1. lNSIDE SPREAD of
Main Beams: 
Measure the inside spread of the main antler beamsat the widest place.
This measurement should be at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of
the skull, and parallel to its horizontal axis.
2.
CIRCUMFERENCE of Main Beam: (Fig. 1) Measure the circumference
of each main antler beam at the four places indicated below.
Circumferences must be taken at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of
the antler at the smallest place between typical tines, disregarding the
non-typical tines.
C-l. Between the burr and
T-1. Measure the circumference of the main antler beam at the
smallest place between the burr and the typicalbrow tine, or "eyeguard"
(T-1). If T-l is absent, measure at the smallest place between the burr
and the second typical tine (T-2), which will make this measurement the
same as C-2.
C-2. Between T-1 and T-2. Measure the
circumference of the main antler beam at the smallest place between the
typical brow tine (T-1) and second typical tine (T-2). If T-l is absent,
measure at the smallest place between the burr and T-2, which will make
this measurement the same as C-l.
C-3. Between T-2 and
T-3. Measure the circumference of the main antler beam at the
smallest place between the the second typical tine (T-2) and third typical
tine (T-3). If T-3 is absent, measure at the smallest place between the
center of the base of T-2 and the beam tip, which will make this
measurement the same as C-4.
C-4. Between T-3 and
T-4. Measure the circumference of the main antler beam at the
smallest place between the third typical tine (T-3) and fourth typical
tine (T-4). If T-4 is absent, measure halfway between the center of the
base of T-3 and the beam tip. If T-1 (typical brow tine) is absent,
measure both C-l and C-2 at the same place. This will be at the smallest
place between the burr and T-2. If T-4 (fourth typical tine) is
absent, measure C-4 halfway 
between the center of the base of T-3 and the beam tip. If an antler
has only two points-- T-l and the beam tip, measure C-2, C-3 and C-4 at
the same place. This will be halfway between the center of the base of T-l
and the beam tip. If an antler has only two points-- T-2 plus the beam
tip, measure C-l and C-2 at the same place between the burr and T-2, and
measure C-3 and C-4 at the same place, which will be halfway between T-2
and the beam tip. If an antler is a simple spike (no tines at all),
measure all four circumferences at the same place. This will be halfway
between the base of the burr (not the top of the burr) and the beam tip.
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3. LENGTH of Main Beam: (Fig. 2) First, it is
necessary to determine the  main
beams and their tips. The main beams are usually easy to identify in
white-tailed deer, because they will end at the rear most points; however,
some non-typical antlers may have more than one projection at the end of
the beam. If so, choose the one that appears to be the logical beam tip
because of its contour, size and location. Measure the length of each main
antler beam from the bottom edge of the burr (or coronet) to the tip. If a
beam tip is broken so that its far point is not on the line of
measurement, it should be carded off. The measurement follows the center
of the antler's outer curve and is essentially parallel to the
longitudinal blood grooves. Begin the measurement where the center-line of
the outer curve intersects the bottom edge of the burr. This will be on
the side of the head and behind the eye, not in front on the forehead.
4. LENGTH OF TYPICAL TINES: (Fig. 3)
Even
though in this method all tines are measured and included in the score
 , it still is necessary to identify the typical
tines, because the beam circumferences must be measured between
typical tines, disregarding any non-typical tines that may be present.
Measure the length of each valid typical tine on each antler. If a
tine is broken so that its far point is not on the line of measurement, it
should be carded off. A valid tine must be at least 1 inch long, and no
wider than its length. A typical tine is one that grows in the typical
location and manner. Be sure not to measure the tip of the main beam as a
tine. While the beam tip is always a typical point, it is not a tine, and
its length is already included in the length of the main beam. Each
typical tine on white-tailed deer antlers has a specific identification
number: T-l, T-2, T-3, etc., as illustrated. Record its length on the
proper line on the entry form. Any typical tines that are missing are to
be identified by a zero. There is no set limit to the number of typical
tines that can grow on a white-tailed deer antler however, it is unlikely to exceed six or seven. To be
considered typical, a tine must grow in a typical manner and location, and
form the typical pattern for that species. A typical brow tine (T-l), if
present, must grow upward from the top of the beam and not from the side
or bottom of the beam, or from the burr. The other typical tines must grow
upward from the beam in typical fashion, not from the side or bottom of
the beam, or from another tine. In white-tailed deer, only one tine (not
both) of a double brow tine may be treated as typi-cal (normally the
longer one), the other being non-typical. However, both tines of a double
tine growing elsewhere on the main beam can be typical in some cases. 
5. LENGTH OF NON-TYPICAL TINES
(Fig. 4)
Measure the length of each valid non-typical tine
on each antler.
If a tine is broken so that its far
point is not on the line of
measurement, it should be carded off. A valid tine must be at least one
inch long, and no wider than its length. Non-typical tines are those
that do not qualify as typical.
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