Free Mule Deer Score Calculator
Official Boone & Crockett typical mule deer formula. Enter beams, points, mass and spread in inches and get gross and net score instantly. No signup.
Widest inside width between main beams. Spread credit cannot exceed the longer main beam.
| Measurement | Left Side (in.) | Right Side (in.) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
Main Beam Outer curve from burr to tip | - | ||
G1 (Brow) Brow tine. Often short or missing on muleys | - | ||
G2 First fork off the main beam | - | ||
G3 Back fork point | - | ||
G4 Front fork point | - | ||
H1 Circ. Between burr and G1 | - | ||
H2 Circ. Between G1 and G2 | - | ||
H3 Circ. Between main beam and G3 | - | ||
H4 Circ. Between G3 and G4 | - | ||
| TOTALS | - | - | −- |
How to Score a Mule Deer
A mule deer forks where a whitetail branches. The main beam runs back and the G2 splits into the G3 and G4, which is why a classic mature muley is called a 4x4. Measure each main beam along the outside curve, take the inside spread at the widest point between beams, then measure every point that is at least one inch long and longer than it is wide at the base. Finish with four circumference measurements per antler at the smallest place in each specified location.
Gross Score = Inside Spread Credit + both Main Beams + all Point Lengths + all Circumferences
Net Score = Gross Score minus side to side Symmetry Deductions minus Abnormal Point Lengths
Western hunters usually count one side, so a four point muley out west is an 8 point in eastern count. The score sheet does not care what you call him. It only cares about inches.
Boone & Crockett Mule Deer Minimum Scores
| Category | Awards Book | All-Time Book | Pope & Young |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical Mule Deer | 180 | 190 | 145 |
| Non-Typical Mule Deer | 215 | 230 | 170 |
| Columbia Blacktail | 125 | 135 | 95 |
| Sitka Blacktail | 100 | 108 | 75 |
Minimums are published by the Boone and Crockett Club and the Pope and Young Club. Official entry requires a certified measurer and a 60-day drying period.
What Counts as a Good Muley?
- 130 to 150 inches: a solid public land buck. Most hunters would fill a tag and be happy about it.
- 150 to 170 inches: a mature 4x4. Good beams and a wide frame. The buck you scout all summer for.
- 170 to 180 inches: a true trophy muley. Deep forks and mass that carries.
- 180 to 190 inches: Awards book class. Limited-entry tag or a well-managed unit.
- 190+ inches net typical: the Boone & Crockett all-time minimum. A buck of a lifetime.
Mule Deer Score Calculator FAQ
How do you score a mule deer?
Measure both main beams, the inside spread, every point one inch or longer, and four circumference measurements per antler. Add them for the gross score, then subtract the side to side differences for the net Boone and Crockett score. Mule deer are scored on a fork pattern rather than the whitetail beam pattern, so the G3 and G4 come off the G2 fork.
What is the Boone and Crockett minimum for mule deer?
Typical mule deer: 180 for the Awards book and 190 for the All-time book. Non-typical mule deer: 215 Awards and 230 All-time. Pope and Young takes a typical mule deer at 145 and a non-typical at 170.
What does a good 4x4 mule deer score?
A mature 4x4 with 24 inch beams and a 24 inch spread usually lands 150 to 170. Getting past 180 takes deep forks, long G2s, and mass that carries out to the H4. A 190 class typical is a buck most western hunters will never put a tag on.
How is mule deer scoring different from whitetail?
The tine pattern. A whitetail grows points straight off the main beam, so the sheet runs G1 through G4 along the beam. A mule deer forks, so the G3 and G4 come off the G2 rather than the beam, and the circumference measurements are taken in different places. Point counts are also usually given western count, one side only, so a 4x4 muley is an 8 point in eastern count.
What is the world record mule deer?
The Boone and Crockett world record typical mule deer scores 226 4/8, taken by Doug Burris Jr. in Dolores County, Colorado in 1972. It has stood for more than fifty years.
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