When Antlers Shrink, Were Do They Shrink?

[Thumper]

When Antlers Shrink, Were Do They Shrink?

I've always head about racks shrinking but never really gave it a thought as to where the shrinkage occurs.

The spread, when the skull dries?

[txdukklr]

I was told everything

[DTala]

inside spread only....

[Mudslinger]

Any antlers will shrink most in the spread in the initial 60 day drying period, but will continue to shrink in all aspects, width and mass forever. This was proved when I was certified as a P&Y measurer and the WT and Muley racks we were measuring were 1" less than what these horns were measured years before, all in the mass. But remember, all it takes to loose 1/8" is for the measurement to shrink maybe a 64th of an inch. Not much, but they will shrink.

[Wudstix]

Hmmmm, interesting.

[Mudslinger]

Realize that in measuring for P&Y if the mark hits the 16th inch mark, then you can give it the bigger 8th of an inch. Example, if it measures 16 and 7/16 inch, then you could put it as 16 and 1/2 inch. This will show that just a very minute shrinkage to make the mark not hit the 16th inch mark will take that 1/8" away and in mass measurements that would equal 1" overall. 1/2 inch per side on 4 measurement loosing 1/8" each.

[Thumper]

inside spread only....

Well, then my next wuestion is, what's the presentage of spread shrinkage?

[Mudslinger]

Like I said above, not just the spread only, but as far as the amount, it will depend on the initial spread, the larger the more the shrinkage, but I woudl imagine it would be very small on most animals. Percentage wise probably well less than 5%.

[rtp]

My experience has been on everything not just the spread.

[systemnt]

Usually.. on the ground.

[Passthrough]

I would think the skull drying will tighten the spread a bit. But as everyone said... it all shrinks a bit

[Thumper]

Well, then my next wuestion is, what's the presentage of spread shrinkage?

That should read question, sorry.

On an AR 13" buck with decent mass how much shrinkage, 1/4"?

[Mudslinger]

Maybe on a 13" it might shrink 1/4".

[Thumper]

Maybe on a 13" it might shrink 1/4".

But probably less, right?

With the AR in place there should be a good many racks of known mesurement that can now be re-messured to give us a better grip on the average.

[REAPER5]

Do you still have trailer for sale ??? Pm you and had no response.