Moose are the largest member of the deer family, and a big bull is one of the most impressive trophies in the hunting world. As with most big game animals, field judging moose is very difficult, especially if you need to make a hurried decision. So if you’ve got your sights set on putting a bull moose, and your name, into the record books, here’s what you need to know.
Many hunters tend to judge moose on antler spread alone, but both of the major records keepers for North American big game, the Boone and Crockett Club and Safari Club International also factor in the length or height of each palm, the width of each palm, the points on each antler and the circumference at the base of each antler (each organization uses slightly different scoring systems, however). Although many hunters see the spread of a bull’s antlers as being the most desirable characteristic, this measurement is only counted once and it is not the most important when it comes to its score. In terms of overall contribution to the animal’s final score, it is palm length and width that really pile up the scoring points. Look for high, broad and generally well-developed antlers. Here are some tips to help when you don’t have a tape measure handy. (Note that these organizations also have differing boundaries for the various moose sub-species classifications, with differing minimum scores for qualification.) – Read more….