Numbers. Why?

[EastTNHunter]

I’ll take a big buck standing next to a small one, and depending upon the hunt I MAY “hold out” for something bigger if I see a little one first. But at the end of the hunt I want good memories and meat in the freezer over any antlers, much less a tape measure.

I guess what really gets me about measurements of trophies are the following stereotypes/reasons:
1) machismo and silly competition over an animal’s head gear
2) measuring an animal’s worth based upon said headgear
3) being so focused on a score that people can’t allow themselves to have fun otherwise, or looking down on others who don’t take animals that score enough for them to approve of
4) people who give hunting a bad name to non hunters over the above trophyism, seemingly going to any end to kill a trophy
5)silly “style point” deductions from the Russian judges for stupid crap… if it’s going to be measured then why in the heck take away from it? Makes it all feel like a Barbie doll competition to me

I’m not saying that everyone who goes after measurements fall into one of these categories, but the folks who do sure are hard to ignore because they are so loud

 

[DFS]

FFS scoring animals is fun, here is my honest to goodness best bull by age and probably best hunt and he scores like shit. It’s fun to score it, does it mean anything probably not but there isn’t a dang thing wrong with doing it or being happy when you get a good one. A lot can be learned by studying animals.

 

[Nick87]

FFS scoring animals is fun, here is my honest to goodness best bull by age and probably best hunt and he scores like shit. It’s fun to score it, does it mean anything probably not but there isn’t a dang thing wrong with doing it or being happy when you get a good one. A lot can be learned by studying animals. View attachment 383306

I've always thought a score would be better represented by a displacement measurement of total inches of antler.

 

[DFS]

I've always thought a score would be better represented by a displacement measurement of total inches of antler.

Totally agree a lot of massive animals get no love.

 

[Nick87]

Totally agree a lot of massive animals get no love.

It would definitely change a lot of records if it was done that way.

 

[RealMuddyboots]

I look at measuring a critter no different than absolutely insane level of measuring I do for reloading, archery, and other technical related activities. At 3/4 Century old, it is still fun to point out to son "mine is bigger".

The one measurement that we do seem to prefer is dressed weight of our whitetails. The area of southern Michigan and northern Indiana grows some big ones! A 200# dressed is baseline we go off. Damn kid still has me beat so far with 247# dressed. I can't seem to get past 227# dressed. We both get really big kick out of walking up to a slob laying there! Rack is nice but being pig makes it better. He has me on dressed weight but old man has rack measurement at 161 7/8. Measuring stuff can be part of the total experience as long as you don't dress in Sitka on YT.

 

[brockel]

Some people enjoy certain details. Myself I don’t really care that you shot a 180” mule deer. But I am interested in your cartridge, bullet choice, velocity, load data, and terminal performance of the bullet. That’s what I nerd out about.

 

[EastTNHunter]

Some people enjoy certain details. Myself I don’t really care that you shot a 180” mule deer. But I am interested in your cartridge, bullet choice, velocity, load data, and terminal performance of the bullet. That’s what I nerd out about.

And I like to hear the story of the hunt

 

[OreIdaElk]

I like the challenge, and trying to out smart a mature animal that has been around. I have found there is more meat on an older one and age doesn’t affect taste, care in the field to table. I score just to see how they compare with others I find it interesting how some look bigger and don’t score and vise versa.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Should have clarified. Scores of animals. mtmuley

They shouldn’t, go hunt have fun. You shoot a solid mature 4 point Muley, outstanding. A good bull, outstanding. You take every scrap of meat off a forked horn day one, outstanding, you’re done and I’m still out there.

 

[El Jason]

You take every scrap of meat off a forked horn day one, outstanding, you’re done and I’m still out there.

But, now I’m killing chukars

 

[Beignet]

My method of measurement is limited to does (or cows), dinks, pretty good ones, and really big ones.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

Real “officially measured” numbers are an actual grade to classify an animal. Without “real” numbers - there is a LOT of bullch1t around what an animal actually is. For those that don’t care - cool. But most that claim to “not care” are the first to throw out some numbers, and to also say they don’t care enough to have some reality thrown in by having an official measurement. I’m personally always interested in real numbers. Big animals have been an interest of mine since I was maybe 10 years old.

 

[KipCarson]

The simple answer is they matter because they turn subjective impressions of a specimen into objective quantifications that can be compared across the board. The problems come when they are run through the filter of human ego. It becomes a battle between those who inherently think they’re better because of the number they have achieved and in some cases those who act like they’re morally superior because they are supposedly “above caring” when in reality they’re just bitter they haven’t and can’t seem to achieve said large numbers. (Not referring to any above posters who have stated they don’t care, I take you sincerely at your word)
Our relationship with numbers is quite nuanced. I heard a preacher say once, “Of course numbers matter, after all, God made it a book of the Bible!”

 

[Bambistew]

Why do you obsess over the numbers of the 300RUM or are we talking animal scores?

Talking about forkies and cows isn't nearly as much fun... neither is killing them.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

If most everyone is so disinterested in horns and antlers I would have expected more wild game recipes.

Precision accuracy post - than 20 words & right in the center.

 

[F250]

Why do numbers matter? mtmuley

They don’t, unless you are on a TV hunting show. Oh… and you have to name the animal you are hunting !

 

[hank4elk]

1 or 2 freezers?
I realized the other day I have no big racks or heads hanging. I gave the biggest bull rack to my friends dad who had been hunting him for 2 years.
Left with the meat and a shed from the bull I had found. Put a stalk on the shed that morning. I guessed 320.
Bull was mounted and went 334. Burned in the fire a few years ago when the house went. Had named him the Blanco bull.

I have one 6x6 bull hanging in a pinion. From my place. Never measured. Might break 200...LOL.
I do have 2 freezers in the house. Pretty full. The shed is right there behind the woodstove.

 

[Akcabin]

I guess the numbers I care about are what it takes to be legal. 50 inch 3 brow tines or spike fork. That's plenty to worry about.
The amount of game harvested in different areas in past years is also important. Harvest data

 

[longbow51]

My wife shot a huge whitetail, never had it measured; the meat was good but very tough. I shot one as big, which a buddy of mine with FWP scored at 180 or something, and oddly enough, it was fine. I could care less. Mature 4 point is fine.