How to Enter a Deer in Boone and Crockett

What You Actually Need to Do to Enter a Deer

To enter a deer in Boone and Crockett, you need a qualifying score from an official B&C measurer, the right paperwork, and you need to wait out the drying period on the antlers before final scoring.

If your buck is close to the minimum, do not guess with a tape on your kitchen table and send it in. Get it measured right, once, after it dries.

I have killed enough bucks to know this part hurts. You want the number right now, and you want to tell everybody right now.

Back in November 2019 in Pike County, Illinois, I shot my biggest buck, a 156-inch typical the morning after a cold front. I still waited to do it the right way because I did not want a “maybe” score floating around forever.

Decide If Your Buck Is Even Close Before You Spend Any Money

You have two goals here. Figure out if it is even worth chasing the book, and avoid bad measuring habits that will mess you up later.

I learned the hard way that “close” is where most guys get burned. A buck that looks like a lock can come up short after deductions.

Here is what I do when I am standing in the garage with the rack on a bench. I do a rough green score with a cloth tape, then I stop and write it down as “green” so I do not lie to myself later.

If you are hunting the Missouri Ozarks like I do on public land, a clean 130-inch typical is a hammer. But Boone and Crockett minimums are higher than most guys think, so don’t get your hopes set on the book until you check the right minimum for your category.

My buddy swears by scoring everything the night of the kill and “letting the chips fall.” I have found that rushing it just leads to arguments and disappointment, especially if the rack shrinks a little after it dries.

When I am trying to estimate mature buck body size along with antlers, I check how much does a deer weigh because big bodies and big racks often go together, but not always.

Pick the Right Category or You Can Waste Months

This is a decision you need to make early. Typical, non-typical, or something abnormal that changes the whole math.

Most whitetails entered are either Typical Whitetail or Non-Typical Whitetail. Typical means the rack follows normal symmetry, and non-typical means it has abnormal points that change scoring and deductions.

Here is what I do. I look at the rack from the front and ask one simple question, “Are the weird points going to help more than the deductions hurt.”

If you are hunting southern Iowa rut funnels and you arrow a gnarly buck with stickers and kickers, do not assume non-typical automatically means bigger. Some racks score better as typical even with a little trash.

I learned the hard way that counting points is not scoring. Back in 2007, the same year I gut shot that doe and pushed her too early, I also watched a buddy brag up a “12-pointer” that measured like a clean 128 and he acted like the tape was broken.

If you are new to deer terms and you keep mixing up buck and doe talk, start with my quick breakdown of what a male deer is called and what a female deer is called because Boone and Crockett paperwork is not the place to be sloppy.

Don’t Skip the Drying Period, Even If You “Know” It Makes It

This is the mistake that ruins more entries than bad shooting. Boone and Crockett requires a drying period before the final score.

Antlers can shrink as they dry. Sometimes it is a little, sometimes it is enough to move you under the minimum if you were barely over.

Here is what I do in my garage. I keep the rack in a cool, dry spot on a shelf, and I do not put it right next to a heater or wood stove.

I wasted money on $400 ozone scent control that made zero difference in the woods, and it taught me a bigger lesson. Just because you can buy a gadget does not mean you can beat basic reality, and drying antlers is basic reality.

If you are hunting the Upper Peninsula Michigan and you bring a rack from freezing temps into a warm house, forget about blasting it with heat to “dry it faster” and focus on slow and steady so you do not crack the skull plate or loosen anything.

Find an Official Measurer Instead of Trusting Your Buddy With a Tape

This is a tradeoff. You can get a fast number from your buddy, or you can get a number that actually holds up when it matters.

Boone and Crockett entries get measured by an Official Measurer using the Boone and Crockett system. That is the score that counts.

Here is what I do. I find an official measurer before I even mount the deer, because some mounting choices can make measuring a pain if you mess with the skull plate or cut too tight.

My buddy swears by taking the rack to the local taxidermist and “they’ll handle it.” I have found taxidermists vary a lot, and not all of them are B&C measurers.

If you are hunting pressured public in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, and you finally tag the kind of buck that makes you shake, do not let a bunch of guys handle the rack at camp. Keep it safe and clean, and set up the official measuring the right way.

Measure It the Right Way Before You Ever Talk Records

This is where ego gets guys. If you say “Boone” out loud too early, you will hear about it forever if it misses.

I am not a professional guide or outfitter. I am just a guy who has burned money on gear that did not work, hunted 30-plus days a year for two decades, and learned to keep my mouth shut until I have facts.

Here is what I do before the official score. I take clean photos of the rack from the front, side, and top, and I record the date and county of harvest in my phone notes.

If conditions change and the rack gets bumped, cracked, or chewed by a dog, you are going to hate your life. Treat it like a piece of evidence, because that is basically what it is.

When I am writing down hunt details for my own records, I also note the weather and timing because this connects to what I wrote about deer feeding times and why some sits are magic.

My Quick Rule of Thumb

If your buck is within 5 inches of the minimum on a rough green score, do not talk “book” yet and schedule an official measurement after the drying period.

If you see tall tines but a lot of mismatched points, expect bigger deductions on a typical score and ask the measurer to look at non-typical too.

If conditions change to warm, humid storage, switch to a cool dry spot and keep the rack out of direct heat so you do not lose inches or crack bone.

Paperwork and Proof Matter More Than Most Guys Think

This is a decision. Are you entering it for real, or are you just chasing a number to tell your buddies.

Boone and Crockett entries require the right forms and the right information. That includes where and when it was taken, and the final score signed off by the official measurer.

Here is what I do. I keep a single folder for the deer that might matter, with photos, harvest notes, and any tag or confirmation number info that applies in that state.

Back in 1998 when I was hunting Iron County, Missouri, I killed my first deer, an 8-point buck with a borrowed rifle. If I had paperwork habits back then, I would have a cleaner story and better records now, even though that deer was not anywhere near book.

If you are hunting Ohio straight-wall zones and you bounce between properties, forget about “I think it was on the north farm” and focus on writing down the exact county and land type while it is fresh.

Decide How You’re Mounting It Before You Cut Anything

This is a mistake to avoid. Bad caping and skull work can make measuring harder, and it can also wreck the look of your mount.

Here is what I do. I decide shoulder mount, euro, or antlers-only before I ever put a knife to the hide around the head.

I process my own deer in the garage, taught by my uncle who was a butcher, so I am comfortable with knives. But I still slow down on the head because you only get one shot at clean work.

If you need a refresher on clean field work before the head ever comes off, I link guys to how to field dress a deer because a sloppy job early can stink up everything later.

If you are hunting the Missouri Ozarks and you drag one out a mile through leaves and mud, forget about keeping it “pretty” and focus on keeping the cape clean and cool if you want a mount.

What I Use for DIY Scoring at Home, and What I Don’t Bother With

This is a tradeoff. DIY scoring tools are fine for rough numbers, but they do not replace an official measurement.

Here is what I do. I keep a soft tailor’s tape, a steel tape, and a small cable for wrapping beams, and I write every measurement down so I can spot mistakes.

I do not buy gimmicks for this. I already learned my lesson wasting $400 on ozone scent control, and I am not doing that again for scoring tools.

If you want a legit, cheap tape that holds up, I have used a Stanley FatMax 25-foot tape for years, and it is usually around $12 to $18. It locks hard, the markings are easy to read in a dim garage, and mine has been dropped off a tailgate more than once.

My buddy swears by digital calipers for every tine and point. I have found calipers are great for arrow building and broadhead work, but for B&C scoring you still need the right tape technique.

Don’t Ignore Deductions, Because That’s Where Dreams Die

This is the part that makes guys mad. Gross score feels good, but net score is what gets you in for typical entries.

Typical scoring hits you with deductions for side-to-side differences. That means one extra inch on one side does not “count” the way you think it does.

Here is what I do when I rough score. I measure both sides and I circle the differences, because that is where the net gets punched in the mouth.

If you see a buck with one brow tine that is 6 inches and the other is 2 inches, expect that to hurt on a typical score. If it has extra abnormal points too, expect the category choice to matter.

If you want help thinking through shot placement so you do not risk losing the deer that might be a once-in-a-lifetime rack, this connects to what I wrote about where to shoot a deer to drop it in its tracks.

What I Do Right After the Shot, Because Losing a “Book” Buck Will Break You

This is a mistake to avoid, and I am saying it because I still think about it. In 2007 I gut shot a doe, pushed her too early, never found her, and that sick feeling sticks with you.

Now, if I even suspect a marginal hit, I slow down. I mark last blood, I back out, and I give it time.

Here is what I do on a good lung hit with a bow. I wait 30 to 45 minutes, then track slow and quiet with a bright light and flagging tape.

If you are hunting thick cover in the Missouri Ozarks, forget about charging ahead because you are “pretty sure” and focus on listening first. A bumped deer can go 350 yards into a nastier hole than you want to crawl into.

This also connects to what I wrote about are deer smart because wounded deer do the smartest thing they can do, which is head to the worst place for you to follow.

FAQs

How long do I have to wait before I can officially score a Boone and Crockett buck?

You have to wait out the required drying period before final scoring. I do not rush this because a borderline deer can shrink enough to miss.

Can I enter a deer that was measured by my taxidermist?

Only if your taxidermist is an official Boone and Crockett measurer and does the score on the official form. A “shop score” with no official measurer is just a camp story.

What should I do if I think my buck might be typical and non-typical?

Have the official measurer look at both categories and explain the deductions. I have seen racks that look non-typical score better as typical once the math is done.

Do I need proof like photos or my tag to enter a deer?

You need the completed entry information and a score from an official measurer, and I always keep photos and harvest notes anyway. Paperwork problems are a dumb way to lose an entry.

Should I do a shoulder mount before I get it scored?

I do not, unless I already have the official measurer lined up and I know the taxidermy work will not interfere. I decide the scoring plan before anything gets cut or altered.

What if my buck is close to the minimum and I’m not sure it will make it?

Do not brag it up, and do not rush the process. Let it dry, then get an official measurement so you get one clean answer that holds up.

When you are ready, tell me what state you killed it in, the rough inside spread, and whether it is typical or has abnormal points. I will tell you what I would do next and what mistake I would avoid based on that.

What I Would Do Next If This Was My Buck

I would treat it like a real record entry right now.

That means I would stop guessing, protect the rack, line up an official measurer, and let the process run in order.

Here is what I do. I put the rack somewhere safe, I write down the exact county and date, and I pick one person to handle the next steps so the story does not get messy.

Back in November 2019 in Pike County, Illinois, I wanted that 156-inch typical scored the same day. I did not do it, because I wanted one number I could stand behind forever.

Decide If You Want Recognition or Just a Score, Because That Changes Your Next Move

This is the tradeoff. A clean official entry takes time, but it gives you something that is real and permanent.

If you only want a number for the photo album, then a rough score at home is fine and you can stop there.

But if you want Boone and Crockett, you do not half-do it. You do the drying period, the official measurer, and the paperwork, and you keep your hands off the rack until it is done.

I learned the hard way that “almost official” is the worst kind of score. That is how you end up arguing on Facebook for five years about a buck that never got entered.

Protect the Rack Like It’s Evidence, Because Stuff Happens Fast

This is a mistake to avoid. Guys lose inches with damage, heat, or sloppy handling, and then they blame the tape.

Here is what I do. I keep it off the floor, away from dogs, away from heaters, and away from buddies who want to “see how wide it is.”

If you are hunting camp-style like I have in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, forget about hanging it where everybody grabs it and focus on putting it somewhere quiet and dry. Public land pressure already makes big bucks rare, so don’t turn luck into regret.

One more thing. Do not screw with the skull plate unless you know what you are doing, because a cracked plate is a stupid way to ruin a great mount and make measuring harder.

Make Your Entry Story Clean, Because Boone and Crockett Is Not Camp Talk

This is a decision. Are your details tight enough that you could tell them the same way a year from now.

Here is what I do. I write down the date, the county, the weapon, and who witnessed the recovery, and I save it in my phone and on paper.

I also label my photos. “Nov 6, 2024, Pike County IL, morning,” beats “Big buck lol,” every time.

If you bounce between spots like I do between a small Illinois lease and Missouri Ozarks public, forget about fuzzy memory and focus on notes that match your tag and your state rules. That is how you avoid headaches later.

Don’t Let the Mount Choice Mess With Your Measuring Plan

This is a tradeoff. A fast shoulder mount looks great on the wall, but rushing it can complicate scoring if the rack is borderline.

Here is what I do. I talk to the official measurer first, then I talk to the taxidermist.

If I am doing a euro mount, I still keep the skull plate intact and I do not saw it down until I know the measurer does not need anything else.

I process my own deer in the garage, taught by my uncle who was a butcher, and I am comfortable doing clean work. But I still slow way down around the head because one bad cut is forever.

Use the Right People, Not the Loudest People

This is the part where emotions get you. Everybody has a tape, and everybody has an opinion.

My buddy swears by “just take it to the taxidermist and they’ll score it.” I have found that works only if the taxidermist is an official measurer, and plenty are not.

Here is what I do. I find the official measurer, schedule it, and show up with the rack clean and untouched.

If you are hunting the Missouri Ozarks and you finally kill a buck that looks special, forget about letting five guys manhandle it in the truck bed and focus on keeping it safe. I have seen tine tips busted off from pure carelessness.

Be Honest About the Hit and the Recovery, Because That’s Part of Being Proud of It

I have to say this because it still sits in my gut. In 2007 I gut shot a doe, pushed her too early, never found her, and I will wear that one forever.

Here is what I do now. If the hit is not perfect, I slow down, back out, and I do not let adrenaline make choices for me.

If you are hunting thick stuff like the Missouri Ozarks, forget about “I’ll just go take a quick look” and focus on time and patience. A bumped deer can go 350 yards into a hole that eats your whole night.

One Last Reality Check Before You Send Anything In

If it is way over the minimum, the process is easy. If it is close, the process is stressful, and that is why you do it clean.

Here is what I do. I keep my mouth shut until the drying period is done and the official score is on paper.

Then I celebrate. Then I tell the story.

Back in 1998 in Iron County, Missouri, I killed my first deer, an 8-point with a borrowed rifle, and the only “record” was how hard my hands shook. I still remember that feeling, and I still try to treat every deer with respect, whether it is a 110-inch Ozarks buck or a Pike County bruiser that might make the book.

If you want my take on your buck, tell me the state, the county, the rough inside spread, and whether it looks clean typical or has abnormal points. I will tell you the next step I would take and the exact mistake I would avoid.