Judge a shooter

[IndianaHunter]

How do you judge a shooter in the field? Up close it would seam th be easy but at a range of 100 to 200 yards what advice can I get?

[arkansasdon]

I use the ears for how wide , good pare of optics 10x35 that is adjusted right, steady rest (stootin sticks) side of a tree, back pack frame, walkin staff, what ever gives ya a rock steady rest. this is for your Bino's or scope on ya rifle. "Great Pare of eyes" works I'm talkin about your Bino's I use 10x35 Wind Rivers by Leupold, buy cheap and ya will fight to see game and it's hard to judge your shooter class bucks or what ever game ya huntin.

[timhicks]

I am again with Don on this,, Good binos help alot.Things tend to grow real fast in a scope with a deer moving. I am trying to learn patience,,for this the last few years I have went back to bowhunting only. This helps but can be very frustrating at times.I see great deer and know they are shooters but are too far away..I use the ears also and try to see how his back is and also how thick his neck is, I watched a great deer for 3 years, turned him down once when he was breeding a doe, I had them at 100 yards in my scope and he was putting it to her, I let him go and never saw him again the rest of deer season. I di however see him last year and he was on the downhill climb. I again let him walk,, he was wide he was tall but he had 5 great tines on one side and 3 on the other and looked ragged. I guess i just wanted him to pass on his genes..But when you would see his body you knew he was a great deer. Binos are the best answer and also study the deer and watch ,see if he is nervous ot if he struts like the king of the forest.Tim

[IndianaHunter]

This was the kind of information I was looking for. Can anyone add to this?

www.txpoutdoors.com/buck_field_scoring.php

[Crysar]

If your looking at a deer from the side and his main beams are even with or past his nose he's probably a shooter.

[texasrack]

Well I will add that everything I have read (including the Texas Wildlife Manual published by the Texas Department of Wildlife) states that in alert postion the typical Whitetail has a spread, from ear tip to ear tip of 13" not 16" I have never heard 16" in my life (maybe on a Mulie?)

The length of a mature whitetail ear is said to be around 6" so you can use that as a barometer for tine length. Mass is just a judgement call at that range, BUT if at 200 yards he looks like he has good mass, he probably does. If he was a pencil beam you would know it (as stated..only using a good pair of Binos).

Also look to make sure he is a mature deer. Roman nose (curved down a bit) or a belly that extends past his ribs and shoulders or skins hanging loosely from the lower neck is also a good indicator of a mature buck.

Other than that I suggest to go get some hunting videos and watch them over and over...most will tell you the score after the take, but guess as good as you can before hand...soon you will start getting better and better.

Best of luck