Any thoughts on these guide lines for identifying a good buck??



LENGTH:

The height of the horn should be greater than twice the length of the ear (which is 5 to 6 inches long). The tops of main horn should appear to curve in deeply. The total length of the horn should appear to be about as long as the animal's head.


PRONGS:

Prongs should extend more than 2 inches beyond the main horn. The width of the eye can be used for comparison – which is approximately 2 inches. Prongs should begin well above the bucks ears.


MASS:

The base of horn should be bigger than the eye or the base of the ear. A pronghorn's eye and ear base is approximately 2 inches across. If the bases look to be about that size the buck will have average to below average mass. If the bases are wider across then the eye then he'll have average to above average mass (averages are of course very dependant on where you're hunting). The mass should also appear to extend up the horn into the prongs.

Some of it really depends on where you're hunting. What's even possible there.... (you went there in your mass discussion) Don't forget to take some of that mass above the prongs as well. I also like horns that curve enough so you begin to get that classic heart shape from the front.

The difference between a good buck and a great buck is often hard to determine if you don't get a chance to see a lot of antelope. As pointed out above it is a total pakage to get a high scoring buck. A head can look pretty good but if the tips do not hook down and extend down a ways it will not be great. I once shot a buck that had one normal horn and one that went straight up and did not hook down at all. Boy did that horn sticking up look long. It was the same length as the other horn that did hook down.




Here is a nice buck. Maybe he could use a little more mas and length above the prong.

Robin down under

Thanks for the advice.


The area I am hunting has alot of potential. It has produced many BC bucks here in Colorado over the years.


But I get to hunt Antelope once every 5 years or so so I don't have alot of experience comparing antelope.


What are some things that go wrong when judging antelope??

I wanted to be able to field judge pronghorns on my first hunt for them last year.

I purchased a DVD- I think it's called "Size Matters" and it is all instruction and video field examples of animals that were field judged and later taken. The field judged numbers and actual were compared on some.

I think is cost me $10 at Sportsmans Warehouse.

A good investment for trophy hunters or just anyone who likes to watch these Goats.

The DVD helped me guess (field judge) within 2 pt of what he actually green scored.

I guessed 77 and he scored 79 SCI (about 77 B&C)



Field judging while scouting is as much fun and hunting!

Thanks -

I had not heard of that video. I'll have to see if sportsman here locally has it.

Any tips from your hunt??

1) Research --- Maps, Talk to game wardens that work your unit, & get involved in any antelope assn in your area(a great resource for a rookie like me).

2) Bring young eyes for scouting ( I brought my 12 year old Godson along Scouting the week before the hunt.)

3) It's better to be "Lucky" than "Good".
-This was my 1st hunt.
-Don't let worrying about inches take away from the hunt.