What Makes An Elk Non-Typical? Exapmles??

Sorry....meant "examples"

Welcome, I'm no expert on Elk but if they have an extra point (for example 1st, 3rd, etc.) or devil points or kickers ect. this would bump them into Non-typical category.

Lets see your bull. :thumb

I've seen some 7x7s in the non-typical class.

Would my elk qualify as a non typical????

I have shown you mine now lets see yours.

Here he is: Non-Typ?

OK, I will give this a shot and see if I can explain it properly.

To start, there really is no "set definition" or "standard guidlines" when deciding whether an animal has a typical or non-typical rack. Most of us, when seeing a rack that is abnormal, with many points protruding from various directions...or a rack that does not carry the typical main frame that you would see from that particular species, will automatically classify it as a "non-typical". A good example is MULIES4EVER bull that he posted with this thread. The left antler is exactly what you would expect to find on a mature bull (a "typical" branched elk antler). However, his right antler is most certainly "non-typical"....in other words, it's not what a standard mature bull's antler should look like nor does it even remotely match the left side. This rack would be 'refered" to as non-typical.

Now, here's the tricky part....you can have your animal scored in either catergory, that is completely up to you! Below is a breakdown of how it works in a nutshell. Hopefully, we will get one of the folks on here that are Official Measurers and see what they have to say...and correct anything I may have messed up on.

When scoring a typical rack, odd and unmatched points do not add any value to the typical antler score as per the definition of a normal point. When scoring a typical set of deer antlers, the length of abnormal points is measured, but subtracted from the gross score of a buck. The rules state you can not add abnormal points to the score of a typical frame. If the antlers are nearly typical, abnormal points hurt the net score. So there is no maximum on the amount of inches that can be deducted because the mathematics of the issue becomes self limiting. The more abnormal points, the lower the net score becomes under the typical classification and the more the scorer leans towards scoring the antlers non-typical.

On the flip side, if a set of antlers is scored non-typical, then the total length of abnormal points is added into the gross score for the rack. The more abnormal points a set of antlers has, the more sense it makes to score them as non-typical. The fewer abnormal points a set of antlers has, the more sense it makes to score them as typical.

Again, the important thing to keep in mind: Both typical and non-typical sets of antlers are scored based on the main frame. The only difference is that abnormal points deduct from a typical rack’s final score, but they are additive for non-typical. If a rack has a lot of abnormal points, why score it as typical and then subtract away abnormal points?

I hope that the above makes sense.

Rednecksundevil, you're bull looks AWESOME and CONGRATS on a great bull regardless of how it scores in either catergory.

Thanks AGCHAWK. That sounds right. And thank you for the kind words, I'm really proud of him.

Neck

MULIES4EVER;

DANG NICE BULL YOU GOT THERE. DID YOU SLAM THAT THING ON A SPIKE ONLY UNIT, IT WOULD BE LEAGAL IF I AM NOT MISTAKIN. LETS HERE THE STORY TO HIM.

Hawk is fairly accurate. There are a few exceptions though.

For Pope & Young, you must now have a certain amount of abnormal inches to even qualify as a non-typical elk. B&C requires 1" of abnormal points to qualify. You no longer have the option of picking a category for P&Y due to the amount of inches required. Furthermore, the non-typical categories in both P&Y / B&C are higher than that of typical. So, many antler configurations that have abnormal points may be "non-typical" in nature, but fall short of the minimum score required....therefore, they are scored as a typical to see if they make the minimum typical score after the abnormal deductions are taken from the net score. Clear as mud?

The first photo (1x6)would be measured as a typical elk....there are no abnormal points. The second photo with the bow would probably have to be scored as a typical for P&Y, as the only abnormal point I see is a kicker on the right side near the G5 and is not long enough to meet the guidelines of abnormal inches.

B&C would measure it as either, but it may not make the higher minimum required for non-typical.

Confusing? I used to think so.....once you've gone through the certified courses and have measured a lot of them, it becomes clearer.....just hard as heck to explain on a keyboard. lol

Nice bulls by the way. Hope it helps.

AWESOME! Thanks Roy. I was hoping you'd chime in and help us out.

I understood completely. I didn't realize that there were minimum measurements to classify as a non-typical....is this new or has it always been that way?

It used to be that way for both clubs for a long time. Then B&C / P&Y went to the 1" rule. A short while ago, P&Y went back to minimum amount of abnormal length needed to enter as a non-typical, as they began to get animals entered that really didn't depict a true non-typical animal.....seems like some folks simply wanted a "higher" number to their name.

Example: A mule deer that was a typical 5x5 (counting eye-guards/G1) with a 2" kicker that scored 178" net (typical) and 180" non-typical. 180" is definitely a higher number, but that particular antler configuration really isn't a non-typical rack and is more appropriately belongs in the typical category. Furthermore, the final score is much higher over the P&Y typical minimum (145") than it is for non-typical (170").

Thanks Bohntr and others. My 6 kids think it's the biggest elk in the history of the world. Why mess with the experts.

:)

Hey, that's all that matters, right Red?!?!? :))

Thanks Roy. Great example also.

Great Bull and great information HAWK and BOHNTR.

Those are both awsome bulls.. Thanks for all the info too.

First of all, Neck that is an awesome looking bull. He is very cool. Tell your kids that Dad killed a monster. Congrats to you.

Second, Jared I got him in an any bull unit. The best part about this bull is the story behind him. I thought I posted the story here when I got him. Maybe I didn't. I will take a look and if I didnt I will get it done.

Mulies

Typical means its the same on both sides.

Nontypical means its not the same on both sides.

Typical means its the same on both sides.

Nontypical means its not the same on both sides.

Man, I wish it was that simple. lol