Judging moose tips

[Gunnersdad49]

Hard to believe that’s 51. I do, just difficult. I thought 58. Of course that pic also has them in forefront with you in back, and bare skull. I’m sure that makes Em look a little wider. Still, I was off by a lot!

I agree, the bald head makes them look bigger, and my "fisherman's pose" probably doesn't help. I think the thing that hurt him was how cupped his paddles were forward. If they laid out flat, he would have gained a lot

 

[AK_Skeeter]

These are both less than 50 inches. A young bull and an old timer past his prime
Both legal in 3 brow tine unit.

 

[shawdawg]

This is a great thread for those new to judging moose. I'm slated for 2023 and this is a starting point to get comfortable at attempting to field judge them. Thanks for everyones input!

 

[ndmarine]

Download my measures on iPhone. Give yourself a 6” buffer. This guy was overcalculated by 4”. He had plenty of brows so it didn’t matter

 

[ndmarine]

View attachment 390646Download my measures on iPhone. Give yourself a 6” buffer. This guy was overcalculated by 4”. He had plenty of brows so it didn’t matter

 

[JoshDoneff]

I just drew a bull moose tag in Colorado. This thread is really helpful. Thanks guys.

 

[Gunnersdad49]

I just drew a bull moose tag in Colorado. This thread is really helpful. Thanks guys.

Congratulations! What part of the state? I tried again this year with 19 weighted points and still ended up with nothing but a participation trophy.

 

[Robinhood21]

I hope me posting this doesn't get redundant but I feel like it's the most accurate way to go about it... especially if you're hunting in a 50"/4browtine unit.


I use a combination of ways to measure. I've looked over so many pictures and videos & seen quite a few moose in person now that there are some bulls that you automatically know he's a shooter as soon as you see him... no need to measure. Width between the eyes works but the most accurate way I've found is to use the reticle on my rifle. Obviously this won't work for archery hunters.

I can judge a moose to see if he's legal from 100yds all the way out to 1000 yards and I feel extremely confident in doing so. You just need to make sure you can get a very steady rest.


Examples:

Range Finder - 300 yards, Moose measures 20MOA
3 X 20 = 60" moose


Range Finder - 475 yards, Moose Measures 13.5MOA
4.75 X 13.5 = 64" moose


Range Finder - 178 yards, Moose Measures 26MOA
1.78 X 26 = 46" moose



The scope I use is a Zeiss V4 4-16X44 with a ZMOA-T30 reticle.

 

[Catchfish]

He barely beat 51" wide. I was pretty surprised when I measured, but am really glad he had the brow tines to be legal either way. We passed on a couple of smaller bulls in the trip, and I'm super glad we did! I don't think I would have shot this guy without the brow tines.

If you notice in the second picture, his tines come forward instead of laying out to the side.

Second picture you can also see how much his ears are inside his palm, that is normally not a good sign. The first picture is one of those pics that make animals look bigger than they really are. Very cool moose though I like the character on the inside of his paddles

 

[Gunnersdad49]

Catchfish, camera angles make all the difference! Same bull with some magical angle. But in this pic you can see the ears overlap the inside edge of the paddles by a few inches on both sides of the rack.

 

[Gunnersdad49]

I hope me posting this doesn't get redundant but I feel like it's the most accurate way to go about it... especially if you're hunting in a 50"/4browtine unit.


I use a combination of ways to measure. I've looked over so many pictures and videos & seen quite a few moose in person now that there are some bulls that you automatically know he's a shooter as soon as you see him... no need to measure. Width between the eyes works but the most accurate way I've found is to use the reticle on my rifle. Obviously this won't work for archery hunters.

I can judge a moose to see if he's legal from 100yds all the way out to 1000 yards and I feel extremely confident in doing so. You just need to make sure you can get a very steady rest.


Examples:

Range Finder - 300 yards, Moose measures 20MOA
3 X 20 = 60" moose


Range Finder - 475 yards, Moose Measures 13.5MOA
4.75 X 13.5 = 64" moose


Range Finder - 178 yards, Moose Measures 26MOA
1.78 X 26 = 46" moose



The scope I use is a Zeiss V4 4-16X44 with a ZMOA-T30 reticle.

View attachment 562704

It's also important to note that this image says it is a second focal plane scope. With a SFP scope, there is typically one magnification that this will work at. The measurements on a FFP scope will work at any magnification, so make sure you know your gear and accurate magnification setting with a SFP scope.

 

[JoshDoneff]

Congratulations! What part of the state? I tried again this year with 19 weighted points and still ended up with nothing but a participation trophy.

Units 53/54/63, crested butte. I am stoked but looking for intel. Thanks.

 

[Gunnersdad49]

Units 53/54/63, crested butte. I am stoked but looking for intel. Thanks.

My knowledge is mostly North Park and surrounding areas, but I hope you find a monster out there! Good luck.