From: Andy Light
Date: 28-Oct-09
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Afternoon guys, I shot my first ever buck last weekend with my compound. Nice heavy typical 10 point. I just got my PTF, havent had it out hunting yet. Anyways, he grossed 138 1/8, netting 134 4/8 according to our figures. I will get an official score later. Iowa DNR record books have a minimum is 135 for typical archery bucks. Just my luck.... I've heard of 2x4's and other things getting wedged in between the main beams to stop shrinkage. After the required 60 drying period, how much do these racks really shrink? Thanks guys! -Andy Light
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From: Rom120
Date: 28-Oct-09
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Many times the most shrinkage occurs in the time between your shot and when you walk up and put your hands on the deer.
Although, that hasn't happened to me since coming to the light and using strictly traditional gear. Im close enough now, that I know exactly what Im shooting.
As far as the drying process goes, I have no clue. I've never measured one.
Congrats on the buck! I spent a few years in Iowa as a kid and remember some pretty nice deer being there.
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From: Slickheadhunter
Date: 28-Oct-09
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I never shoot past 20 yards regardless of which bow Im using(compound or recurve)Most people I know around these parts never shoot past 25 yards,Andy how far was the shot with your compound?
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From: Andy Light
Date: 28-Oct-09
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I ranged him at 38 yards when he was fighting with an 8 pt. He took 2 steps towards me and turned broadside, thats when I laid the hammer down. I made a perfect pass thru shot, could not have been happier with shot placement. 40 yards is my max I will shoot. I go to 3D shoots almost every weekend that there is one within 2 hours of me and I have practiced a ton at longer distances. I felt very comfortable taking that shot. I'd been chasing this deer for 2 years now. I saw him 4 times last year as a really nice 8 point, and 3 times this season. I've got a couple trail cam pics of him. Never came together until a week ago. I knew how big he was before I shot him. I didn't think he was any smaller at all when I recovered him. I just curious on the difference between the green scores and the "dried" score. I didn't know if you would loose 5in or 1in. Thanks again -Andy
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From: Andy Light
Date: 28-Oct-09
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A really good thing came out of this besides that I got my first buck. I shot a doe the same night I got him. Now that I have meat in the freezer and antlers on the wall I have the rest of the season to get my PTF dialed in and practice a ton. If all goes well I might be able to get a doe towards the tail end of bow season. We'll see... :)
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From: Slickheadhunter
Date: 28-Oct-09
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I guess the region has alot to do with things like this,New Hampshire is 90% forested and unless I were to hunt right on the edge of a field or a power line would be about the only place you could redily find a 40 yard shot.All of my tree stand locations are heavily wooded,in fact I only have one pin on my sight.All seasoned bow hunters around here that I personally know only have 1 pin sight if there compound is no older than 8 or 10 years or so.I've never even shot at a target beyond 25 yards.
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From: JJJ
Date: 28-Oct-09
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Andy, Im not an expert but don't think you'd lose more thatn a couple of inches after the drying time.
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From: MISTAGAIN
Date: 28-Oct-09
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Only had one deer measured, lost close to 1/2 inch of spread.
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From: G. Fred Asbell
Date: 29-Oct-09
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Typically the only thing that will shrink on a whitetail is the spread, which is basically the bone of the skull plate. Everything else on a rack is hard as concrete. Think about all the jousting they do with each other, all the tree rubbing and banging. The inside spread is all that counts in scoring (outside spread doesnt), and I'd be surprised if it was ever more than a 1/2". Occasionally one shrinks a little more, but it's rare. They are supposed to dry under natural conditions for 60 days. Congratulations on your success. gfa
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From: KAZ
Date: 29-Oct-09
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Congratulations Andy. I'd agree with those advocating very minimal shrinkage in the big scheme of things. I'd just let it dry naturally, (no 2x4). Usually the biggest "shrinkage" occurs when the official scorer gets a hold of it. Ha Ha. 1/4" per measurement as a result of liberal useage of the tape adds up in a hurry. Not saying that's going to happen to you, just the biggest "shrinkage" I usually see. Not the drying process. Now get that PTF fired up! Again congrats on a great buck.
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From: Andy Light
Date: 29-Oct-09
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Thanks everybody! We aren't official scorers by a long shot. I want to go and double check everything that we did, just to make sure. Being so close to the state book is the reason I was asking about the shrinkage. I'm hoping an official scorer will find another inch or so.... :) I've got the rack hanging (no 2x4 in place) inside a shed at the farm. Planning on doing a European mount.
Slick, I try not to hunt inside the timbers. I have a hard time patterning the deer and playing the wind. Along the edge of a field, a finger coming out of the timber, any type of pinch point is where my stands are. That's what gives me the longer shots. With the widow, I'm gonna have to move a couple stands to get closer. I wont even think about shooting 40 yards with traditional gear. -Andy
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From: Slickheadhunter
Date: 29-Oct-09
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I wish we had that kind of habitat.We have some fields up north where my camp is but the deer numbers are very low even compared to the southern part of the state.
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From: Andy Light
Date: 29-Oct-09
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I'm very lucky to have the kind of hunting ground that I do. You are talking about going up north to your camp. I either drive 3 minutes to my parents place or walk behind my house. I shot this buck 400 yards from my parents house. I can look out the kitchen window with a spotting scope and see my stand. Behind where I live there is 150 acres. 40 of that is a bean field this year, the rest is timber and wide open brome grass. 10 minute walk and I'm in my stand. I can't have much better.
Late last winter I actually had a buck standing on the porch of my house. I got a picture with my trail cam of him walking up the two steps onto the porch. Pretty crazy. -Andy
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From: Slickheadhunter
Date: 29-Oct-09
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Andy, I have tons of land to hunt right outside my door,but its completely forested,there are no crops at all.If I travel to the Vermont border there are some farms there but its mostly corn.I go north because I enjoy tracking deer through uninhabited land.Because of the massive acorn production the deer seem to have vanished.They dont have to move but 20ft eat all they want and lay back down,I've never seen this many acorns in over 25 years.
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From: Andy Light
Date: 30-Oct-09
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That would be pretty fun getting to hunt land that hasn't had any houses or people on it. I don't get that around here. I'm out in the country but I can still see houses from every one of them. I hope you can get something this year, sounds like the odds are very much against you.
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From: Rom120
Date: 30-Oct-09
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Andy, no offense meant on the after shot shrinkage comment. I was talking about me. I used to shoot them at 200+ yards with a rifle.
Congrats again
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From: Andy Light
Date: 30-Oct-09
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None taken Rom. I've heard a lot of people talking about what you described. One of my friends thought he shot something in the 140" range. He called everybody and we went tracking him. Found him and I don't think he scored more than 105". If I remember it was only a 15 yard shot. Thanks again everybody, I'm glad I got to share my first buck story with such a great group of guys!! -Andy
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From: Earl E. November
Date: 01-Nov-09
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I use to be a P&Y scorer and on a white tail there typically is not a lot of shrinkage in the 60 day period. It is wise to leave as much skull attached as you can during the drying time,as the skull will shrink and warp a bit reducing the spread credit, but at this point, that info is a little to late.. What you have is what you have. Wedging the 2x4 or other similar nonsense is cheating and if your are found out, your head will be removed from the listing and you will most likely be barred for life for further entries. If you have already done so, remove the wedge and start counting 60 days from the removal, then be honest and they will treat you right.. The rule says "it must dry for 60 days under normal conditions." The 60 days on bears start after all flesh has been removed from the skull, not the date of kill. Typically if you scored it yourself and did not use a 1/4" wide steel tape, or follow the proper procedure for establishing base lines, I will predict the official score will be from 2-5" less. That is not from shrinkage but improper measuring technique. If you did it correctly and didn't try and stretch your numbers,, you will be close.
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From: Rom120
Date: 02-Nov-09
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Earl, great name, I had to read it a couple of times before I caught on....(early)
Good Information as well. My favorite part is where your head is removed if you are caught cheating. It sounds a little "medieval" to me, but hey, don't cheat!
:-)
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