b'DEER HUNTING and controversy often arises. It is better to have a system based purely on specific, consistent measurements, which when carried out correctly produces an accurate, consistent, and incontestable score, which is unattainable by visual judgement.HISTORIC BACKGROUND By the 1940s some of the finest deer trophies ever shot in New Zealand had already been taken but had never been scored to any system and so their level of merit and ranking could not be determined on a common scale, nor had their scores been recorded for posterity or for comparison with future trophies. As the latter two measurement systems below had not yet been published, in the early to mid 1940s Norman Douglas an accomplished hunter and founding member of Waikato NZDA, decided to develop his own system of measuring NZ big game trophies.After a number of years of meticulous research, including study of a wide range of trophy heads and logical analysis, Norman developed the Douglas Score System, which was first used by Waikato NZDA in 1949 and later formally adopted by NZDA nationally in 1958, as their sole method for measuring big game trophies.It has remained largely unchanged to this day, which is testmony to Normans methodical, logical, and thorough approach when developing the Douglas Score System. Sadly, Norman Douglas passed way on 14 Jan 1989 and before his death he transferred ownership and copywrite to his son Murray.A s it is impossible to visually score and rank trophy deer with any accuracy, consistency or impartiality, a measuring system is required.Over time various trophy measuring systems have been developed internationally based on different philosophies e.g., C.I.C (Conseil International de la Chasse), Boone and Crockett, SCI (Safari Club International) etc. Many measure every part of the antler that is grown whether symmetric or not, some measure antler weight and some even award beauty points according to their visual appeal as decided by the measurer or a judgingNorman Douglas with 13-point panel. As beauty is in the eye of thered stag shot in the central North in 1954, with DS 228 and beholder, the latter is a matter of opinionwell short of his best. 84FISHING IN GODZONE SEP/OCT 2022'