About The Australian Deer Association Antlered Trophy Registrar

The Australian Antlered Trophy Register was founded in 1972. Up until the early 1970s, the scoring of antlered game trophies in Australia was the interest of only a handful of dedicated people, but because there was no consistent approach it became increasingly apparent that there was a need for an organization to undertake this work on a national basis. In response to this, the Association established the Australian Antlered Trophy Register in 1972.

The establishment of the ADA Trophy Register and the adoption of the Douglas Scoring System spelt the beginning of a nationally-organized and consistent approach to the scoring and listing of trophies in this country. The Douglas Scoring System based on symmetrical size is a well recognized system that has been used for many years by the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association. It was hoped that the Register would not only be a valuable contribution to the deer's history but also that it would provide an extension of the hunter's interest in the deer. This was an important step in the direction of having Australia’s deer accepted as a valued game animal. The first publication of the Top 10 trophies took place in 1976 in Vol. 1 No. 1 of Australian Deer. At the time, only 4 species of deer were available for legal hunting.

The main purpose of ADA’s Antlered Trophy Register is to statistically record the measurements of antlers grown by wild deer in Australia. The majority of entries are of trophies taken by hunters, however, because of the Registers main purpose, the antlers of animals found dead in the bush are also recorded. There are over 1000 trophies recorded in the Register.

Before a trophy is measured, a drying out period of at least 60 days after the trophy was taken must be met before it is measured. Measurement is carried out by a panel of three, comprising the Chief Measurer or a State Measurer, or a Certifying Measurer and two Accredited Measurers all measurements are checked until agreed upon.

If the trophy meets the minimum standard for that species, and all other obligations, the trophy is then recorded in the Register.

To be eligible for entry in the Register a trophy must meet or exceed the following minimum Douglas Score:

Sambar: 200 Douglas Points

Hog Deer: 100 Douglas Points

Chital: 175 Douglas Points

Rusa: 180 Douglas Points

Red Deer: 250 Douglas Points

Fallow Deer: 225 Douglas Points

All trophies in this present selection have been measured by a panel of ADA’s Accredited Measurers. The trophies are some of the finest in the Register.