Ground Shrinkage?

[fairchaser]

What do you do with ground shrinkage? We've all been there probably. Celebrate anyway? Be thankful? Learn and keep hunting?

 

[jetwrnch]

"Mmmmm... That'll be some good eatin."

 

[jetwrnch]

Any deer is a success. Just depends on your perspective. Infomercials disguised at hunting shows have distorted the reality of the sport. Be appreciative and happy with any deer taken. We owe them that much for taking their life.

 

[Flintlocksforme]

What do you do with ground shrinkage? We've all been there probably. Celebrate anyway? Be thankful? Learn and keep hunting?

All the above and this tip: Set the bucks head up really nice and sit on the ground trying to look as small as you can. Get someone else to take your picture with a cellphone and you are good a 16 inch wide rack can be made to appear a foot wider than your shoulders.

 

[Flintlocksforme]

Any deer is a success. Just depends on your perspective. Infomercials disguised at hunting shows have distorted the reality of the sport. Be appreciative and happy with any deer taken. We owe them that much for taking their life.

Nailed it

 

[backyardtndeer]

Thank God for all he gives us, just the same as I do with every deer that I kill.

 

[BuckWild]

Absolutely one thing I have never worried about.

 

[Ridgeline300]

We definitely should be thankful for any and every deer but I also think it's ok to have a goal in mind and when you mess up and fall short of that goal to give yourself a kick in the butt. I've called myself a freaking idiot on more than one occasion, lol. Don't dwell on it though, just move on and try to learn from it.

 

[tntrkkllr]

No matter what buck or doe I always give thanks to God for the opportunity to get that animal even if I thought he was bigger than he was and some Times ground shrinkage is real after the heat of the moment… done that once already this season lol

 

[Jcalder]

Ain't no ground shrinkage when I open the freezer. Too many get caught up on the trophy side to realize the meat is where it's really at, anything above that is a bonus.

 

[Chickenrig]

Absolutely one thing I have never worried about.

Yes sir !!!! Besides ,them there horns are tuff on my teeth

 

[DoubleRidge]

... I also think it's ok to have a goal in mind and when you mess up and fall short of that goal to give yourself a kick in the butt. I've called myself a freaking idiot on more than one occasion, lol. Don't dwell on it though, just move on and try to learn from it.

I agree...nothing wrong with setting goals and trying to kill the most mature or biggest buck you have around the area you hunt.
But if you kill and your goal wasnt met...be thankful for the opportunity to hunt and enjoy the good meat.
Learn from it and move on.

 

[BSK]

If I truly did make a mistake, I try to learn from it. Especially why I made the mistake. What factors led me to that mistake, so I can prevent them from occurring again.

 

[Bgoodman30]

One time I panicked and kept looking because I was convinced this one came from the neighbors...

Saw 5 on one side and got excited he was the one... Dang trail cameras ha ha..

 

[fairchaser]

If I truly did make a mistake, I try to learn from it. Especially why I made the mistake. What factors led me to that mistake, so I can prevent them from occurring again.

How much tolerance do you allow? In my case, he was the right age 3.5,
but scored 114 vs 120. My mistake was deciding too quick to shoot and never looking back.

 

[BSK]

How much tolerance do you allow? In my case, he was the right age 3.5,
but scored 114 vs 120. My mistake was deciding too quick to shoot and never looking back.

Mistaking 5 inches of antler? I don't consider that a concerning mistake.

For me, having a goal of a 3 1/2+ year-old buck scoring 120 or better, and I kill a 2 1/2 scoring 105, THAT is a mistake worth reflecting on.

 

[Omega]

How much tolerance do you allow? In my case, he was the right age 3.5,
but scored 114 vs 120. My mistake was deciding too quick to shoot and never looking back.

Kind of sounds to me like you went to bed with a 9 but woke up with a 7. I'm just glad one shows up , even if I don't have a shot.

 

[tickweed]

Ive had a shrinkage problem for quite a few years now.

 

[HenryCohunter]

My 8 I killed was a mistake… I thought he was a different deer we had seen minutes before.. but when they are on the hoof chasing a doe .. it's shoot or not in seconds.. he wasn't the deer I was after but he is a fine deer and gonna be delicious. I got caught up in the trophiest mentality for a few years because of buddies and just general atmosphere in the hunting community.. but I'm again back to my roots.. I hunt to eat. I try to be a conservationist and a steward of the land. I am still a little picky but if I haven't killed a deer and one walks out… it .. he/she will get put to rest.

 

[themanpcl]

What do you do with ground shrinkage? We've all been there probably. Celebrate anyway? Be thankful? Learn and keep hunting?

IMHO, If you pick what you shoot, there is no shrinkage. Before I draw back or click the safety off, I already know that's the deer I want to shoot. However, if you ground check something because you have 2 tags and saw bone...what does it matter anyway?...Especially for those who shoot to be able to brag about the distance they shot the deer.