Scoring Big Bucks: Tips From An Official Scorer

by: Brian Kightlinger

Pope and Young, Boone and Crockett, Buckmasters, and the Northeast Big Buck Club are all organizations that score deer. Those hunters who are lucky enough to harvest a nice buck can reach out to any of these organizations to have the buck scored. So what might you need to know about getting a buck measured? Below I have listed some of the critical features of each organization.

Pope and Young Club

·      Recognizes animals harvested with a bow

·      Uses Net Score

·      Typical Minimum Score Whitetail Deer: 125 inches Net

·      Non-Typical Minimum Score Whitetail Deer: 155 inches Net

·      Fair Chace Affidavit

·      60 day drying period

·      3 Photographs of the Rack

·      Field Photo

·      $35.00 Recording Fee to Pope and Young Club 

·      Measurers are volunteers for the club

·      Website: https://pope-young.org 

 Boone and Crockett Club

·      Recognizes animals harvested with any legal equipment from that state

·      Uses Net Score

·      Typical Minimum Score Whitetail Deer: 160 inches

·      Non-Typical Score Whitetail Deer: 195 inches

·      Entry Affidavit

·      Fair Chase Statement

·      60 day drying period

·      3 Photographs of the Rack

·      $40 Recording fee to Boone and Crockett

·      Measurers are volunteers for the club

·      Website: https://www.boone-crockett.org/

Buckmasters

·      Full Credit Scoring System

·      No Deductions

·      Inside spread measurement is not used

·      Four Categories: Perfect, Typical, Semi-irregular, and Irregular

·      Archery Score Minimum: 105 inches 

·      Firearms Score Minimum: 140 inches

·      No Drying Period

·      Velvet Category

·      High Fence Category

·      Shed Category

·      Pick-Up Category

·      $25 Recording fee to Buckmasters

·      Measurers are volunteers for club

·      Website: http://buckmasters.com/Resources/BTR

Northeast Big Buck Club

·      Full Credit Scoring

·      No Deductions

·      Typical Whitetail Deer Minimum: 

·      100 inches Archery/Muzzleloader

·      110 inches Gun/Pickup/Acquired/Shed

·      Non-Typical Deer Minimums:

·      115 inches Archery/Muzzleloader

·      125 inches Gun/Pickup/Acquired/Shed

·      60 Day Drying Period

·      Fair Chase Affidavit

·      3 Photographs of the rack

·      $30 Membership Fee to the Northeast Big Buck Club

·      Measurers are volunteers for the club

·      Website: https://bigbuckclub.com

There are more clubs out there, and usually, each state has scorers for a state scoring program. Take some time on the computer and search for clubs, organizations, and official scorers. The hunter needs to remember that this is about recognizing the deer and not the hunter. Pick an organization and let them do the work. Some of the organizations will accept official score sheets from other clubs. If you find a scorer who scores for multiple clubs, you can enter your trophy in numerous record books. 

The most important thing to remember is that no matter what the deer scores, it takes nothing away from the memories you created. Some hunters will get caught up in the numbers and forget about the excitement of the hunt. Hopefully, this information will help you after you harvest that buck of a lifetime.