How about a score on this one?

Founder · Monday at 4:19 PM

This is one of the best I’ve found, so it’ll have to do on a score estimate. What do you all think?

DESKPOP · Monday at 4:26 PM

170's

coloradoman · Monday at 4:32 PM

160 -165 tops. Around 24” outside. Ok forks and not much mass.
I could be wrong but I’m sticking to it.

wweaver79 · Monday at 4:45 PM

Not big enough for you.... 165 maybe high 60s, young, a little light on mass

RookieWYhntr · Monday at 4:47 PM

Just a baby.

SPAZ · Monday at 4:53 PM

kickerbuck · Monday at 5:09 PM

High 60s no way are you shooting that buck, just saying!

woodturner · Monday at 5:10 PM

He may be too small for some of you.....but a very pretty buck. Nice shape, I think he has good mass, but would look better next year or two.
But, then I am used to Blacktail's.

Tristate · Monday at 5:45 PM

Barely breaks 160

Mallardsx2 · Monday at 5:47 PM

150 if he is lucky

coloradoman · Monday at 5:49 PM

SPAZ said:
140

Bigger than 140

Rie bread · Monday at 6:12 PM

Aerosith · Monday at 6:15 PM

164", looks like a good young deer that might be something in a couple years.

liecabucks · Monday at 7:24 PM

70’s buck

JPickett · Monday at 7:33 PM

169 7/8”

ridgetops · Monday at 7:33 PM

SPAZ said:
140

Holy low ball!

Tackdriver · Monday at 7:35 PM

A far cry from the handful of 200s your used to seeing in that area!

Aerosith · Monday at 7:45 PM

Mallardsx2 said:
150 if he is lucky

You are joking right?

SureShot · Monday at 7:56 PM

I think that's a mid to upper 170s buck.

huntindad4 · Monday at 8:02 PM

Everything about him screams young deer to me. Antlers (165 tops for me) look better on a small deer.

I would normally say shoot him and prove me wrong with the bucks you usually find but from what I know of Wyomings herd and your history of hog bucks...please don't shoot him.

elkmo41 · Monday at 8:06 PM

woodturner said:
He may be too small for some of you.....but a very pretty buck. Nice shape, I think he has good mass, but would look better next year or two.
But, then I am used to Blacktail's.

Good mass? Peel the velvet and see whats left…

elkmo41 · Monday at 8:11 PM

One of the best? Uh oh….gonna be a rough time in there this year. Short term… I have always felt the best year to hunt after a big die off is the immediate year after.

TeamRedDog · Monday at 8:23 PM

High 50’s low 60’s

buckhorn · Monday at 8:23 PM

Rie bread said:
155

I think this score is really close.

HIcountryman · Monday at 8:32 PM

169 if he grows out a little. Not big enough for me or you

DaveD · Monday at 8:40 PM

I think quite a few guys are accurate in this thread. I would bet a lot that he is over 160 and is probably 165 to 170.

Robin_Hood · Monday at 9:09 PM

I think he looks a lot like this buck.

Founders buck has better back forks.

I'm guessing Founders will be 175+

-K

huntindad4 · Monday at 9:17 PM

Robin_Hood said:
I think he looks a lot like this buck.

Founders buck has better back forks.

I'm guessing Founders will be 175+

-K

View attachment 153787

This buck is quite a bit wider and heavier. Plus looks a bit older to me.

cantkillathing · Monday at 9:26 PM

im with majority here, 160 class maybe 165, he is barely 21-22 wide I am sure you will find something bigger.

JakeH · Monday at 9:29 PM

165-170

Mallardsx2 · Tuesday at 5:11 AM

Aerosith said:
You are joking right?

No, but I guess I never was very good at judging deer in velvet.

This buck on my wall tapes 140". IMHO when you strip the velvet off founder's buck, it'll be lucky to break 150. That buck in founders' picture doesn't appear to be 20" bigger than this buck on my wall that was officially scored at 140....

Either way, it's a nice buck and I would shoot him. Only because I am not really what you would consider a trophy mule deer hunter. See below Example A below... lol.

Nebraska Muzzleloader Deer

Frostrw · Tuesday at 6:39 AM

Founder said:
This is one of the best I’ve found, so it’ll have to do on a score estimate. What do you all think?
View attachment 153733
View attachment 153734

173

antlerradar · Tuesday at 6:47 AM

looks like a 190+ to me, if he lives two more years.

Elknut33 · Tuesday at 7:08 AM

If he breaks 170" I'd be surprised. He does appear to be a young buck, good genetics and could be a monster in a couple years.

elkhunterUT · Tuesday at 9:06 AM

Looks to be 160-165" to me. Pretty buck and would be a dandy in a couple years!

Aerosith · Tuesday at 9:20 AM

Mallardsx2 said:
No, but I guess I never was very good at judging deer in velvet.

This buck on my wall tapes 140". IMHO when you strip the velvet off founder's buck, it'll be lucky to break 150. That buck in founders' picture doesn't appear to be 20" bigger than this buck on my wall that was officially scored at 140....

Either way, it's a nice buck and I would shoot him. Only because I am not really what you would consider a trophy mule deer hunter. See below Example A below... lol.

Nebraska Muzzleloader Deer
View attachment 153794

Please breakdown the score on your buck.

SPAZ · Tuesday at 11:03 AM

okay i might have been low, he's probably in mid 150s. Small, and young. 21 beam, 18 inside, tines 1, 15, 9.5, 9 and maybe 15" mass per side.

twopointdn · Tuesday at 11:08 AM

158”

WHT_MTNMAN · Tuesday at 11:12 AM

170" on the button

youngstock14 · Tuesday at 11:25 AM

165-170

HIcountryman · Tuesday at 11:29 AM

For a reference this buck is 160.

huntin50 · Tuesday at 12:18 PM

165-170 gross.
looks young

schoolhousegrizz · Tuesday at 12:45 PM

Right about 170

SureShot · Tuesday at 6:32 PM

So, Brian, now that we've all had a chance to give our guesses...

You've seen him in person and have had the best opportunity to size him up. You also have a proven track record for judging bucks. What's your assessment?

Solotude · Tuesday at 6:41 PM

Some low estimates out there...172ish is my guess.

twopointdn · Tuesday at 6:44 PM

This is a 156” gross official score 27 1/2” wide buck. On Founders buck you take the velvet off and the mass will be average, good backs, decent founts but short main beams. I’ve looked at it several times and I would love to pump Founder up but I will say my 158” guess I put above may be a little on the generous side. I’m no expert but I’m normally pretty close on field judging when I can get a good look. I’m also not very picky and like to squeeze the trigger so I would shoot that buck opening morning at legal shooting light. 130-160” bucks are my weakness. That weakness makes it hard to kill big bucks for me. Have fun.

Vitalwave · Tuesday at 9:09 PM

160" - 165"

hawkbill · 2024-08-14T04:14:44-0600

That Buck is still dribbling milk off his chin, that little fellow won’t break 160

Mallardsx2 · 2024-08-14T05:12:13-0600

twopointdn said:
This is a 156” gross official score 27 1/2” wide buck. On Founders buck you take the velvet off and the mass will be average, good backs, decent founts but short main beams. I’ve looked at it several times and I would love to pump Founder up but I will say my 158” guess I put above may be a little on the generous side. I’m no expert but I’m normally pretty close on field judging when I can get a good look. I’m also not very picky and like to squeeze the trigger so I would shoot that buck opening morning at legal shooting light. 130-160” bucks are my weakness. That weakness makes it hard to kill big bucks for me. Have fun.

View attachment 153873

Thats impossible. That has to be at least a 175" buck...

Please break down the score on your deer.....

Just joking BTW. Nice buck!

heywouldya · 2024-08-14T08:18:49-0600

Pretty buck! 165" would be my guess

fullthrottle · 2024-08-14T08:42:10-0600

I'd say 160ish. Nice, young looking buck. Be solid next year when I have a tag

heartshot · 2024-08-14T12:15:48-0600

Great tine length. I'd give it 167-172

cmbbulldog · 2024-08-14T12:28:59-0600

I think a lot of underestimating here. 173-175

BearCub · 2024-08-14T13:10:11-0600

I'm guessing 170ish. Do you have a WY tag this year, Founder? Missing your hunt adventure posts this year...

SDBugler · 2024-08-14T14:00:56-0600

"This is one of the best I’ve found"
Yikes, that is sad to hear if that is the best you have found this year. (unless you are keeping a secret from the masses - LOL).
Hopefully you will have the same luck you did 4 years ago and stumble upon a giant opening morning that you didn't know was living under your nose.

Oh, and I'm throwing out 162-163 on that buck but we all know you can find better.

Thumperguz · 2024-08-14T14:15:20-0600

Mid 170's

link · 2024-08-14T17:13:41-0600

We've all seen what you have pulled out of those mountains Founder. If that's the best buck you can turn up this year, would you shoot a 160 type buck? Can you drop your standards 25"? Serious question.

Founder · 2024-08-14T19:57:09-0600

SureShot said:
So, Brian, now that we've all had a chance to give our guesses...

You've seen him in person and have had the best opportunity to size him up. You also have a proven track record for judging bucks. What's your assessment?

I think I figured mid-160's or so. He's not big enough for me, but he is probably the best I've found.

BridgerMT · 2024-08-14T20:12:51-0600

Too all you 160 and above guessers

Here's a 171 6/8 for reference

liecabucks · 2024-08-14T20:49:40-0600

150-160-170…..Regardless of what that buck actually is or what any of us might think he should be, he’s clearly not what a guy like founder wants to see as the best for his scouting efforts. Many of these areas are in rough shape!