east vs west method of antler point counting

Does anyone know why we do it differently out west ? Where is the dividing line? There must be a history behind the whole thing or is it simply to be different. Even here in Oregon, we can't agree on whether you count brow tines as a point for our blacktails. Some say you do if they are a certain length. The old timers say you never count them. When we talk to hunting buddies from back east we have to have them translate their 10 pointer into western lingo. Anybody have the lowdown on this? Just curious.

Hate to not answer your question, but I thought I would add my $2 worth to your post. I also live in Oregon, but was born and raised in Texas. When my father and I first went hunting with friends up here in the great northwest we would sit around the campfire and listen to everyone's stories. Well my dad started telling his about a nice 10-point, and 3 guys got up and left, they said that it was late, but not late enough for stories that full of S

Mountain men out west cain't count as haw as city slickers frem back east! :~)

Or, the first nuclear power plants were back east and the radiation side effect started to produce non-typical racks, so one side of a rack would have 2 points and the other side would have 4. So they started to call them 2x4, etc. But people got confused with their trucks when other hunters said they just shot a 2x4. So they started counting each point, or tine to make it easy. And now they only count tines over 1 inch because a couple of the first hunters under the new system where sitting around sipping a few beers, and a wife over-heard them taking about measuring pointy things, and she said it had to be atleast an inch to matter to her. They agreed, thus we only measure tines over 1 inch.

And that's all I have to say about that... (do i really have to sign my name to this?)

Ed Kautz

I realize I maybe going slightly off topic. I thought some might like hearing how the Germans do it.

It is similar to Eastern Count. A 2x2 is a forkhorn (gabler), a 3x3 is a sixer (Sechser) and so on. A 3x4 is an uneven eight (ungerade achter), A4x5 is an uneven ten (ungerade zehner).

Any animal such as a 3x5 is a cull (abschuss). That requires a detailed description by animal.

Each hunting district has an annual show of all animals collected. Medals are awarded by class, as in gold, silver and bronze. Interesting is that medals are also awarded for the most undesirable antler confirmations (abschuss), Those are just as prized as the top tier medals. Not saying that theirs is better or worse, just different and possibly of interest.

sounds good to me. especilly since the only whitetail i baged was 4x5. how could i use the western count? 4, 5 or 4.5?

a hunter in my own mind

sounds ok. Just let me know of you count the brow tines, ok?

this is a debate i have never understood...i shoot a deer there are two antlers 5points on each side...and yes brow tines are points here in NY... thats 10 points...out west this is a 5x5....thats 10 points...am i right? if the deer has 4on one side 5 onthe other it is a 9 pt here.a 4x5 out west. if you live out west and get a deer like this do you call it a a 4x5 or a 5pt or a 4 pt. .....im just curious here we look at the antlers, any point over 1 inch is legal and must be counted...

Most guys I know call a 4x4 a 4point because the sides are equal. A 4x5 is called a 4x5 because the sides are different. Western count tells a little more about the rack. I have a very nice 2x4. Easterners would call it a 6 point but that leaves out the fact that its an unusual rack.

the last article I read said that a 4x5 is either called a 4x5 (duh!) or a four point with a sticker. But I have always considered a 'sticker' or 'kicker' a point growing in an abnormal direction.

I brought this question up a few months ago. I heard of all these guys talking about 10 point deers and I just couldn't beleave that they were that fequent. I prefer the wests way since it defines the rack more. and my question is what do you guys call a forked horn? maybe a four point. Sorry for thinking thats funny but it is.

here it woud be called a fork horn, crotch horn or yes if you can belive it a 4pt.... in NY state every point 1 inch or longer is legal and must be counted.