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13 inch rule
#5898504
08/27/15 12:24 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 473
Tru2lifetaxidermy
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 473 |
First year hunting a county with the 13 inch rule. Does anyone have a sure fire way to judge this width? I have a 14 year old and want him to have a no bs way of determining if it is legal. Thanks for any help you can give
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5898510
08/27/15 12:33 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 255
Regular Guy
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 255 |
I've never killed a deer. With a 23 inch spread rule, I would think it is managed by the QDMA or something, and would have some pretty nice looking deer. I'd make the decision to only take a doe unless a real nice buck walked through. I think that should keep you on the safe side. There are some areas on Fort Bragg managed by the QDMA that require bucks either to have three points or at least a 12" spread, apparently there are some spikes that are right at 12". I'd think solid 8 point or better would be a sure thing... from a legal standpoint. As far as actually finding one, man like I said I've never killed a deer before. But I have thought about it as well, be a use of the regs on Fort Bragg, so I,just wanted to throw that idea out there...
Last edited by Regular Guy; 08/27/15 12:35 PM.
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5898513
08/27/15 12:35 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,234
Rustler
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,234 |
This may help ---> When in doubt, don't pull the trigger.
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5898514
08/27/15 12:35 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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Posts: 27,091 |
There is no sure-fire way. The hunting and fishing booklet they give you when you buy your license has some helpful illustrations.
Where I hunt, a 3 year old and up buck usually has an ear spread of about 13 inches - more or less. This varies from place to place and even deer to deer. After a while, you will get better at judging. Until then, my suggestion is to err on the side of caution.
Good hunting!
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5898523
08/27/15 12:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 473
Tru2lifetaxidermy
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 473 |
I understand that deer vary from place to place. I have hunted the north for almost 30 years and now that I'm here in Texas the deer here have smaller bodies and seems to make the antlers seem bigger. My son has shot his fair share of deer and elk and has seen thousands of deer in my taxi studio. However, the boy is a killing machine with an itchy trigger finger..... I have alway told him to make sure they are outside the ears atleast when the ears are relaxed. Just thought I'd seen what others opinions were.
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5898528
08/27/15 12:46 PM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 10,951
DQ Kid
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
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Posts: 10,951 |
I always error on making sure there's some daylight between ears and antler spread. Usually this will occur at 14-15"...
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5898536
08/27/15 12:50 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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I understand that deer vary from place to place. I have hunted the north for almost 30 years and now that I'm here in Texas the deer here have smaller bodies and seems to make the antlers seem bigger. My son has shot his fair share of deer and elk and has seen thousands of deer in my taxi studio. However, the boy is a killing machine with an itchy trigger finger..... I have alway told him to make sure they are outside the ears atleast when the ears are relaxed. Just thought I'd seen what others opinions were. That's about the best and safest way to make sure it's legal IMO. That's what I tell mine also.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5898542
08/27/15 12:53 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,273
boonee
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,273 |
We have had it for years, I have not taken a buck except for a older funky spike a couple of years back.I have scoped several but they were all in that iffy area, so they walked...
Avenger Firearms 214-577-5818 avengerfirearms@gmail.com
Lifetime NRA member
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5898560
08/27/15 01:04 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,856
REALKILLER
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
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Posts: 1,856 |
I know an old man that had a young 25 year old man to shoot one a quarter inch shy of 13 and got a 250 dollar fine. He took it the butcher and the female biologist saw it up there and called the game warden. DURN! Now that guy is afraid to pull the trigger. I guess it will have to be a whopper next time.
Recently got a gym membership, strange folks! I like to show up the roid zombies with my full motion curls with the 55lb. bells. Not their cheater short stroked light weights. It's holarious.
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5898625
08/27/15 01:41 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,856
REALKILLER
Pro Tracker
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How wide is that one? That's a 12 inch wide 7 year old east tx deer
Recently got a gym membership, strange folks! I like to show up the roid zombies with my full motion curls with the 55lb. bells. Not their cheater short stroked light weights. It's holarious.
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5898638
08/27/15 01:46 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,856
REALKILLER
Pro Tracker
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I also killed a 13 1/4 wide 5 year old that had 13 points and scored 163. I didn't hesitate to shoot him or this one in the pic. If they are big old mature bucks and I know it well its too late for measuring.
Recently got a gym membership, strange folks! I like to show up the roid zombies with my full motion curls with the 55lb. bells. Not their cheater short stroked light weights. It's holarious.
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5898647
08/27/15 01:51 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,593
Opening Day
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,593 |
Difficult at best if a deer is close to be able to tell. I've seen heavy horned deer like REALKILLER posted that you would swear would be legal and not close. I have had an older deer with very nice antlers within 12 yards during bow season last year. He might be 13" but he's still here cause I wasn't sure. Like has need stated if your not sure don't shoot!
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5898687
08/27/15 02:14 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 13,069
PMK
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 13,069 |
Although I don't hunt in an AR area, the way I always look at it is wider than ear tips should get past the 13" but if it's close, don't shoot.
"everyone that lives dies but not everyone who dies lived..."
~PMK~
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5898909
08/27/15 04:22 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 16,066
QuitShootinYoungBucks
THF Celebrity
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Joined: Nov 2012
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I understand that deer vary from place to place. I have hunted the north for almost 30 years and now that I'm here in Texas the deer here have smaller bodies and seems to make the antlers seem bigger. My son has shot his fair share of deer and elk and has seen thousands of deer in my taxi studio. However, the boy is a killing machine with an itchy trigger finger..... I have always told him to make sure they are outside the ears at least when the ears are relaxed. Just thought I'd seen what others opinions were. I like your plan. Just reinforce with 'Hey, it's $250 if you're wrong, so think about what you'd like to do with that money and realize you won't be doing it.'
https://web.archive.org/web/20170223065011/http:/www.rrdvegas.com/silencer-cleaning.html
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5898924
08/27/15 04:31 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 40,016
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
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Posts: 40,016 |
I would think its time to be responsible weather you have an itchy trigger finger or not. He will be held accountable for his actions, not you. Outside ears at alert position is good to go. If you shoot one that is outside the ears and doesn't make 13" I bet there will be some leniency as that is how the regs indicated to judge.
If he cant determine and decide on his own, might need to be sitting with someone more experienced.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5898929
08/27/15 04:34 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,048
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,048 |
lots of game cam pics and scouting really help. Don't take much to make 13 inches. May set you a few 13inch markers around the feeder also
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5899045
08/27/15 05:50 PM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,185
Jimbo
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,185 |
When you hunt in an AR county you just have to relax and not be too quick on the trigger. You hunt AR's long enough when a 13+ wide buck steps out you'll know it without a doubt, and that comes from watching all those borderline deer. Observe the animal and if the tips of the ears in the alert position are even with the outside edge of the antler beams, pass it up. It's the inside measurement that has to be 13" and it's pretty easy to tell when the main beams are outside the tips of the ears. The key is slow down. If it's going to be a snap shot then your best choice is to pass it by.
Last edited by Jimbo; 08/27/15 05:54 PM.
Thursday at 12:45 PM #33 Once i learned that i didn't "NEED" to kill something, and that if i did kill something all the fun stopped and work began, i was a much better hunter.
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5899298
08/27/15 08:45 PM
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 759
Aggieman775
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 759 |
A 13 inch antler spread is the antlers are outside the ears
TSmith
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5899555
08/27/15 11:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
It will really depend on the deer. Deer ear length will vary greatly even on the same ranch. I see it here all the time. I have border line bucks that get a pass due to not having killed enough deer on this place to judge by. Here is a post on did on a similar thread on here. If you know the field dresssed or live body weight of bucks in your area that will help. Here are 2 bucks killed in an AR county on my place. One was 13 6/8" IIRC(dressed 108 lbs in late Dec) and the other was 14 2/8"(dressed 139 lb in late Oct). You can see the difference on ear size and width in these pics. 13 6/8" 14 2/8" IS
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5899882
08/28/15 01:25 AM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 10,951
DQ Kid
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
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Posts: 10,951 |
Just goes to show that 13" inside spread bucks can score pretty good if older and mature. I have a 140", 13.5" 11 pt. euro on the wall..Double fork G2s, he's one of my favorite South Texas bucks I have mounted but one of the narrowest too.
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5899973
08/28/15 01:59 AM
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 103
Bois D'arc
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 103 |
if you have to think about it he's not wide enough
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5907217
09/01/15 01:49 PM
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 131
DHS274
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 131 |
I have studied that TPWD instruction/diagram and have it burned into memory, so when I see that one buck on my land that is now 6 years old, and his antlers still go up more than out...what do I do, let him die of old age because he is unusual. The 13 inch rule is the best they have I get that, but I also believe if your hunting an area for multiple seasons and can age a deer correctly, that age should be a factor as well. If less than 13 inches but 6 or older, it should be a good harvest.
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Re: 13 inch rule
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#5907413
09/01/15 03:42 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,417
Texas Dan
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Posts: 22,417 |
IMO, more experienced hunters must be careful in thinking that a buck must be legal just because he has tall, thick antlers. I've seen bucks with thinner racks that exceed the 13-inch minimum, and deer with heavy, thick racks that don't.
"When the debate is lost, insults become the tool of the loser."
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