I can usually get pretty close on width, mass, and tine length, but its hard for me to guess beam length. I usually try to compare them to a deer i have killed, so i have a known reference, but its not always easy. Anyone have some tricks they use to guess beam length?

Best thing on beam length is know what the area typically produces on mature buck.

Example-
Laredo 23-25-
castell 19-21 - etc

Then you can adjust up or down in relation to the nose.

Beam is one of the hardest to judge on the hoof for me at least.

i just have a knack of guessing it exactly to the 1/8th. see what you can do about growing your knack.

I prefer to score them on their horns......is it just me?

Yes, it's just you. They don't have horns.

Just you, the newest thing is scoring deer by the size of their feet, its a new liberal way to even the playing field so everyone wins and noone gets their feelings hurt because their deer disnt measure up

Burn!!!!

i think i know what pittstate is referring to, i tend to just score on the look of the ANTLERS instead of adding up each singular measurement, and i am usually within 1/8 of the actual score...due to my humongous knack.

Well, I figured out where some of the guys on here come up the scores they post...

the knack is a powerful thing.

It must be!

My experience has been that one should take the score we're "hoping" for and reduce that by 40% to get the "I think it's a ...." score. Then when you shoot the deer, and before you walk up on him, reduce that "I think it's a ...." score by another 10 to 20% for ground shrinkage. When those antlers hit that cold ground they shrink. (and in the previous thread, all you guys (all guys?) were bragging about the size of your "knack" and I've got to say that's no appropriate.)

I just look at the frame. Does he have a 90-100" frame? Good tine length? Nothing broke? Yes to all.....shoot! If he's mature.

I tend to underestimate score on the hoof where I hunt anyway. Mature bucks tend to be near or over the 200lb mark. So what I think is 130ish is usually over 140 and so on.

I use an average frame score from sheds or past mature bucks killed. In Hill Country I used 90" on average spread and more for above average width. Same in South Texas but used 95" as the frame base. Then all you do is add in the tine length.

I guess that may be the best route. Gives you a good place to start