Scoring Your Trophy Bull Elk
AMERICAN ELK
HOW TO ROUGH SCORE YOUR TROPHY ELK IN THE FIELD Taking a huge Rocky Mountain
Bull Elk is the dream of most Elk hunters. When the dream
finally comes true, what needs to be done is to have the antlers
scored and entered into the record books? Record keeping was
developed in Keeping records of big game
animals is a way of recognizing exceptional animals and the
hunter. Even more importantly, the records provide statistical
data and insight into past and present management, health, and
trends of wildlife populations. The records are a testimonial to
the effectiveness of wildlife management and the importance of
hunting as a management tool. Figure A.
Figure B.
Figure C.
Please note that this is not an official form. Contact the
appropriate official Scoring Organizations listed below. All
measurements must be made with a 1/4-inch wide flexible steel
tape to the nearest one-eighth (1/8) of an inch. (Note: A
flexible steel cable can be used to measure points and main
beams only.) Enter
fractional figures in eighths (1/8’s), without reduction. For
example, if a point measures 7 and 2/8 inches, you would write
down 7 - 2/8 in the space provided. A:
NUMBER OF POINTS ON EACH ANTLER
To be
counted a point, the projection must be at least one inch long,
with the length exceeding width at one inch or more of length.
All points measured from tip of point to nearest edge of beam as
illustrated in Figure A. Beam tip is counted as a point, but not
measured as a point. Right
Antler: ________.
Left Antler: ________.
B:
TIP-TO-TIP SPREAD The
tip-to-tip spread is measured between the tips of the main
beams. See Figure B. B:
Tip-to-Tip Spread: ________.
C:
GREATEST SPREAD The
greatest spread is measured between perpendiculars at a right
angle to the centerline of the skull at the widest part, whether
across main beams or points. See Figure B. C:
Greatest Spread: ________.
D:
INSIDE SPREAD OF The inside
spread of main beams is measured at a right angle to the
centerline of the skull at the widest point between main beams.
See Figure B. D:
Inside Spread of Main Beams: ________.
SPREAD
CREDIT: ________.
Enter the “D” measurement again as the Spread Credit if
it is less than or equal to the length of the longer antler, if
Greater, enter Longer Antler length for the Spread Credit.
E:
TOTAL LENGTHS OFALL ABNORMAL POINTS Abnormal
points are those non-typical in location (such as points
originating from a point or from the bottom or sides of the main
beam) or pattern (extra points, not generally paired). Measure
in the usual manner (See Figure A). If there is more than one
abnormal point to a side, add them together and input in the
last field. E: Right
Antler: ________.
Left Antler: ________.
Difference: ________. F:
LENGTH OF The length
of the main beam is measured from the center of the lowest
outside edge of the burr over the outer side to the most distant
point of the main beam. The beginning point is on the burr where
the center line along the outer side of the beam intersects the
burr, then generally following Line F as shown in Figure C. F: Right
Antler: ________.
Left Antler: ________.
Difference: ________.
G:
LENGTH OF NORMAL POINTS Normal
points project from the top or front of the main beam in the
general patter illustrated in Figure C. They are measured from
the nearest edge of the main beam over the outer curve to the
tip. Lay the tape along the outer curve of the beam so that the
top edge of the tape coincides with the top edge of the beam on
both sides of the point to determine the baseline for point
measurement (See Figures A and C). RIGHT
ANTLER
LEFT ANTLER
G-1 Length:
________.
G-1 Length: ________.
Difference: ________. G-2 Length:
________.
G-2 Length: ________.
Difference: ________. G-3 Length:
________.
G-3 Length: ________.
Difference: ________. G-4 Length:
________.
G-4 Length: ________.
Difference: ________. G-5 Length:
________.
G-5 Length: ________.
Difference: ________. G-6 Length:
________.
G-6 Length: ________.
Difference: ________. G-7 Length:
________.
G-7 Length: ________.
Difference: ________. G1-7,
Total: ________.
G-1-7, Total: _______.
Total Diff:________.
H:
CIRCUMFERECES
Circumferences are taken at the narrowest place as detailed in
Figure C for each measurement. RIGHT
ANTLER
LEFT ANTLER H-1.
Length: ________.
H-1 Length: ________.
H-1 Difference:
________. H-2.
Length: ________.
H-2 Length: ________.
H-2 Difference:
________. H-3.
Length: ________.
H-3 Length: ________.
H-3 Difference:
________. H-4.
Length: ________.
H-4 Length: ________.
H-4 Difference:
________. H1-4,
Total: _________.
H-1-4, Total: ________.
Total Diff:
________.
NON-TYPICAL AMERICAN (TO BE USED
FOR NON-TYPICAL ANTLERS)
Figure A.
Figure B.
Figure C. E:
TOTAL LENGTHS OFALL ABNORMAL POINTS Abnormal
points are those non-typical in location (such as points
originating from a point or from the bottom or sides of the main
beam) or pattern (extra points, not generally paired). Measure
in the usual manner (See Figure A). If there is more than one
abnormal point to a side, add them together and input in the
last field. E: Right
Antler: ________.
Left Antler: ________.
Difference: ________. All other measurements remain
the same.
CALCULATNG YOUR FINAL ROUGH SCORE Spread Credit:
(+) ________.
E) Total:
(-) ________. (Subtract E. Score for a typical Score.
Add E. Score for a Non Typical Score) F) Main-Right:
(+) ________.
F) Main Left:
(+) ________.
F) Difference:
(-) ________. G-1-7, Right:
(+) ________.
G-1-7, Left:
(+) ________.
G-1-7, Differences.(-)________. H-1-4, Right:
(+) ________.
H-1-4, Left:
(+) ________.
H-1-4, Differences.(-)________. FINAL SCORE:
_________.
BOONE
The first Boone and Crockett Record book titled “Record of North
American Big Game” was published in 1932. The Boone and Crockett
scoring system evolved into the measuring system adopted in
1950, which emphasizes mass and symmetry. This is the same
system of scoring used today by official Boone & Crockett, Pope
& Young scorers and the Arizona Wildlife Trophies organization.
Both gun and bow kills are eligible for entry into Boone &
Crockett Records after a 60-day drying period.
Boone and Crockett Record Book Minimum entry scores:
Typical American Elk:
360 Awards book,
375 All-Time Record Book.
Non-Typical American Elk:
385 Awards Book,
385 All-Time Record Book
In cooperation with an official Boone & Crockett scorer, the
hunter must provide the following items for entry.
1. Official Boone and Crockett score sheet
2. Fair chase statement signed by the hunter and measurer
3. Three photos of the antlers with front, right and left views
4. $40 entry fee -- check made payable to Boone and Crockett
Club
5. Copy of the hunting license and game check tag
6. Hunter, guide and hunt information sheet completed by the
hunter
You can contact the Boone and Crockett Club through their
website at www.boone-crockett.org or by mail:
Boone and Crockett Club
POPE
The Pope and Young Club, a club that also has a rich hunting and
conservation heritage, is recognized as the official repository
for records of North American big game taken with a bow.
Official measuring can only be done after a 60-day drying
period. The antlers and skullplate must be air dried at room
temperature and normal atmospheric humidity, in an unaltered
state (no repairs to broken antlers or skullplate).
If a rack is stored in a freezer, the drying period does not
start until it is taken out. Removal of past entries from the
records and disqualification of present and future entries may
result from attempts to mislead an official scorer. In
cooperation with an official Pope & Young measurer, the hunter
must provide the following items for entry.
Pope and Young Record Book Minimum entry scores:
Typical Elk:
260
Non-Typical
1. Official Pope and Young scoring form completed and signed by
the measurer.
2. Fair chase affidavit completed and signed by the hunter
3. Three photographs of the antlers with front, right and left
views
4. Field photos of the whole animal if available
5. $25 entry fee – check made payable to Pope and Young Club
You may contact the Pope and Young Club through their website at
www.pope-young.org or by mail:
Pope and Young Club
