Arizona Elk Hunting Video-The Clubber Lang Bull

Here is a video of a bull elk that was just killed on the early rifle elk hunt.  What do you guess he scores?

Field Judging Elk and Scoring Elk Antlers 4-Actual Numbers

Here are the actual measurements of the bull that was harvested by Colburn and Scott Outfitters hunter Tim Allen in 2009 in Arizona Unit 10 during the archery hunt.  This post is on response to the post titled, "Field Judging Elk and Scoring Elk Antlers 4". It seems that the guesses on this bull have been all over the map from 350 to 420.  I think it just goes to show that pictures can be deceiving.  Pictures, video and live field assessment is necessary in order to be most accurate in your field judging.  One without the other can be dangerous.  One thing that jumps out to me in the video is the size of the bulls body.  It is huge.  Body size doesn't look abnormal when I look at the pictures and that is why having video where you can see the animals movements sure helps when trying to determine score.  This bull also has real good spacing between each point which is a good indication of a long main beam.  Point length again rules the day with 46% of this bulls score.  Remember its all about number and length of points in order for a bull to score high.

This quadrant of photos was taken from the article in Western Hunter Magazine that I wrote.  This quadrant shows the two scoring methods, EAM and ESP.

Here are the actual numbers:
L-(G1-G5)20, 19 4/8, 16, 22 2/8, 13 6/8, (H1-H4)8 4/8, 7 6/8, 7 4/8, 6 1/8, MB 58 2/8=179 5/8
R-(G1-G5)21, 19, 17 6/8, 23 6/8, 14, (H1-H4)8 5/8, 7 4/8, 7 1/8, 6, MB 59=183 6/8
Inside Spread 37 inches
Total Gross Score 400 3/8 (6 5/8 inches of deductions)
Net Score 393 6/8

Here is the breakdown of the numbers and percentage to total gross score:
Points-(L) 91 4/8 + (R) 95 4/8=187 or 46.7%
Main Beam-(L) 58 2/8 + (R) 59=117 2/8 or 29.2%
Mass-(L) 29 7/8 + (R) 29 2/8=59 1/8 or 14.75%
Inside Spread=37 or 9.25%

Congrats again to Tim Allen on such a fine trophy!  As much as I love to pour over the numbers and analyze data it is important to keep in mind that the thrill of the hunt, getting to enjoy God's creation and spending time with friends is the thing that keeps us coming back for more. Try to not let score determine whether the hunt is a success or failure. Stay tuned for another exercise in Field Judging and Scoring Elk from JayScottOutdoors. Be sure to find us on face book( JSO and CSO) and check out our YouTube channel.

Field Judging Elk and Scoring Elk Antlers 4

Below is the next exercise in How to Field Judge and Score Bull Elk.  These photos were taken by Colburn and Scott Outfitters.  There are several different angles from this Arizona Bull Elk.  What is this bulls gross score?  What are his point measurements?  What are his mass measurements?  How long are the main beams?  How about Inside Spread?  How does the rack look compared to his body?  Post your guesses and scores here by clicking the post title, "Field Judging Elk and Scoring Elk Antlers 4" or go to Colburn and Scott Outfitters Facebook Page

Left Antler Angle

Right Antler Angle

Front On Antler Angle

Rear Antler Angle

Click the post title above to leave your guess or put your score on our facebook page.  I will post the results in a few days.  As much as I love to pour over the numbers and analyze data it is important to keep in mind that the thrill of the hunt, getting to enjoy God's creation and spending time with friends is the thing that keeps us coming back for more. Try to not let score determine whether the hunt is a success or failure.

Click Below for other links related to Field Judging and Scoring Elk

How to Score/Field Judge Elk Antlers

Field Judging and Guess the Score Elk Video Series

Field Judging Elk Article in Elk Hunter Magazine
Field Judging Elk Antlers and Scoring Elk Blog Posts by JayScottOutdoors

Field Judging Elk and Scoring Elk Antlers 3

Field Judging and Scoring Elk
This post is in response to the prior post, "Field Judging Elk and Scoring Elk Antlers 2"
Below is a quadrant of photos of the "G5" Bull that Darr had sent me prior to the 2011 Arizona archery elk hunt to estimate his score. Darr was able to put his hands on the bull the other night at the Desert Christian Archers monthly gathering. He scored the bull and has the actual measurements. Lets see where I estimated correctly and where I underperformed. The thing I like about trying to field judge and estimate score of trophy animals is that it is constantly a learning experience.  Our readers seem to be very close for the most part in guessing the score of this bull.  We had scores on our facebook and email ranging from 370 to 400 inches.

Here are the actual measurements of the bull.  Lets compare to the estimates.

Left Side: 16 4/8, 18, 15 7/8, 23 4/8, 16 2/8, 56 2/8, 26 6/8=172 7/8

Right Side: 16 4/ 8, 17 7/8, 17 5/8, 25, 19 4/8, 54, 26 3/8=176 3/8

Spread 36 Total 172 7/8+176 3/8 +36=385 2/8 Gross

Overall I made some good guesses but I was way off on the mass which still leaves me scratching my head.  It amazes me that a bull of this caliber would only have 26 6/8 and 26 3/8 inches of mass per side.  On mass alone I missed the mark by 6 7/8.  I still look at the photo and video and it is hard to see how light and thin this bulls mass is.  I have never seen a bull of this caliber have under 28 inches of mass.  I was pretty good with my point estimations but my main beams guesses were also a little off at 58 on each side where the actual numbers were 56 2/8 and 54 respectively.  So on this particular bull I would give myself a C+.  I am also making a mental note about the bulls in Unit 10.  Seems as they grow good long points but sometimes are lacking in mass.  I think that could also be one of the reason the bulls in Unit 10 seem to break so bad during the rut.  The only break that I would cut myself is that it sometimes is very hard to make guesses and estimates without having seen the bull in person.  I think if I would have seen the bull in person I might have picked up on the skinny mass and shorter main beams.  How did you do with your estimations?

Colburn and Scott Outfitters Guide Darr Colburn at the Desert Christian Archers monthly get together holding the G5 Bull.

Darr and Arizona Elk Society Founding Member and President Steve Clark going over the numbers

Left Side: 16 4/8, 18, 15 7/8, 23 4/8, 16 2/8, 56 2/8, 26 6/8=172 7/8

Right Side: 16 4/ 8, 17 7/8, 17 5/8, 25, 19 4/8, 54, 26 3/8=176 3/8

Spread 36 Total 172 7/8+176 3/8 +36=385 2/8 Gross

Lets look at each category of this bulls score and its relationship to percentage of the overall score.  For the example I am just rounding to neareast whole number. 

Point Length=185" or 48% of total score

Mass=53" or 13.7% of total score

Main Beam Length=110" or 28.5% of total score

Inside Spread=36" or 9.3% of total score

Below are a couple of charts to for tips and to use as a reference while field judging bull elk.  Notice how our subject bull did not meet the "norm" in regards to mass.

As much as I love to pour over the numbers and analyze data it is important to keep in mind that the thrill of the hunt, getting to enjoy God's creation and spending time with friends is the thing that keeps us coming back for more.  Try to not let score determine whether the hunt is a success or failure.  Stay tuned for another exercise in Field Judging and Scoring Elk from JayScottOutdoors.  Be sure to find us on face book( JSO and CSO) and check out our YouTube channel.

For more videos on field judging and scoring elk antlers click here.

Field Judging Elk and Scoring Elk Antlers 2

Practice Field Judging and Scoring Elk
Here is a big bull elk from Arizona Unit 10 that was filmed by Darr Colburn of Colburn and Scott Outfitters.  Darr was able find and film this bull many times prior to the start of the archery elk season.  This footage was taken in Early September 2011.  Unfortunately, this bull was wounded by another archery hunter and was not recovered. The head was found and the Arizona Game and Fish Department ended up with it.  The rack was then auctioned off to the highest bidder.  Darr was able to put his hands on the bull and run a quick tape so we have a pretty good idea what the actual score is.  After a few days we will post the actual scores and you can compare your numbers to the real thing.  Watch this video and this is your chance to try to Field Judge this great Arizona bull on the hoof.  Whether you use the Estimating Actual Measurements method (EAM) or Estimating Shortest Points method (ESP), give us your guess of his total gross score (1), Guess his Point length per side and total (2), Guess his Main beam length for each side and the total of both (3), guess the mass per each side and the total (4) and his Inside spread (5).  We will post the actual score and more pictures in 24 hours.  We will also breakdown our estimates.  Click the post title above to leave a comment or put your score on our facebook page

Click the post title above to leave a comment or put your score on our facebook page

Click Below for other links related to Field Judging and Scoring Elk
How to Score/Field Judge Elk Antlers
Field Judging and Guess the Score Elk Video Series
Field Judging Elk Article in Elk Hunter Magazine

Field Judging Elk and Scoring Elk Antlers

Posted by Jay Scott



To view the entire playlist of "How to Score an Elk Antler" Click Here
We are going to be doing a series of "How to Field Judge Elk" and "How to Score Elk".  At Colburn and Scott Outfitters and JayScottOutdoors we are constantly trying to improve our ability to field judge elk on the hoof and it seems as if we are always learning something new when it comes to Field Judging and Scoring Elk antlers.  If you have any questions in regards to scoring or field judging please email them to me or if have pictures of a bull that you want us to estimate the score send them at jayscottoutdoors@gmail.com or js43560@cox.net.

The first bull that we are going to examine is a bull that was harvested by Dan in the 2011 Archery Elk Season in Arizona Unit 10.  Unit 10 is one of Arizona's premium elk units and one of our favorites.  He was guided by my partners, Darr Colburn and Janis Putelis, of Colburn and Scott Outfitters.  Check out the videos below to see Dan's Bull prior to harvest and then the second video is the actual hunt video





I have written several articles on "How to Field Judge and Score Elk" in Western Hunter Magazine and Elk Hunter Magazine.  Click Here to see the articles, WH 1 and EHM 2.  In those articles, I discuss two ways to field judge an elk.  The first is to Estimate Actual Measurements (EAM) and the second, is to Estimate the Shortest Points (ESP).  If you are not familiar with these methods please review these magazines articles by clicking on the above listed links.  When I am trying to make a quick decision and evaluation I use the ESP method and when I have time to really pick the antlers apart I use EAM method.  When I am field judging using ESP I do the math in my head when using the EAM method I write on my hand or on anything I can find.  The ESP is usually closer to net score and the EAM is typically closer to the gross score.

The quadrant picture above is from an article on "Field Judging Elk" that I did for Elk Hunter Magazine.  The pictures are of Dan's bull prior to harvest.  Lets compare the Estimated Actual Measurements (EAM) to the actual measurements from the score sheet below which was taken after the bull was harvested.

There are four components to scoring a bull elk. These components are listed in the order of importance in relation to total score. The averages listed are generalizations of percentage for 350 type bulls.  Length of Points 45%, Length of Main Beam 28%, Mass 16% and Inside Spread 11% (see chart below).

Lets take a look at the numbers of Dan's bull.  Points=167 4/8, L-84 3/8 and R-83 1/8 (44% of total score), Main Beam Length=111 5/8, L-57 1/8 and R-54 4/8 (30% of total score), Mass=57 1/8, L-28 4/8 and R-28 5/8 (15% of total score), Inside Spread= 37 2/8 (9% of total score).  In my estimates from the quadrant above in the Estimating Actual Measurements category, I guessed 171inches(compared to actual 170 inches) for the left side and 163 inches (compared to the actual 166 2/8inches) for the right side.  I guessed the spread well at 37 inches.  One thing I have picked up over the years of hunting in Unit 10 for elk is that the bulls don't seem to carry the mass like they do in some of the other units.  Dan's bull gross scores 373 4/8 but only has 28 4/8 and 28 5/8 of mass per side.  So when hunting in Unit 10 keep in mind 28-29 is a much better number to use for estimating mass than 30 per side.  Colburn and Scott Outfitters had a hunter that killed a 400" bull in 2009 in Unit 10 and he didn't even make the 30 inch per side for mass.

Another thing to look at when you watch the videos of Dan's bull is that the left main beam is definitely longer when you compare the distance along the beam from the fifth point to the tip of the main beam.  If you look closely you will see the left beam has a slight wave in it and that is a good indicator of extra length.

 Actual Measurements: Left side-18 4/8, 18 7/8, 14 3/8, 19 6/8, 12 7/8, 57 1/8MB, Mass 8 4/8, 7 1/8, 6 7/8, 6 0/8=170 inches total for left side and the Right side-17 6/8, 16 7/8, 14 7/8, 19 7/8, 13 6/8, 54 4/8MB, Mass 8 6/8, 7 4/8, 6 4/8, 5 7/8=166 2/8 inches total for right side.  170+166 2/8+ 37 2/8 Inside Spread = 373 4/8 gross

Colburn and Scott Outfitters Guide Darr Colburn and Hunter Dan with his Pope and Young record book Arizona bull

The Left Main Beam definitely looks longer in this picture.

Remember in order to have a bull make the 350 inch mark a good rule of thumb is 28-29 inches of mass per side, 50+ inch main beams but hardly ever over 60, Point length needs to be pushing 75-80+ inches per side, the inside spread is basically immaterial but should be somewhere in the 34-40+ range

Click on the following links to see other Scoring and Field Judging Elk Posts and Videos

Field Judging Elk Antlers and Guess the Score Elk Videos by Jay Scott Outdoors

Field Judging Elk Article in Western Hunter Magazine By Field Editor Jay Scott

Field Judging Elk Article in Elk Hunter Magazine by Hunting Editor Jay Scott

How to Score/Measure Elk Antlers Video Series by Jay Scott Outdoors

Arizona Elk Video-Windy Bull by Colburn and Scott Outfitters

More at Colburn and Scott Outfitters and JayScottOutdoors You Tube Channel

Guess the Score-Bull Elk 15

Guess the score of this bull elk. Click on title of Blog Post to post your score. My cousin Jimmy Vincent and I were able to both video this bull together while scouting.

Click Here For More posts on Field Judging Elk

Guess the Score-Bull Elk-Updated

What does this bull score?  Click on post title to comment or post your score.  here is what I see:
L-11,12,10,18,15,7,54,27=154 R-12,13,10,19,15,8,54,27=158, inside spread 39 Total 351 Gross


Click Here for More Field Judging Elk Posts

Elk Field Judging-Watch Him Grow!-score updated

There are going to be three years of trailcam photos of this particular bull.  They were sent to me by a friend.  I am not disclosing the unit or my friends name at his request.  This is a really cool segment to see how one bull can change in 3 years but still keep the general theme of his antlers.  What does he score in 2009, 2010, and 2011?  How old do you think he is? 

6.12..2009

HERE HE IS IN 2010 (SEE BELOW)

HERE HE IS SO FAR IN 2011(SEE BELOW)

WHAT DOES HE SCORE IN 2011?  WHAT WILL HE BE IN 2012?
THANKS TO MY FRIEND THIS IS A NEAT PROGRESSION OF PHOTOS!  I HOPE YOU BAG HIM THIS YEAR!

HERE IS MY GUESSTIMATE AS HE SITS:  left side 53,29,18,16,18,18,9+5"extra=166; right side 53,29,14,15,18,18,9+5"extra=161 166+161=327+35 inside spread=362 GROSS
The ranges on my facebook page on this bull was 360-430.  I think he is 7 years old (COMPLETE GUESS).  I think he scored 315-320 in 2009, 342-348 in 2010.  Who knows it is all a guess unitl they are on the ground.