MEASURING U.K DEER HEADS FOR MEDAL CLASSIFICATION.
Many unique medal class deer heads are taken every year in the UK, as the quality of the animals continues to improve year on year. A large proportion of these heads are taken as part of the normal day to day management of the deer, rather than being taken for their heads alone. Some stalkers can be unaware that they have taken a potential medal head, until they get it home and consider it, or compare it with previous heads. If you are fortunate enough to take an animal of outstanding quality and size, and are considering measuring and/or taxidermy for it, we can professionally prepare it and get it measured and scored officially, using the measuring system of your choice.
Rushed or poor preparation of a potential medal head can prevent the head attaining its optimum score and be the difference between Silver and gold, or even no medal award, especially with Roe deer. We can take care of the correct preparation, to the very highest standards, to ensure no points are lost unnecessarily due to poor preparation.
Read MoreMeasuring systems that are in operation, both in the U.K, and internationally. (There are others)
C.I.C (The European system) U.K site : http://www.cicukteb.com/
European main site for CIC : http://www.cic-wildlife.org
B.A.S.C http://basc.org.uk/deer-management/trophy-measuring
S.C. I . (Safari club international). U.S. Based http://www.scifirstforhunters.org/
Boone and Crockett A largely U.S and Canadian based http://www.boone-crockett.org
Trophy records another U.S based system. http://trophyrecords.org
Here in the U.K, the two main options for measuring of trophy deer: U.K C.I .C and B.A.S.C . Both systems employ essentially the same criteria for measuring the heads (and tusks) and both give certificates and medals for qualifying heads. Bronze, Silver and Gold, BASC have another level above gold, that of Platinum. C.I.C has a statutory drying out period for certain heads (such as Roe and Red) of some 30 days. (Revised from 90 days after a meeting in September 2017) BASC does not insist on 30 days however most measurers are aware of “wet heads”, which will give a falsely high weight reading and have a system for exposing it. Both record the information of the heads and use it for research and planning of management strategies going forward. We have been preparing heads for trophy assessment for well over 25 years and we can fully prepare and send potential medal heads for measuring to the organisation of your choice. If I do not assess that a head will make at least a bronze medal I will usually recommend that the head is not measured however, if there is even the slightest ambiguity, the head will be sent for official measuring.
HOW ARE ROE HEADS ASSESSED?
Pre measuring.
The head must be correctly prepared. If unsure get an experienced professional to do it for you. For C.I.C measurement there is a “statutory drying out period” of 30 days, before the head can be assessed. This from the day it is boiled out. This makes sense, as a head will lose a lot of weight (water) as it dries out. Weighing a freshly cleaned head is not accurate. Any head should be left to dry fully, for at least three weeks after preparation, before any accurate measurement is taken. It should be left in fully dry conditions indoors. The head should be weighed in grams daily to monitor the weight loss, which will be considerable initially, but will level off at around the three weeks. To allow for an accurate assessment, the skull should be complete, uncut and clean with all bones in place including the fine nasal bones. This is because the weight of the skull goes towards the final score. Never cut a skull before measuring this will compromise the score adversely. It is too easy to cut it incorrectly. Better to leave it full and allow the judge to subtract the 90g.
The Swedish Quick Fix Formula
There is a guide formula sometimes called The Swedish `Quick Fix Formula` discussed on forums around the net.
System: Assuming a well dried full skull Roe head.
Weigh the cleaned, well dried full skull in grams. Subtract 90 grams from the weight given..
Multiply that weight by a factor of 0.23 and add 20. This will give a rough points score.
Example; Assuming a full skull dry weight of 570. grams. Subtract the 90. grams = 480. grams X 0.23 = 110.4 Add the 20. Total 130.4 points. (estimated) Gold medal requires 130 points which makes the head a potential Gold medal. It must be bourne in mind that low scores on other criteria (when officially measured) could reduce the score. The bottom line is; if you think it might medal, get it prepared by an expert (full skull) and get it measured officially.
Measuring formula for Roe:
Weight. The entire skull is weighed on a calibrated scale in grams (minus the lower jaw) and (in the case of a roe) 90 grams is subtracted from the weight to give a net weight. This weight is multiplied by a factor of 0.1 to give the score. This figure represents 35% of the final score achieved.
Volume. Weight in water (measured by displacement) this total is subtracted from the weight in air, to give the volume in cm3. This is multiplied by a factor of 0.3to give the score. This figure represents 45% of the final score achieved.
Length of the antler. The antlers are measured separately for length (in cm) and then added together. The average is worked out and multiplied by a factor of 0.5 to give the points score.
Inside span. Measured at the widest point. This (in centimetres) is divided by the average length and the answer multiplied by 100 to give a % age total. This is then expressed as a %age of the average length of the beam to give a final mark between 0 and 4, 4 being the highest points available.
Colour max 5 points. Pearling max 4 points. Coronets max 4 points. Tine ends max 2 points. Regularity and quality Max 5 points.
Penalty points are deducted for deformity, abnormalities and/or damage. These last six scores are referred to as the “Beauty points” and are somewhat subjective or discretionary, as the marks given are not based on a difinitive, quantifyable measurement but rather the opinion of the judge based on the criteria of the judging manual and experience. That said they only represent a small percentage of the total score and judges will often consult each other at length if a head is on the border line due to these factors.
The totals are all then added up to give a total number of points. the penalty points (If any) are deducted to give the final score. which is then compared to the medal award levels which are :Bronze 105 points, Silver 115, Gold 130. A score sheet will accompany the head to show how the final score was attained. Simple really!
How much does it Cost ?
C.I.C Charges at 2017
“#” denotes our studio charges
# Tracked postage and packing to and from measurers £ 40.00 Roe, CWD, Muntjac, Boar, fox. (Larger will require crate)
# Cost to clean the head for assessment is £ 55.00 (CWD, ROE) Reds are £65 full skull prep.
Assessment and medal £ 30.00 Muntjac, Sika and Wild Boar
Assessment and medal £ 25.00 CWD and Carnivore
Assessment and medal £ 35.00 Roe
Assessment and medal £ 45.00 Red, Fallow
No medal granted, no charge (NOTE; There will still be charge for preparation and postage)
The cost of a medal alone, Gold, Silver, Bronze £ 20.00
Typical cost for a medal roe head to be cleaned, posted, assessed is £130.00 (est)
Goats and CIC
CIC have stopped measuring Feral goats for medals at the time of writing. The rationale is that they are originally domesticated animals gone feral (living wild but not truly wild). I understand they still can be measured under the old Red book rules, but no official medal or cert can be awarded.
BASC CHARGES AS AT 2017 Measurement and Certificate
“#” denotes our studio charges if we prepare and send the head.
# Tracked postage and packing to and from measurers £ 40.00 Roe, CWD, Muntjac, Boar, fox. (Larger will require crate)
# Cost to clean the head for assessment is £ 60.00 (CWD, ROE) Reds are £75 (full skull prep.)
Current BASC/BDS members – (Game fairs only) first trophy £F.O.C
Current BASC/BDS members – (Game fairs only) additional trophies £15.00 each; Roe, Muntjac & CWD
Current BASC/BDS members – (Game fairs only) additional trophies £20.00 each; Red, Sika, Fallow, Wild Boar & Feral Goat
Non BASC/BDS member (Game fairs)£20.00 per trophy
Home/Office measurement (member) £15.00 per trophy Roe, Muntjac & CWD
Home/Office measurement (member) £20.00 per trophy Red, Sika, Fallow, Wild Boar & Feral Goat
Home/Office measurement (non-member) £20.00 per trophy
Medals Gold, Silver, Bronze £20.00 each. Platinum £25.00
Measurement not making medal category (game fairs only) Members £FOC
Non-members £20.00
Re-issue of lost certificate Members £FOC
Non-members re-issue of lost certificate Members £5.00
Postal charges apply to all trophies that require return by post or courier.
However, heads can be taken to events where BASC offers this service on the day
NOTE:
I am not an official measurer, though I am very familiar with the formulae used by the two main U.K systems. I prepare skulls to the optimum standard and then make an initial assessment, to see if the head is close to the lowest qualifying criteria for a medal, I discuss the options with the client, and then send the head for official measuring and certification to the chosen measurer. I always act on clients instructions in this regard and contact trophy judges for advice, if required.
The information on this page is based on checking various sources. Costs and procedures and web sites can change over time.We stay up to date with the assessment rules and apply them to all the relevant work we do however, the information on this page may become factually incorrect or obsolete, I will be very happy to redraft or update it, if I am advised of the fact, after confirming it with the relevant authority.