Good Resource for Field Judging Elk

[6.5x284]

Any good online resources for field judging elk? Anything that has pictures on the hoof, and later a score or anything like that? Drew a quality tag and looking to improve my field judging abilities.

*I'm sure I'll get some haters saying score doesn't matter. Got it. I still need to be able to quickly weed out mature from young bulls and identify a next level bull.

 

[Blackcow]

Jay’s Elk Scoring & Field Judging – Jay Scott Outdoors

jayscottoutdoorspodcast.com

 

[6.5x284]

Jay’s Elk Scoring & Field Judging – Jay Scott Outdoors

jayscottoutdoorspodcast.com

Awesome, thank you! Will listen tonight.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

If it's like the one in your avatar, you are good! Couldn't resist.

Good 3rds with six points is how I look quickly. Many bulls have short 3rds. I know it is not all about the score but when you draw a trophy tag it turns into a trophy hunt. It is difficult to be selective.

 

[johnw]

Jay’s Elk Scoring & Field Judging – Jay Scott Outdoors

jayscottoutdoorspodcast.com

Jay did a series of instagram posts about this in 2022 that was worth the watch, he showed good live examples of each size bull in 10" increments from 300-400.

 

[PNWGATOR]

Please put together a comprehensive thread on your quest with lots of pics.

 

[6.5x284]

Jay did a series of instagram posts about this in 2022 that was worth the watch, he showed good live examples of each size bull in 10" increments from 300-400.

His page is really really helpful for field judging after a quick browse. That 350-380 range looks so similar to me. I’ll dig that instagram data up if it’s not already in the stuff I bookmarked from his site. Thanks!

 

[Stache Attack]

I would like to find others besides jay. He has helped me a lot too but I don’t see the 350-380 spread either. I also think with different genetics it changes how antler structure and body size skews what I see. Also years of moisture and years of not change mass vs length or both.

 

[6.5x284]

If it's like the one in your avatar, you are good! Couldn't resist.

Good 3rds with six points is how I look quickly. Many bulls have short 3rds. I know it is not all about the score but when you draw a trophy tag it turns into a trophy hunt. It is difficult to be selective.

He’s smaller than everyone thinks. 329 5/8. Most guess 340-350 every time. He’s narrow though. I got lucky. Knew he was legal and that’s it, just lucked out he was a nice one. Obviously camera angle matters a ton and people post the most flattering pics, myself included.

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[Tmac]

He’s smaller than everyone thinks. 329 5/8. Most guess 340-350 every time. He’s narrow though. I got lucky. Knew he was legal and that’s it, just lucked out he was a nice one. Obviously camera angle matters a ton and people post the most flattering pics, myself included.

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Beautiful Bull.

I’ve never understood air scores. Why the scoring bodies add in inside spread make no sense if you are trying to honor the antler on the animal. I get some may like wider racks, but adding that to the score? Non-sensical to me. I shoot what I like and couldn’t care less about the score if I tried.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

That's a great bull every day.

 

[6.5x284]

Please put together a comprehensive thread on your quest with lots of pics.

I’ve got a running thread saved on my computer I’ll probably post down the road with how I approached my first special tag and the hunt story itself.


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[mtnbiker208]

mike eastmans book, elk hunting the west has a whole chapter on this.

 

[trophyhill]

If it's like the one in your avatar, you are good! Couldn't resist.

Good 3rds with six points is how I look quickly. Many bulls have short 3rds. I know it is not all about the score but when you draw a trophy tag it turns into a trophy hunt. It is difficult to be selective.

I think that could be a generics thing. Gila bulls are notorious for having weak 3rds yet score well over 350 routinely

 

[6.5x284]

Thanks for all the help and references. Ended up going 356 6/8 with his stubby little thirds. His mass is crazy, makes everything look short. Side by side with my bull above, the 330 bull looks little. Was only the second bull over 300 I found in 10 days and took him on the second to last day. Everything I had read went out the window real fast lol. I saw his top end while he was bedded and said he’s good enough to end this misery! Had been a grind until then!

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[TaperPin]

To get good at judging, a guy almost has to avoid looking at trophy photos that make the rack look bigger than it really is. The old rule of thumb is bring your eyes directly to the fourth point, spend most of your time letting the 5th and sixth (maybe 7th) register, then look at the third, and only if there’s extra time do you spend precious seconds on the first two tines. Genetics of where you’re hunting can vary, but if a bull had 5th and 6th hidden from view, an extra large 3rd is usually a good indicator what’s up top is also extra large, and small top guarantees a short 3rd.

It also helps to look at racks attached to living walking elk. The proportion of the rack length to body size is important. I’ve seen small racks with similar proportions to large racks and without comparing it to the elk’s body it’s hard to judge. Videos from the Jackson elk refuge can be good because there are 300, 330, 350 and 370 elk together - the shapes and proportions start to register the more you look at them. 350 + elk carry themselves differently, run differently.

I was lucky enough to grow up knowing a couple guys who consistently shot mature elk and each had a 370+ bull on the wall - they sure are fun to look at.