Am noticing more and more members describing the antlers on their bucks using the Eastern, (US), counting all the points including the small spurs at the front. Growing up and hunting in Alberta, I have always counted the main points on one side, (if symetrical), hence one photo of a nice buck in this forum was described as a 10 point buck while I would describe it as a 4 pointer. No problem if an non-symetrical rack is described as a 4X5 but curious as to why there is a difference in the way antlers are described. If I am in the minority, I would like to change the description of the photo of the 3 point buck I posted to I shot an 8 point buck this year! LOL
Western or Eastern antler point count
- Thread starter Jetjock
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buddy!! Eastern hunters and western hunters have been arguing the way antler points are counted since hunting emerged! I think it boils down to regulations. I have only ever seen regs in the west stating miminimum points to a side. Back east I never saw regs that stated for example “minimum 3 points per side” or “3 points one side”. Personally IMO if a deer is wearing a rack all the points count for a total. After all its part of the whole deer!
buddy!! Eastern hunters and western hunters have been arguing the way antler points are counted since hunting emerged! I think it boils down to regulations. I have only ever seen regs in the west stating miminimum points to a side. Back east I never saw regs that stated for example “minimum 3 points per side” or “3 points one side”. Personally IMO if a deer is wearing a rack all the points count for a total. After all its part of the whole deer!
Lol this has been argued to no end. But I'm with you. I'm from Alberta as well, and describe bucks by number of main points on one side, not including brow tines as all bucks have them! (unless broken off)
I think it's mainly because we Albertan's don't have anything to compensate for ;P
I think it's mainly because we Albertan's don't have anything to compensate for ;P
I always assumed the western method was so they could be counted just using their fingers. If the western guys tried using the eastern method the majority would have to remove their boots and socks for anything over 10 points. 
BC (and other placess maybe) has a mule deer 4pt restriction for some seasons. So it has to be 4 points on one side, excluding the brow tine, to be legal. So lots of hunters call it "4 pt season" and if it's a 4x3 they call it a "4 pt"
It gets even more confusing when you consider that brow tines are included when scoring a rack.
You often hear something like " 4x4 with brow tines and a sticker" which would be a typical 4x4 mule deer with a little scoreable point sticking off one antler. And some guys would call that deer a 5x4, and others would call it a 9 point and if you are scoring it you might call it an 11 point.
Some guys get very agitated when you don't count points the way they think you should and if you called that deer a 11 point you are boasting and trying to puff yourself up. I feel that you shouldn't worry so much about how the other guy counts his points.
It gets even more confusing when you consider that brow tines are included when scoring a rack.
You often hear something like " 4x4 with brow tines and a sticker" which would be a typical 4x4 mule deer with a little scoreable point sticking off one antler. And some guys would call that deer a 5x4, and others would call it a 9 point and if you are scoring it you might call it an 11 point.
Some guys get very agitated when you don't count points the way they think you should and if you called that deer a 11 point you are boasting and trying to puff yourself up. I feel that you shouldn't worry so much about how the other guy counts his points.
As Gatehouse pointed out, here in BC, they have it really screwed up.
For mule deer, you count one side only, but don't count the brow tines on a muley, even if he has them.
Whitetail, OTOH, you count the points on one side, but include the brow time.
So, in the case of a muley, a 4 point buck has 4 points on one side without the brow tine.
In the case of a Whitetail, a 4 point buck has three points on one side plus the brow tine, for 4 total.
For the purposes of the regulations, what is on the other side does not matter, only has to have a legal count on one side.
A 4x2 Mule deer is a legal 4 point buck, and can be legally taken in a 4 point only season.
Our moose regs are equally complex. In some areas, you may only shoot a Bull moose with: 2 points or less on one side,
or with a 3 or more point brow section on one of the antlers, or with 10 points or more on one antler, including the brow section.
There is also some information as to what constitutes a "point" and what does not. One practically has to use a spotting scope
to figure it out if the moose is over 50M away. EE.
For mule deer, you count one side only, but don't count the brow tines on a muley, even if he has them.
Whitetail, OTOH, you count the points on one side, but include the brow time.
So, in the case of a muley, a 4 point buck has 4 points on one side without the brow tine.
In the case of a Whitetail, a 4 point buck has three points on one side plus the brow tine, for 4 total.
For the purposes of the regulations, what is on the other side does not matter, only has to have a legal count on one side.
A 4x2 Mule deer is a legal 4 point buck, and can be legally taken in a 4 point only season.
Our moose regs are equally complex. In some areas, you may only shoot a Bull moose with: 2 points or less on one side,
or with a 3 or more point brow section on one of the antlers, or with 10 points or more on one antler, including the brow section.
There is also some information as to what constitutes a "point" and what does not. One practically has to use a spotting scope
to figure it out if the moose is over 50M away. EE.
I always assumed the western method was so they could be counted just using their fingers. If the western guys tried using the eastern method the majority would have to remove their boots and socks for anything over 10 points.
Yeah, and if they ever shot a 21-pointer, they'd have to drop their trousers.
We save that for elk. - dan
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It long predates any antler point regulations.
