's still a big deer to me.

Pretty much sums it up for me. I also try not to shoot just any buck. I want it to be bigger than what I have already killed, or at least unique and at least 5.5 yrs old. Of course, I say all of this, and I have not shot a buck in going on 7 years. I see plenty of great deer, just not the one I am looking for. I can shoot a doe anytime I want meat.

I've probably seen one buck in my entire life in the wild that was over 160, and most have been in the 130 to 140 range that still get my blood pumping.

It really depends on where you are hunting, and if you hunt an area that only has a rare chance of supporting deer in the 125- 130 range, and if you are waiting for something bigger, you might as well leave your rifle at home.

I like mass and tine length, past that I dont much care about score. Shoot them by maturity not horns.

speaking of which your holding out on us, post some pics!!!!

^^^no joke

Here you go.





Here's a nice and upcoming youngster (4.5) from the helicopter survey.



And two bucks shot this past weekend that I didn't care to shoot. The first scored 172+ and the second 154+

I'd shoot any of those in the pics, wouldn't think twice about it.

In the last few years, I've begun to hunt for age more than horns. Just something about taking a old warrior that I really like. Doesn't mean I don't mess up occasionally and take a younger deer, but I truly try not too.

My favorite buck is a broken up 5 point that would have been an 8 before his battles began. I had pictures of him and believe he would have been a 140-145 inch 8 point if not for all the broken tines.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to where I hunt. At my place in Wise County, it's purely about age and anything north of 150 would be a monster. At a friends place I hunt occasionally, anything under 160 would be small. At another, anything over 140 is huge. I've hunted other properties where anything north of 120 would be a giant and one property where 200 inch deer walk around everywhere (high-fenced).

When it comes to deer, the saying "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" couldn't be more true.

On my ranch I have:

Spike - Not so excited
Under 13" - Excited to see a buck
Over 13" - Excited

keep waiting on my invite wow