Score? Shooter?

[ColoradoV]

The only way to get good at estimating score is to look over a bunch of bucks and that velvet can be deceiving so what do you think this buck would score?

He is in a highly limited early season unit 5 points to draw just about any of the tags for a resident so would he be a first hour shooter for ya and what do you think he scores?

Click video for link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxcPMpnrjfk

 

[brianboh]

Personally I would smoke him

 

[kidoggy]

so would I. I also wouldn't worry about what he scored till after I scored.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Personally I would smoke him

Me too! The only thing I can see that is a detriment is width. Of course the height sometimes can overshadow width and make him look narrower. Wait a second while I get my M/L primed and ready, then we'll talk about it! LOL

 

[tdcour]

I'm in with everyone else. I'd shoot that dude all day long in a 5 point unit. His height makes him seem a little crabby with the forks, but if you look at the length of his ears and use those to gauge tine length I'd say his fronts are roughly 8" and backs are 10-12. I'm no expert in scoring either. I may be way off, but I'd say he would be somewhere in the 170s? Again, may be way off, but a quick calculation thats where I'd be guessing. Velvet is hard to gauge mass, but he looks like he will have decent mass when he strips off. His height is what is going to make him score really well I think.

 

[Hilltop]

Great buck- guessing he will score around the 180" mark in velvet. The lack of deep forks keeps him down a bit but his frame is great. I don't know many guys that would pass him up on any hunt personally. The kicker seals the deal for anyone on the fence!

 

[Never in Doubt]

Unless I had seen larger bucks during scouting season, I'd shoot him quicker'n you could spit

 

[JimP]

It all depends on what else I am seeing in the unit and what my expectations are.

Who knows, you got the video while he was in velvet and right now he may be hanging on someones wall.

 

[BKC]

If I used at least 5 pp to draw this tag, assuming it is the high country rifle tag, I would wait. He is a good buck but I would not shoot him the first morning. Its a nine day season and this is Colorado. I would think there are more like him in the drainage and probably some bigger ones within a drainage or two. I think he is in the low 170's, velvet makes them look big.

 

[wy-tex]

170ish but he needs another year or two. Looks like a 4 1/2 year old. All told I would probably shoot him in a public land area but not the first day. That velvet makes him look much bigger. He will not have great mass after he sheds that velvet.

 

[Tim McCoy]

He looks similar to a buck I have at home, sans velvet, that ended up quite a bit larger than I initially thought. I was hesitating a bit in shooting, so what the heck do I really know? Mine is a main frame 23" across the front, with an inline & a kicker off the back where is is 25" wide with the kicker, he's mid-180's.

Compared to my similarly built buck, this buck has a bit deeper forks in back, not as good in front, similar height I think, one small extra I can see, and has the velvet that just messes me up, but is probably not quite as heavy as mine if stripped. I'd guess this one 175 +\- in velvet. A very nice buck. I'm shooting, unless I have scouted multiple better bucks & still have 3 or so days to hunt, or am in an absolute top 10 in the USA type unit. Would love a velvet buck that size for sure.

 

[Bonecollector]

Yes, I'd take him. I don't worry about score, although everyone wants a big animal as do I. For me it's about whether he meets my personal criteria, and he would. If you want a score, measure my grin while I'm admiring his rack. No ground shrinkage, it'd probably grow the more I was holding him!

 

[Swedishhunter]

I'd shoot him for sure. Guessing 170-180

 

[boiler]

Yep, asap! He would score....one primo spot on my wall!

 

[Timberstalker]

I didn't even have to push play, boom!

 

[Slugz]

168 hard horned. I was never good with the velvet. If its a 5 point or less limited Colorado draw, and I didn't have intel of a bigger one near me (which scouting all summer most likely gives me a 90% certainty) he would be shot opening day.
If you are in an area and you are making this decision opening morning, you probably didn't do your homework (or maybe just couldnt due to limited scouting)

That' a solid deer in any state.

 

[ivorytip]

shuttle T would rip through both lungs in a moments notice. never pass on a buck like that.

 

[SPAZ]

I might shoot that in MT on a general license but unlikely I'd shoot a young 160 class typical after 5 years of waiting to hunt. First hour shooter - not a chance.

 

[B&C Blacktails]

Archery I'd shoot him 1st, 2nd or any day! I love tall antlered bucks! Rifle I'd hold out for the last few days of the hunt. He's got short main beams with probably 28" of mass I'd put him at 165-170"

 

[ColoradoV]

I agree with a lot of you that he is in the 175" range/class buck and he went into the gps as such. He was a pass for me this year. As I was hiking out one day I saw a hunter put a good stalk on him and it made for a fun couple of hours of watching. The hunter got very close 20 yards in some tall willows he did a good job of staying above the buck with the right wind but in the end he lost patience rather quickly and started to throw rocks.. Buck looped below him with no shot but it was a good show.

A buck that could still be alive so no final numbers. He is a very tall buck, the sticker almost pushes him over the top, and a buck I hope to see next year as I think this would be his year to make a big jump.