80" Buck? Destroy My Field Judging

[Cowkiller]

I've been scouting for an upcoming hunt. I'm trying to rank this buck on my hit list. I realize he's unconventional with the low prongs but hear me out.

I think he has real good mass below the prongs for 7+7=14. I think the mass above the prongs is not bad especially when viewed from the front. I give that a 6. I say 15 long and a good prong at 5''.

So 14+6+15+5=40 x 2 =80.

Probably just wishful thinking I know. I'd love some opinions from you pronghorn junkies.

 

[Deleted member 38069]

Holy smokes! 80 or not, he'd be in my crosshairs! Best of luck hunting him!

 

[Doublecluck]

Low 70s my guess

 

[rwc101]

I can't judge pronghorn at all. My judging system has two classifications: shooters and non-shooters. That's a solid shooter in my books.

 

[madtom]

Good solid mature buck, but I’m reluctant to say he’s 80”. I’ll admit to being a mediocre judge though. Hope you shoot him and give us an exact score.

 

[Cowkiller]

If I'm wrong tell me which numbers are off. If each of my estimates is short by an inch that makes him only 70. I'm trying to learn and improve.

 

[JohnCushman]

You're giving him too much mass over his prongs and he's probably only 14 at the most for length...being a bit gracious in that. He's low 70's.

 

[antelopedundee]

From the tip of his ear to the base in front should be about 5 1/2 inches. I don't think that there's 7 inches to the top of his prong.

 

[LopeHunter]

I have been fooled by pronghorn more than any other critter. I am not a trophy guy per se but do try to estimate the headgear since my goal is to find a representative or better one. If you like the horns, go for it. The adventure will be recalled long after the measurements to the nearest 1/8".

 

[mtmuley]

You're giving him too much mass over his prongs and he's probably only 14 at the most for length...being a bit gracious in that. He's low 70's.

I'm no expert, but mass can make up for length sometimes. This one is 14 and 1/2 inches. Guesses? Hope I'm not hijacking. mtmuley

 

[dmandoes]

If I'm wrong tell me which numbers are off. If each of my estimates is short by an inch that makes him only 70. I'm trying to learn and improve.

i think thats about right, taking an inch off each measurement.

 

[Bluffgruff]

14, 5, 6.25, 6.5, 3, 2
72-75" overall
He doesn't hook much, so he could be shorter. I'd shoot him in a crowded Wyoming unit, leave him if I had days to hunt and little competition.

 

[HighDesertSage]

I suck at judging antelope, so can't help you there. But he is really nice and I wouldn't hesitate taking him on any lope tag. What quadrant of the state you in?

 

[Cowkiller]

Mtmuley yes mass is more important than length. I shot an 85" net that was less than 15" in length. Need more angles to guess your buck. Also harder for me to even guess on a cleaned skull.

 

[Husker hunter]

I'm going to guess somewhere between 74-77"

 

[Cowkiller]

Bluffgruff thanks for the input. Here is a buck I saw that I gave the exact numbers that you list. I thought the low prongs buck was heavier and longer.

 

[npaden]

I'm no expert but I'm going to guess you are about 1" too long on the total length (he just doesn't curve in much), and he seems a little thin up top so maybe you lose 1/2" per side there. 7" bases are huge, I think you might be a little over on that as well. If you drop it to 6 1/2" that costs you another inch per side. You saw him in person and I'm looking at some relatively low quality pictures of him so you might be more accurate than me. I would say somewhere in the 75" range maybe a little better if he really had great mass. It really takes something special to get to 80"+ and I'm still looking for my first that does so you are way ahead of me with the one you already have.

Here's mine from last year:

Wyoming Pronghorn by naathan2, on Flickr

Wyoming Pronghorn by naathan2, on Flickr

I taped him out at 78 3/4". 14 5/8" length, 5" prongs and 6 3/4" bases. He didn't have much mass above the prong so that hurt him and I thought he was a little longer than he ended up.

 

[BuzzH]

The low prongs are going to hurt the 3rd quarter measurement...where that measurement is taken is very critical for the top mass. The closer it is to the prong, the better...low prongs have cost my wife and I one buck each from making 80 net. I don't see 7 inches of mass on the top with the buck in your first pictures, as you mentioned. I also don't think its as tall as it appears. The lower mass isn't easy to judge from one view. The problem I have when judging them, is if you're off by 2/8 here, another 1/8 there...those add up quick. I have a tough time seeing where they make up score, and where they lose score, sometimes. What I think I've learned is that if a buck doesn't have good mass above the prong, he better be really long or really heavy below. Honestly, anymore when I look a buck over the last thing I look at is length, unless they're stupid long. Mass throughout and prongs have all got to be very good. A 16 inch buck has to have another 24 inches of horn in mass and prong to make 80 gross. They give me fits.

For reference/comparison, I just had my wife's buck from last year officially scored when I was in Missoula over the 4th of July.

A live picture:

A couple after pics:

Long measurements on her buck are: 15-4/8 length, d1 6-3/8. d2 6-5/8, d3 4-2/8, d4 2 7/8, and prong 4-7/8...total gross is 80-5/8, only -3/8 deductions for a net of 80 2/8...her 4th buck over 80 net.

 

[Bluffgruff]

Bluffgruff thanks for the input. Here is a buck I saw that I gave the exact numbers that you list. I thought the low prongs buck was heavier and longer.

Buck #2 looks a little better to me, but could still be in that 72-75" range. I bet he's taller than the other one, but maybe a little shorter on the prong and a little lighter in mass.

 

[wyoboypt]

I’d be surprised if he’s 70