September NEWSLETTER 2009 |
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have topic you would wish to be discussed in a future newsletter, let us know and we will
consider it.
If you do not want future newsletters, please email or write us advising so and you will be
removed from the list.
Write to: Disappear Hunting Products Inc., PO Box 414, Wadsworth, OH 44282
Email: discoverscent@disappearhp.com
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HUNTERS
Trophy bucks. Anybody that is from halfway serious, to all out dedicated, while hunting whitetails, thinks
about harvesting a trophy buck. What truly defines a trophy whitetail? There are probably a million answers
to that question. For the sake of order, I will use the scoring system adopted by the Pope & Young/Boone &
Crockett clubs, when talking about scored point totals. Just for those who may not know, the entry level for
typical whitetails is a net score of 125 pts for Pope & Young and 160 pts/awards, 170 pts/all time for Boone
& Crockett. Non-typical would be 155 pts, 185 pts and 195 pts respectfully. If your goal is to collect a buck
that will become an entry in the record books, then you have to first of all, hunt where they exist, second,
pass up smaller bucks, and third, study great numbers of deer mounts, so that you can truly recognize the
rough score of a buck, while deciding if it is a buck, you are going to attempt to harvest. There are
thousands of hunters, who would have been prepared to swear, the buck they just shot, would easily make
the record books, only to walk up to the fallen trophy and discover “ ground shrink “ robbed them of their
record book deer.
Here are some rough guides I have used over the years to judge the size of the antlers. An alert whitetail
looking in your direction with ears outstretched, is going to measure 16 to 18 inches from tip to tip of the
ears. In order to score the minimum for Pope & Young ( 125 ), generally, the buck needs to have at least 8
points, a side to side spread of 20 inches or more and several tines up to 10 to 12 inches in length. This is
only a rough guide, as there are many combinations, that contribute to the overall score. When I am
studying a deer in the field, I ask myself; are the antlers at least 3 to 4 inches beyond the ears, does the
main beam angle sharply upward, ( this can give the visual effect of much longer tines than they really are ),
is at least one tine on each side about a foot in height, and finally, when viewed from the side, are the tips of
the main beams close to the end of the deer’s nose or beyond.
Now, we have discussed one type of trophy, let’s talk about another. I have a good friend, that resides in
Vermont, and if he would harvest a buck scoring 80 to 90 points, that would be a real trophy for that area.
Collecting the best any given area has to offer, is another way to trophy hunt. Not everybody has the desire
or means to travel to places that contain a decent number of high scoring, quality bucks. Another trophy, is
one taken under very unusual or difficult circumstances. One of my most prized trophies is not even a buck,
but a rather small doe. Years ago, in Pennsylvania, I shot her in her bed, with a flintlock muzzleloader, while
accompanied by my 2 young sons, ( they were 7 & 10 years old at the time ). So, you can see, there are
many types of trophies.
Finally, the most important thought, set your goals, stick with them and then be satisfied with the end
result. We are not going to be successful every time in collecting our trophy. If we gave a 100% of our
effort, had a great time through out the season, how can that be a failure. One of the things I don’t
understand, is a hunter that says, “ This year, I am not going to shoot a buck unless it scores 150 or above.
“ During the season he/she talks about passing up deer in the 120 to 140 class. Then the season gets to a
close, and the lament is heard, “ If only I would have taken one of those lesser bucks, when I had the
chance. “ Prioritize your goals, if filling a tag is the most important, then you should take the first decent
buck you can. Odds are though, you will never get the type of buck you dream about. Any great success,
generally requires above average work, dedication and sacrifice. There always will be the hunters that,
without any apparent extra effort, collect a monster buck that scores well enough for entry in the Boone &
Crockett record book. Strange things happen. Above all, enjoy the precious time you have afield and be
thankful for all the memories that come with it.
Keith Dotterer
Trophy bucks. Anybody that is from halfway serious, to all out dedicated, while hunting whitetails, thinks
about harvesting a trophy buck. What truly defines a trophy whitetail? There are probably a million answers
to that question. For the sake of order, I will use the scoring system adopted by the Pope & Young/Boone &
Crockett clubs, when talking about scored point totals. Just for those who may not know, the entry level for
typical whitetails is a net score of 125 pts for Pope & Young and 160 pts/awards, 170 pts/all time for Boone
& Crockett. Non-typical would be 155 pts, 185 pts and 195 pts respectfully. If your goal is to collect a buck
that will become an entry in the record books, then you have to first of all, hunt where they exist, second,
pass up smaller bucks, and third, study great numbers of deer mounts, so that you can truly recognize the
rough score of a buck, while deciding if it is a buck, you are going to attempt to harvest. There are
thousands of hunters, who would have been prepared to swear, the buck they just shot, would easily make
the record books, only to walk up to the fallen trophy and discover “ ground shrink “ robbed them of their
record book deer.
Here are some rough guides I have used over the years to judge the size of the antlers. An alert whitetail
looking in your direction with ears outstretched, is going to measure 16 to 18 inches from tip to tip of the
ears. In order to score the minimum for Pope & Young ( 125 ), generally, the buck needs to have at least 8
points, a side to side spread of 20 inches or more and several tines up to 10 to 12 inches in length. This is
only a rough guide, as there are many combinations, that contribute to the overall score. When I am
studying a deer in the field, I ask myself; are the antlers at least 3 to 4 inches beyond the ears, does the
main beam angle sharply upward, ( this can give the visual effect of much longer tines than they really are ),
is at least one tine on each side about a foot in height, and finally, when viewed from the side, are the tips of
the main beams close to the end of the deer’s nose or beyond.
Now, we have discussed one type of trophy, let’s talk about another. I have a good friend, that resides in
Vermont, and if he would harvest a buck scoring 80 to 90 points, that would be a real trophy for that area.
Collecting the best any given area has to offer, is another way to trophy hunt. Not everybody has the desire
or means to travel to places that contain a decent number of high scoring, quality bucks. Another trophy, is
one taken under very unusual or difficult circumstances. One of my most prized trophies is not even a buck,
but a rather small doe. Years ago, in Pennsylvania, I shot her in her bed, with a flintlock muzzleloader, while
accompanied by my 2 young sons, ( they were 7 & 10 years old at the time ). So, you can see, there are
many types of trophies.
Finally, the most important thought, set your goals, stick with them and then be satisfied with the end
result. We are not going to be successful every time in collecting our trophy. If we gave a 100% of our
effort, had a great time through out the season, how can that be a failure. One of the things I don’t
understand, is a hunter that says, “ This year, I am not going to shoot a buck unless it scores 150 or above.
“ During the season he/she talks about passing up deer in the 120 to 140 class. Then the season gets to a
close, and the lament is heard, “ If only I would have taken one of those lesser bucks, when I had the
chance. “ Prioritize your goals, if filling a tag is the most important, then you should take the first decent
buck you can. Odds are though, you will never get the type of buck you dream about. Any great success,
generally requires above average work, dedication and sacrifice. There always will be the hunters that,
without any apparent extra effort, collect a monster buck that scores well enough for entry in the Boone &
Crockett record book. Strange things happen. Above all, enjoy the precious time you have afield and be
thankful for all the memories that come with it.
Keith Dotterer
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