How do you measure a black buck?

This might be a stupid question but I don't know. I shot a black buck on an invite a while back and just wondered how to measure it. From base to tip or do you follow the curls?

It can be done both ways but most people talk straightline measurements when talking length.

Ok thanks

One more question what is considered a trophy length.

The one I killed is base to tip straight measurement 17" it has 3 curls and the horns are pretty thick. Is it considered a small, average size or big black buck?

Trophy is in the eye of the one that shot it IMHO, i have one shoulder mounted that is 17" and 20" the 17" is the one i remember the most as it was with my dad.

By how black it is. Horn length is secondary to me.

Well first you tie him down,then you blow in his ear........

Ok thanks guy, I did have a great time with some pretty good buddies out there and some great memories. I think it's a trophy I just wanted some actual measurement advice.

Here are the instructions from the TGR (Trophy Game Records of the World) scoring manual.

SECTION X

KNOBBY SPIRAL HORNED GAME

ADDAX AND BLACKBUCK

HORN LENGTH; To determine horn length, start at the lowest point on the dorsal ridge, usually the front of base of the horn. Place the tip of your scoring cable at this point. Run your cable along a line following the dorsal ridge around the horn, following the line of greatest convexity as closely as possible. This is also known as "following the curve". After folding the cable over the tip of the horn, clamp the cable with a hemostat, 90 degrees to the axis of the horn. (Middle of the tip) The point where the cable is clamped with the hemostat is the point to which a measurement is taken to determine the length of the horn. (Knobby spiral horned game require a different technique for determining horn length. While laying your scoring cable along the dorsal ridge of the horn, where possible with normal finger pressure, push your scoring cable in between the knobs of the horn so that it "hugs" the surface of the horn. This technique will add "additional" length to the cable that is part of the overall horn length measurement.)

BROOMED TIPS; If the horn has broomed or broken tips, measure to the center of the broom, not 90 degrees to the axis of the horn.

BASAL CIRCUMFERENCE; The basal circumference is taken at 90 degrees to the axis of the horn. This measurement is taken placing the tip of your cable around the horn, beginning at the highest point on the base, usually at the rear of the head, then wrapping the cable around the base of the horn until it forms a complete circle. Place a hemostat at the point where the cable touches the tip of the cable again at the original starting point. The length from the tip of the cable to the hemostat is the basal circumference measurement.

ADDITONAL CIRCUMFERENCES; The TGR takes 3 additional circumferences on conic horned game. These circumferences are called the C-2, C-3 and C-4. They are taken along the horn, at intervals equal to one quarter of the horn's length, i.e. by dividing the horn's length by four. This C-2 measurement is taken by wrapping the cable around the point of the horn that is 1/4 up the length of horn from the base until it forms a complete circle. Place a hemostat at the point where the cable touches the tip of the cable again at the original starting point. The length from the tip of the cable to the hemostat is the C-2 circumference measurement. (Repeat this process for the C-3 and C-4 circumference measurements.) The C-3 is taken at the point that is 1/2 up the length of horn from the base. The C-4 is taken at the point that is 3/4 up the length of horn from the base. Circumferences are taken at 90 degrees to the axis of the horn. (For knobby spiral horned game, always take the circumference at the largest proximal circumference nearest to the quarter mark to get the greatest circumference. In other words, if the measurement point aligns with a knob then include the knob in the circumference. If the meaurement point aligns with a valley in between two knobs the measurement is taken in the valley.)

MAXIMUM WIDTH; Maximum width is defined as the maximum outside width which is taken at the widest point between the outer edges of the horns. This measurement is taken by placing the tip of the cable at the widest outside edge of a horn on one side of the trophy to be measured and extending it across the width of the set of horns until the widest outside edge of the other horn is determined. Place a hemostat at the point where the cable touches the widest outside edge of the other horn. The length from the tip of the cable to the hemostat is the maximum width measurement. (This measurement, depending upon horn configuration, could be from the tip of horn to the tip of the other horn. This is usually the case where the horns "flare" or point out away from the animals head.)

INSIDE WIDTH; Inside width is defined as the maximum inside width which is taken at the widest point between the inside edges of the horns. This measurement is taken by placing the tip of the cable at the widest inside edge of the horn on one side of the trophy to be measured and extending it across the width of the set of horns until the widest inside edge of the other horn is determined. Place a hemostat at the point where the cable touches the widest inside edge of the other horn. The length from the tip of the cable to the hemostat is the inside width measurement. (This measurement, depending upon horn configuration, could be from the tip of horn to the tip of the other horn. This is usually the case where the horns "flare" or point out away from the animals head.)

Width measurements are not included in the TGR score of any animal entered into the record book. Width measurements only serve as tie breakers to determine scoring placement in the record book in the event that two animals submitted for entry into the record book measure the same gross amount.

a 17" buck is no slouch. usually 20" straight tape is kind of the bar for a really good buck. 23" plus is a monster.

We need pics.

Hardest part is getting them to stand still.

I have one on the wall that was quite old and knarled and I think
he's about 18in, but by hunting buddys brother, SIL, and Nephew killed one ea. on a fellows ranch Todd was trapping yrs. back by
San Angelo..Raquels was over 36in straight up..and the others were just short of that..Todd got a deal from a Taxidermy place to mount them free if he could take them to a show..and never saw
them again..Mark has the pictures, and our buds that are Taxidermists at the Gun Club all say they've never seen any as large..Usually a 24in is a real trophy.DD

That is felony theft. Why wasn't criminal charges filled on the taxidermist ?

Lol here we go again

Good lord, double d, could we PLEASE get at the very least a pic involving a fraction of these blackbuck horns you describe????????? You've been speaking of these for years now without posting a pic. Personally I call BS, but please prove me wrong and show that you aren't full of it because st this point half the site is laughing at your dispense!!!!

No way ion burning hellicopter is he serious, and to be honest I think he needs a kick to the jews for keeping this up year around.

This is my 17 inch black buck. Only exotic I have ever shot and really don't know that much about them. Thanks for all the info guys.

Nice blackbuck.