There are standardized methods of measuring a buck to see how it stacks up against other trophy white-tailed deer. Shutterstock

How much does it weigh and what will it score?

Those are probably the two most oft-asked questions when someone bags a buck, or shares a trail cam photo of one. It’s just human nature that we seek some sort of relative scale by which to judge our quarry. Fortunately, we have several options.

In addition to being at the forefront of the modern conservation movement and creating five national parks, Teddy Roosevelt was also instrumental in establishing the Boone & Crockett Club (B&C). The scoring system for their Records of North American Big Game has long been the standard, though numerous modifications and variations have since been created.

Their procedure for scoring deer involves measuring the circumference, length, spread and symmetry of antlers. I’m not sure how they were chosen, but minimum qualifying scores are 160 inches for awards (sometimes referred to as “low book”) and 170 for all-time (“high book”), for typical antlers. Those minimums are for the “net” score, which is the total score minus deductions for asymmetry. When that system was created, and for a long time afterward, shooting a “Boone & Crockett” buck was a rarity. It’s still a significant accomplishment, but with the rise in deer populations and quality deer management it is a much more realistic goal for more hunters.

The odds depend on several things, including where you hunt. Some states – like Iowa, Illinois, Ohio and Kansas – are perennial front-runners in the books. Conversely, a “Booner,” is a real rarity in Maine. That’s why the minimum for a typical whitetail to make the Maine Antler & Skull Trophy Club (MASTC) is only 140 inches. The Pope & Young Club (P&Y), which recognizes nationwide trophies taken by bow and arrow, use the B&C system but also has lower minimums.

There are other local and national variations. Buckmasters Trophy Records uses a slightly different system. It eliminates the inside spread, which is really just a measurement of space between the antlers. There’s also no deduction for asymmetry. Some say it’s a fairer system because the hunter and the deer get credit for every inch of antler grown. The Northeast Big Bucks Club takes a somewhat similar approach by allowing entry based on gross score (before deductions).

Antlers aren’t the only way to measure a trophy. The Biggest Bucks of Maine Club uses dressed weight and sets a minimum of 200 pounds for entry. B&C, P&Y and MASTC measure the length and width of bear skulls to determine score. The National Wild Turkey Federation developed a system for turkeys where the score is determined by adding weight, beard length (x2) and the length of each spur (x10).

It’s nice to have objective methods for determining the relative score of a trophy, but for many hunters, the “score” or value of a trophy is more subjective and personal. It might be their first deer, bear, turkey; their first buck, or first deer with a bow. It might depend on the circumstances involved. They might have been hunting a specific individual, or gone to great lengths to reduce their quarry to possession. Each of those is just as valuable.

Bob Humphrey is a freelance writer and Registered Maine Guide who lives in Pownal. He can be reached at: bob@bobhumphrey.com