How to Measure Whitetail Deer Antler Sheds With Score Sheets
- 1). Acquire or make a whitetail deer shed-antler score-sheet. Many sporting goods stores give these to customers for free, though many people choose to make their own score sheet. On lined paper make two columns with a pencil. Use the left column for identification and the right column for measurements. The left column will need a line for the antler's main beam length, each antler-point length and four circumference measurements.
- 2). Lay a string along the middle of the outside of the main beam from the antler's burr to the main beam's tip and mark the string at the antler's tip with a marker. The antler will curve with the main-beam tip facing the inside. The burr connected the antler to the deer's skull before the antler shed and the main beam ends at the tip. The main beam length will equal the greatest length possible along the main beam.
- 3). Measure the string, to the nearest 1/8 inch, from the burr's end to the marker's mark with a tape measure and write this measurement on the score sheet on the main beam's line.
- 4). Measure the outside edge of each point. Start the string at the spot where the antler point connects to the main beam and extend the string to the antler point's tip. Mark the string at the point's tip and measure the string, to the nearest 1/8 inch, from its starting end to the antler tip's mark. Write this measurement on the score sheet in the appropriate point-measurement line. Repeat this for every point.
- 5). Wrap the string around the antler's burr. Mark the string where it comes together. Measure the burr's circumference to the nearest 1/8 inch and write this measurement in the first circumference line.
- 6). Wrap the string around the antler at the skinniest spot between the burr and the first point. Mark the string. Measure the string, to the nearest 1/8 inch, between marks and write the measurement on the score sheet's second circumference line.
- 7). Wrap the string around the antler between the second and third points at the skinniest spot. Mark the string and measure between the marks to the nearest 1/8 inch. Write this on the score sheet's third circumference line. If the antler has any additional points, then repeat the circumference measurement between the next set of points up to a total of four circumference measurements on the score sheet.
- 8). Measure abnormal points, points that do not follow the antler's normal shape, using the same method used when measuring normal points except for when they fork off of a point. In this case, measure from the abnormal point's tip to the normal point's edge. Add these measurements to the score sheet.
- 9). Add the length and circumference measurements, from the score sheet, together. The sum will equal the shed antler's score.
Source...