Pooge
11-18-2003, 11:28 AM
Hunting for Nerds 101
Having Coffee and Calculating Antler Spread
By Pooge
In a never ending quest to entertain myself I have used a simple mathematical equation to determine many things while in the woods hunting. This weeks experiment will be to use this equation to determine the antler spread of a Whitetail Deer using nothing more than a coffee stir stick and a few simple measurements.
Lets begin by showing the equation in the form we need for this calculation:
A = a (D / d)
Where (A) is the width of the target (i.e. antler spread), (a) is a known width of a reference object, (D) is the distance to the target, and (d) is the distance from your eye to the tip of the reference object.
In this example, the reference object is a simple coffee stir stick and it measures .125 inches in diameter.
First, place the stir stick in your hand and pinch between your index finger and thumb. Hold at arms length from your body, directly in front of you with your thumb pointing up.
Next, have someone carefully measure from your eye to the tip of the stick. This measurement should be remembered as the basis for all future calculations (d). In my case, this value was 30 inches.
So now we have 2 of the necessary values for our equation:
a = .125(n)
d = 30
Now lets pretend a deer is 20 yards away, and we know this because we are really good at determining distances and or have a range finder, or now how to determine range based on my next essay.
(To practice this, use trees at various distances from the stand.)
D = 20 yds or 720 inches (as there are 36 inches in a yard)
Now, extend your arm, holding the stir stick, just as in the initial measurement and calculate how many sticks will fit between each edge of the antlers, or whatever you are measuring).
Lets say for examples sake it turned out to be 5.
Now we know that a = .125(5) or .625
The rest is simple...
A = .625 (720 / 30)
A = .625 (24)
A = 15 inches
http://www.trpinteractive.com/images/spread.jpg
You can simplify this operation by pre-calculating and cutting pieces of wood for a 15 inch spread at varying yards and forget about the stir sticks completely.
For example, in my case, I already know that if I cut a piece .625 inches in width and I hold it up to a target at 20 yds, if target is wider than the wood in my line of sight, the target is greater than 15 inches in width.
For 30 yards:
A = 15 (the minimum spread we are looking for)
D = 30 yds or 1080 inches
d = 30 (eye to tip of reference object)
a = A / (D / d)
a = 15 / (1080 / 30)
a = 15 / 36
a = .42 inches
Practice this while sitting on stand using trees as your target. Write down the values you come up with and then measure the trees diameter when you are done hunting. You would be suprised how close you can actually get to accurate measurements. You will be equally suprised at how fast the day goes by.
You can use this method for many other things besides antler width, think about it... This aint rocket science boys and girls... [:)]
Stay tuned...
Having Coffee and Calculating Antler Spread
By Pooge
In a never ending quest to entertain myself I have used a simple mathematical equation to determine many things while in the woods hunting. This weeks experiment will be to use this equation to determine the antler spread of a Whitetail Deer using nothing more than a coffee stir stick and a few simple measurements.
Lets begin by showing the equation in the form we need for this calculation:
A = a (D / d)
Where (A) is the width of the target (i.e. antler spread), (a) is a known width of a reference object, (D) is the distance to the target, and (d) is the distance from your eye to the tip of the reference object.
In this example, the reference object is a simple coffee stir stick and it measures .125 inches in diameter.
First, place the stir stick in your hand and pinch between your index finger and thumb. Hold at arms length from your body, directly in front of you with your thumb pointing up.
Next, have someone carefully measure from your eye to the tip of the stick. This measurement should be remembered as the basis for all future calculations (d). In my case, this value was 30 inches.
So now we have 2 of the necessary values for our equation:
a = .125(n)
d = 30
Now lets pretend a deer is 20 yards away, and we know this because we are really good at determining distances and or have a range finder, or now how to determine range based on my next essay.
(To practice this, use trees at various distances from the stand.)
D = 20 yds or 720 inches (as there are 36 inches in a yard)
Now, extend your arm, holding the stir stick, just as in the initial measurement and calculate how many sticks will fit between each edge of the antlers, or whatever you are measuring).
Lets say for examples sake it turned out to be 5.
Now we know that a = .125(5) or .625
The rest is simple...
A = .625 (720 / 30)
A = .625 (24)
A = 15 inches
http://www.trpinteractive.com/images/spread.jpg
You can simplify this operation by pre-calculating and cutting pieces of wood for a 15 inch spread at varying yards and forget about the stir sticks completely.
For example, in my case, I already know that if I cut a piece .625 inches in width and I hold it up to a target at 20 yds, if target is wider than the wood in my line of sight, the target is greater than 15 inches in width.
For 30 yards:
A = 15 (the minimum spread we are looking for)
D = 30 yds or 1080 inches
d = 30 (eye to tip of reference object)
a = A / (D / d)
a = 15 / (1080 / 30)
a = 15 / 36
a = .42 inches
Practice this while sitting on stand using trees as your target. Write down the values you come up with and then measure the trees diameter when you are done hunting. You would be suprised how close you can actually get to accurate measurements. You will be equally suprised at how fast the day goes by.
You can use this method for many other things besides antler width, think about it... This aint rocket science boys and girls... [:)]
Stay tuned...