Antler Scoring for Boone and Crockett, Pope and Young, Safari Club International and North American Shed Antlers Club
Antler scoring - how is it done? My antlers are bigger than your antlers. Well, they might be heavier, but my antlers are longer...Maybe, but my antlers have more points!So how can we tell which antlers are "bigger"?How does our trophy antlers, or the shed antlers we found, stack up against the "World Record" antlers for that species, whether it be deer, elk or moose?The Boone and Crockett Club (first published record book in 1895) and the Pope and Young Club (Since 1961) are the two main wildlife conservation clubs that keep records for the antler size of various North American species. Safari Club International (SCI) since 1979 keeps records of antlers, horns and body size for species worldwide.
The Boone and Crockett scoring keeps separate records for both typical and non-typical antlers taken with firearms and the Pope and Young Club keeps similar antler records for animals taken with bow and arrow.
Safari Club International keeps different records for different weapons and for different areas of North America. For example, it is a well known fact that White-tailed Deer antlers are larger in Northern areas compared to Southern areas, so SCI has separate categories for various regions including Northeast, Northwest, Midwest, Southeast, Texas and Mexico.
There is also the North American Shed Hunters Club (founded 1991) that keeps records for shed antlers and horns that are found by shed hunters.
The scoring sheet of antlers is a fairly complicated system that considers the total length of the main beams and point of each antler, the total number of points, the maximum spread of the antlers, the minimum distance between antlers, the length of all abnormal points and the minimum circumference at the base of each antler and the main forks.
Each club has trained official scorers to score the antlers of the various species and their particular antler score sheet or chart.
The antler scoring system is the same for the Boone and Crocket and the Pope and Young clubs, but SCI scores antlers slightly different, with no penalty for asymmetry of the antlers. For example, the recent new record non-typical elk "Spider Bull" from Utah in 2008 scored 478 5/8 B&C, but was scored 508 1/8 for SCI.
Sometimes people refer to antler length by total inches. This is simply the total length of all main branches, forks and points added together.
Scores of shed antlers (single or matched sheds) obviously can not account for the minimum and maximum spread of one antler to another since they are not connected to the skull plate.
We researched records of antlers for each club for the following species (typical and non-typical), shown in tables below:
White-tailed Deer or Whitetail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Mule Deer and Desert Mule Deer) (Odocoileus hemionus)
American Elk or Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus canadensis)
Roosevelt's Elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti)
Tule Elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes)
Moose (Alces alces)
Alaska-Yukon Moose (Alces alces gigas)
Canada Moose (Alces alces americana)
Shiras' (or Wyoming) Moose (Alces alces shirasi)
Boone and Crockett World Record Antlers
| Species | Scientific Name | Score | Year | State/ Province | Min Score for Recognition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitetail Deer (Typical) | Odocoileus virginianus | 213 5/8 | 1993 | Saskatchewan | 160 |
| Whitetail Deer (Non-typical) | Odocoileus virginianus | 333 7/8 | 1981 | Missouri | 185 |
| Mule Deer (Typical) | Odocoileus hemionus | 226 1/2 | 1972 | Colorado | 180 |
| Mule Deer (Non-typical) | Odocoileus hemionus | 355 1/4 | 1926 | Alberta | 215 |
| Elk (American) (Typical) | Cervus canadensis nelsoni | 442 5/8 | 1968 | Arizona | 360 |
| Elk (American) (Non-typical) | Cervus canadensis nelsoni | 478 5/8 | 2008 | Utah | 385 |
| Roosevelt's Elk | Cervus canadensis roosevelti | 404 3/4 | 2002 | Oregon | 275 |
| Tule Elk | Cervus canadensis nannodes | 379 | 2005 | California | 270 |
| Alaska-Yukon Moose | Alces alces gigas | 261 5/8 | 1994 | Alaska | 210 |
| Canada Moose | Alces alces americana | 242 | 1980 | British Columbia | 185 |
| Shiras' (Wyoming) Moose | Alces alces shirasi | 205 1/2 | 1952 | Wyoming | 140 |
Pope and Young World Record Antlers
| Species | Scientific Name | Score | Year | State/ Province | Min Score for Recognition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitetail Deer (Typical) | Odocoileus virginianus | 204 1/2 | 1965 | Illinois | 125 |
| Whitetail Deer (Non-typical) | 294 | 2000 | Ohio | 155 | |
| Mule Deer (Typical) | Odocoileus hemionus | 203 1/8 | 1979 | Colorado | 145 |
| Mule Deer (Non-typical) | 274 7/8 | 1987 | Colorado | 170 | |
| Elk (American) (Typical) | Cervus canadensis nelsoni | 412 1/8 | 2005 | Arizona | 260 |
| Elk (American) (Non-typical) | 442 | 2003 | Arizona | 335 | |
| Roosevelt's Elk | Cervus canadensis roosevelti | 378 3/4 | 1991 | Oregon | 225 |
| Tule Elk | Cervus canadensis nannodes | 312 5/8 | 1990 | California | 225 |
| Alaska-Yukon Moose | Alces alces gigas | 248 | 1973 | Alaska | 170 |
| Canada Moose | Alces alces americana | 222 1/8 | 1988 | Quebec | 135 |
| Shiras' (Wyoming) Moose | Alces alces shirasi | 185 3/4 | 1987 | Wyoming | 125 |
Safari Club International World Record Antlers
| Species | Rife Score | Handgun Score | Muzzle loader Score | Bow Score | Cross Bow Score | Min Standard Score | Min Bow Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Mule Deer (Typical) | 222 5/8 | 193 5/8 | 207 1/4 | 219 7/8 | - | 151 | 140 |
| Desert Mule Deer (Non-typical) | 266 1/4 | 228 3/4 | 239 1/4 | 244 1/4 | - | 180 | 160 |
| Rocky Mountain Mule Deer (Typical) | 228 5/8 | 204 1/2 | 203 1/2 | 220 1/2 | 149 3/8 | 155 | 138 |
| Rocky Mountain Mule Deer (Non-typical) | 317 1/2 | 201 1/4 | 301 7/8 | 259 3/4 | 194 1/2 | 163 | 163 |
| Columbia White-tailed Deer (Typical) | 142 1/2 | - | - | 87 3/8 | - | 70 | 45 |
| Columbia White-tailed Deer (Non-typical) | 133 3/8 | - | - | 129 7/8 | - | 80 | 0 |
| Mexican White-tailed Deer (Typical) | 188 5/8 | - | 119 | 153 | - | 60 | 54 |
| Mexican White-tailed Deer (Non-typical) | 195 3/4 | - | - | 145 3/4 | - | 70 | 65 |
| Mid-Western White-tailed Deer (Typical) | 208 5/8 | 160 1/4 | 187 1/4 | 222 1/8 | 140 5/8 | 125 | 115 |
| Mid-Western White-tailed Deer (Non-typical) | 228 | 249 5/8 | 218 3/8 | 209 7/8 | - | 135 | 125 |
| Northeastern White-tailed Deer (Typical) | 227 1/8 | 198 5/8 | 205 | 208 7/8 | 206 1/8 | 125 | 112 |
| Northeastern White-tailed Deer (Non-typical) | 219 1/2 | - | 200 1/2 | 311 7/8 | 221 1/2 | 148 | 133 |
| Northwestern White-tailed Deer (Typical) | 207 1/4 | 148 5/8 | 176 3/8 | 220 3/8 | 146 5/8 | 125 | 101 |
| Northwestern White-tailed Deer (Non-typical) | 287 1/2 | - | 185 1/8 | 215 3/8 | 281 1/2 | 150 | 135 |
| Southeastern White-tailed Deer (Typical) | 202 3/4 | 172 7/8 | 156 1/2 | 174 7/8 | 127 3/8 | 110 | 100 |
| Southeastern White-tailed Deer (Non-typical) | 235 1/2 | 140 1/8 | 154 5/8 | 203 7/8 | - | 120 | 110 |
| Texas White-tailed Deer (Typical) | 180 3/4 | 172 1/8 | 159 1/4 | 181 1/2 | - | 125 | 112 |
| Texas White-tailed Deer (Non-typical) | 204 1/4 | 165 0/0 | - | 167 1/2 | - | 138 | 120 |
| Rocky Mountain Elk (Typical) | 437 5/8 | 371 1/4 | 413 1/2 | 432 1/4 | 362 7/8 | 264 | 237 |
| Rocky Mountain Elk (Non-typical) | 508 1/8 | 396 7/8 | 364 5/8 | 464 3/8 | - | 281 | 252 |
| Alaska-Yukon Moose | 731 1/8 | 551 7/8 | 547 5/8 | 587 1/8 | - | 310 | 279 |
| Eastern Canada Moose | 489 1/4 | - | 371 5/8 | 432 3/4 | 407 5/8 | 214 | 190 |
| Western Canada Moose | 557 | - | 516 5/8 | 528 3/4 | - | 274 | 246 |
| Shiras' (Wyoming) Moose | 461 7/8 | 321 | 359 3/8 | 503 3/4 | 340 1/4 | 210 | 189 |
North American Shed Hunters Club World Record Antlers
| Species | Category | Year | State/ Province | Score | Min Score for Recognition | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitetail Deer | Matched-Non-Typical | 1990 | Minnesota | 310 5/8 | 226 3/8 | ties 10th place |
| Whitetail Deer | Matched-Typical | 1959 | Nebraska | 195 1/8 | 171 3/8 | ties 10th place |
| Whitetail Deer | Single-Non-Typical | 1999 | Kansas | 148 3/4 | 134 1/2 | ties 10th place |
| Whitetail Deer | Single-Typical | 1992 | Illinois | 104 3/4 | 96 5/8 | ties 10th place |
| Mule Deer | Matched-Non-Typical | 2007 | Arizona | 287 1/2 | 209 7/8 | ties 10th place |
| Mule Deer | Matched-Typical | 1970?s | Wyoming | 186 3/8 | 168 1/2 | ties 10th place |
| Mule Deer | Single-Non-Typical | unk | Montana | 140 3/4 | 119 7/8 | ties 10th place |
| Mule Deer | Single-Typical | 1970?s | Wyoming | 96 1/2 | 91 1/4 | ties 10th place |
| American Elk | Matched-Non-Typical | 1900?s | Colorado | 425 1/8 | 378 3/8 | ties 10th place |
| American Elk | Matched-Typical | 1987 | Arizona | 399 1/4 | 332 3/4 | ties 9th place |
| American Elk | Single-Non-Typical | 2002 | Kansas? | 217 7/8 | 203 7/8 | ties 10th place |
| American Elk | Single-Typical | 1998 | Arizona | 205 1/2 | 180 3/4 | ties 10th place |
| Roosevelt's Elk | MATCHED | 1990 | Oregon | 392 | any | 3rd place is open |
| Roosevelt's Elk | Single | unk | unk | 164 1/4 | any | 3rd place is open |
| Tule Elk | Matched-Typical | 1992 | California | 314 1/4 | any | 4th place is open |
| Tule Elk | Single-Non-Typical | 2004 | California | 123 1/4 | any | 2nd place is open |
| Tule Elk | Matched-Typical | any | No records | |||
| Tule Elk | Single-Typical | 1989 | California | 194 3/4 | any | 8th place is open |
| Alaska-Yukon Moose | Matched-Non-Typical | 2006 | Alaska | 176 1/8 | any | 3rd place is open |
| Alaska-Yukon Moose | Matched-Typical | 2007 | Yukon | 154 | any | 9th place is open |
| Alaska-Yukon Moose | Single-Non-Typical | 2006 | Alaska | 105 | any | 4th place is open |
| Alaska-Yukon Moose | Single-Typical | 2006 | Alaska | 84 3/8 | 72 | ties 9th place |
| Canada Moose | Matched-Non-Typical | 2005 | Minnesota | 164 1/2 | any | 4th place is open |
| Canada Moose | Matched-Typical | 2004 | Minnesota | 163 1/2 | 143 1/4 | ties 10th place |
| Canada Moose | Single-Non-Typical | 2003 | Minnesota | 96 7/8 | any | 8th place is open |
| Canada Moose | Single-Typical | 2002 | Nova Scotia | 90 1/2 | 82 3/8 | ties 10th place |
| Shiras Moose | Matched-Typical | unk | Montana | 132 1/4 | 116 | ties 10th place |
| Shiras Moose | Single-Typical | 2007 | Montana | 71 5/8 | 59 7/8 | ties 10th place |
North American Shed Hunters Club
If you are looking for a scoring sheet or chart, follow the links after each table to either Boone and Crockett, Pope and Young, Safari Club International or the North American Shed Hunters Club for more information about entering your own trophies.
