Field judging Bulls can be tricky. Information below is a great resourcee for quickly field judging a big bull.
Most big mature bulls will have main beams close to 50 inches long. Some are longer and some a bit shorter, but 50 is a good estimate to start from.
Big bulls will have an inside spread of very near to 40 inches and also right around 30 inches of mass per side. Keep in mind that with the Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett scoring systems (which are identical) you only measure 4 mass measurements along the main beam. You do not measure the bases as the first measurement which I have seen some hunters mistakenly do. You start by taking the first measurement at the smallest diameter between the first and second point, and then so on until you have 4 measurements total per side no matter how many points (tines) the bull has.
If you add these totals up for main beams, spread, and mass from both sides you get 200 inches. This is going to be a very close estimate for most big bulls and serves as our solid starting point.
Beam Length 50" per side
4 mass measurements 30" per side
Inside spread 40"
Starting point of 200 inches
For symmetrical bull add up G1, G2, G3, G4, G5 on one side and multiply by 2. (Avg of 16" per point for G1-G4 and 10" on G5's to be a 350 bull)
300” Bull: G1= 14”, G2= 14”, G3=10”, G4= 16”, G5= 8. Note that a 300” bull will more likely have 45” main beams about 54” inches of total mass and a 35” spread. These totals amount to 303”.
320” Bull: G1=15”, G2= 15”, G3= 12”, G4= 16”, G5= 8”. Note that a 320” bull will likely have 46 to 48 inch beams, about 56 inches of total mass, and a 38 inch spread. These totals amount to right at 320”.
340” Bull: G1= 16”, G2= 16”, G3= 12”, G4= 18”, G5= 10”. Add these to the base of 200” for your total of 344”
360” Bull: G1= 16”, G2= 16”, G3= 16”, G4= 20”, G5= 12”. Add these to the base of 200” for a total of 360”.
380” Bull: G1= 18”, G2= 18”, G3= 16”, G4= 20”, G5= 15”. Note that most 380” bulls will have 52 to 56 inch beams, and a spread of potentially more than 40 inches. Taking this into account gives us 378” to around 385”.
400” Bull: G1= 20”, G2= 20”, G3= 20”, G4= 20, G5= 16”. Again, most 400” bulls will have 54” to 56” inch beams, and a spread of potentially more than 40 inches. This results in these point lengths totaling 397” to 400” plus!
Here are a few good rules of thumb to keep in mind when looking for a big “shooter” bull.
Identify the “sword” (G4) and the “whale tail” to verify that you are looking at a 6×6 or better bull.
Look for long main beams and strong 3rd’s and 5th’s.
Look for good “curve” in the G1, G2, & G3 points. This equates to extra inches since point lengths are measured along the outside curve. Bulls with curvy looking points score well.
Straight looking points are always short. Curved points with “belly” to them are longer. Bulls with straight looking points won’t score well.
You must always have two views. Look at the bull from the side and front. A back or front view only are not good indicators. I’ve made this mistake before and regretted it! You must see the point lengths to recognize a big bull.
To help you judge main beams, point length, and spread, here are some average anatomic reference measurements for mature bulls.
-Antler Pedical (Burr) to nose= 17”-18”
-Eye to nose= 13”
-Top of back to shoulder “V spot”= 20”
-Top of back to belly= 25”-28”
-Body girth through the shoulders (front view) = 18”
-Main beam average length to G4= 28”-30”
-Tip to tip ear spread (front view) = 26”
Information Credit goes to Steve Chappell
Most big mature bulls will have main beams close to 50 inches long. Some are longer and some a bit shorter, but 50 is a good estimate to start from.
Big bulls will have an inside spread of very near to 40 inches and also right around 30 inches of mass per side. Keep in mind that with the Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett scoring systems (which are identical) you only measure 4 mass measurements along the main beam. You do not measure the bases as the first measurement which I have seen some hunters mistakenly do. You start by taking the first measurement at the smallest diameter between the first and second point, and then so on until you have 4 measurements total per side no matter how many points (tines) the bull has.
If you add these totals up for main beams, spread, and mass from both sides you get 200 inches. This is going to be a very close estimate for most big bulls and serves as our solid starting point.
Beam Length 50" per side
4 mass measurements 30" per side
Inside spread 40"
Starting point of 200 inches
For symmetrical bull add up G1, G2, G3, G4, G5 on one side and multiply by 2. (Avg of 16" per point for G1-G4 and 10" on G5's to be a 350 bull)
300” Bull: G1= 14”, G2= 14”, G3=10”, G4= 16”, G5= 8. Note that a 300” bull will more likely have 45” main beams about 54” inches of total mass and a 35” spread. These totals amount to 303”.
320” Bull: G1=15”, G2= 15”, G3= 12”, G4= 16”, G5= 8”. Note that a 320” bull will likely have 46 to 48 inch beams, about 56 inches of total mass, and a 38 inch spread. These totals amount to right at 320”.
340” Bull: G1= 16”, G2= 16”, G3= 12”, G4= 18”, G5= 10”. Add these to the base of 200” for your total of 344”
360” Bull: G1= 16”, G2= 16”, G3= 16”, G4= 20”, G5= 12”. Add these to the base of 200” for a total of 360”.
380” Bull: G1= 18”, G2= 18”, G3= 16”, G4= 20”, G5= 15”. Note that most 380” bulls will have 52 to 56 inch beams, and a spread of potentially more than 40 inches. Taking this into account gives us 378” to around 385”.
400” Bull: G1= 20”, G2= 20”, G3= 20”, G4= 20, G5= 16”. Again, most 400” bulls will have 54” to 56” inch beams, and a spread of potentially more than 40 inches. This results in these point lengths totaling 397” to 400” plus!
Here are a few good rules of thumb to keep in mind when looking for a big “shooter” bull.
Identify the “sword” (G4) and the “whale tail” to verify that you are looking at a 6×6 or better bull.
Look for long main beams and strong 3rd’s and 5th’s.
Look for good “curve” in the G1, G2, & G3 points. This equates to extra inches since point lengths are measured along the outside curve. Bulls with curvy looking points score well.
Straight looking points are always short. Curved points with “belly” to them are longer. Bulls with straight looking points won’t score well.
You must always have two views. Look at the bull from the side and front. A back or front view only are not good indicators. I’ve made this mistake before and regretted it! You must see the point lengths to recognize a big bull.
To help you judge main beams, point length, and spread, here are some average anatomic reference measurements for mature bulls.
-Antler Pedical (Burr) to nose= 17”-18”
-Eye to nose= 13”
-Top of back to shoulder “V spot”= 20”
-Top of back to belly= 25”-28”
-Body girth through the shoulders (front view) = 18”
-Main beam average length to G4= 28”-30”
-Tip to tip ear spread (front view) = 26”
Information Credit goes to Steve Chappell
