Ground Shrinkage?
- Thread starter fairchaser
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Speedwell-Hunter
Well-Known Member
For those that had no idea what the original poster was talking about:
According to the Urban Dictionary, ground shrinkage is:
when you see a big buck through your gun scope, but when you walk up to it on the ground, its antlers have magically shrunk.
While shrinkage has a negative connotation, it's not really a bad thing. It's one of the quirks of deer hunting. It happens. Embrace it.
The Texas buck in the photo is a good example. His rack was a good 20 inches smaller on the ground than when I lined my 6X scope on him at 200 yards, but he was still a fine deer, and good eating.
Accept shrinkage as we might, none of us wants it to happen. Click here for tips on how to judge and shoot a buck that, on the dirt, has antlers as large as you thought when you pulled the trigger, or, better yet, even bigger.
No ground shrinkage on this buck is what we all want to see and hear.
BSK
Well-Known Member
It has happened on my place, but very rarely. Most of the time, at the next card pull, there he is. He just showed up 24-48 hours before he was killed and we hadn't seen his picture yet.
But kill a buck we have no pictures of at all, even just before the kill? Extremely rare. Over 25 years, 96% of bucks we've killed were previously photographed.
BSK
Well-Known Member
I agree very strongly DMD. Personally, I have moved beyond the "mature buck only" hunting. Eventually killing one of those mature bucks is extremely satisfying. But over time, I realized the work necessary wasn't "fun." And at this point in my hunting career (40+ years and I'm in my 60s), I just want hunting to be fun. I have a certain goal in mind each year, but those goals are much lower than they used to be in an attempt to keep hunting as fun as possible. I've spent too much money and have too few years left at this to not have it be fun.
Soft Talker
Well-Known Member
Belittling a Buck because of "ground shrinkage". Just another example of hunting for all the wrong reasons 
DoubleRidge
Well-Known Member
Zero doubt...running multiple cameras on our place has saved more "up and comer" bucks lives than any single thing we've done...we have a history, we know the bucks that are common to the area and which ones we agree need to live another year...but some years, during the peak of the rut, we will have a buck (or bucks) show up that we have never seen. Thats when a decision has to be made....But I agree with several of the previous comments...when you see a buck and immediately you start having to question if hes old enough or if hes a shooter....then most likely he's not....and trail camera history doesnt take away from the fun at all for me....it enhances the entire experience and even takes away some of the pressure being we know our target bucks...but yet still have the element of surprise of bucks weve never seen before.
Amen
JeepKuntry
Well-Known Member
Only happened once. Learned moving forward if I have to ask myself should I pass I already have my answer. But any 125" on private it's always gonna be game on. Public is am I out of meat!
Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
We shoot bucks based on age…5.5+ regardless of headgear so we don't experience any ground shrinkage regret. Plenty of old bucks we shoot simply don't have high scoring racks.
themanpcl
Well-Known Member
I think having 2 tags causes some ground shrinkage...lol...if you know you have another shot. When i hunt out of state, cannot afford a dink....
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It doesnt matter. If the deer excited you, you made a good shot, AND HAD FUN, that is all that matters. Hunting is supposed to be fun. I shot a small buck opening weekend with my first deer rifle my daddy bought me when I was 12. I am 59 now and have plenty of bucks on the wall. First buck I have shot in 5 years and the fun factor was through the roof. This is why we hunt.
Belittling a Buck because of "ground shrinkage". Just another example of hunting for all the wrong reasons
And you're the righteous pillar of society ordained by the pope himself to decide that for us all?
fairchaser
Well-Known Member
My own self imposed minimum of 3.5 and 120 means that it must be an above average 3 year old to qualify with a 120 inch rack. I believe the average 3,5 year old is probably closer to 115. Maybe this is a flaw in my selection process.
If I had the opportunity to see live deer and especially bucks during the rut, I might be better at turning them down. But, a sighting of a 3.5yr old buck is extremely rare. Maybe once or twice a season.
Even though you've seen these bucks on camera and judged their racks, a live sighting is another matter indeed. They can present themselves in a way that makes them look bigger than life and give you seconds to decide.
Given seconds to decide which buck it is and which list he's on and make a killing shot, is a lot to ask a hunter. It can be done. However based on the length of this thread informs me that I'm not alone in making mistakes.
Thanks for sharing your stories and advice.
If I had the opportunity to see live deer and especially bucks during the rut, I might be better at turning them down. But, a sighting of a 3.5yr old buck is extremely rare. Maybe once or twice a season.
Even though you've seen these bucks on camera and judged their racks, a live sighting is another matter indeed. They can present themselves in a way that makes them look bigger than life and give you seconds to decide.
Given seconds to decide which buck it is and which list he's on and make a killing shot, is a lot to ask a hunter. It can be done. However based on the length of this thread informs me that I'm not alone in making mistakes.
Thanks for sharing your stories and advice.
BSK
Well-Known Member
In my area, only 105.
True.
This is so VERY true.
The list of my mistakes is long! And to be honest, the "kicking myself" phase is generally quite short. A few days to weeks later I realize I enjoyed the hunt and the buck's size really isn't that important.
Great post and thoughtful. Well stated.
Soft Talker
Well-Known Member
Simply stating my opinion. If that offends you, I am glad.
I understand that's what you're here for, but you'll have to do better than that to offend me. Now let me see if I can find that ignore button .... Yup! Found it
AT Hiker
Well-Known Member
Shat talker can never be ignored!I understand that's what you're here for, but you'll have to do better than that to offend me. Now let me see if I can find that ignore button .... Yup! Found it
WTNBowHunter
Well-Known Member
This is having the right perspective! All of the success, time in the field, enjoying what God created is the win and everything else is icing on top.
ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER
Well-Known Member
From my experience, the biggest mistakes I have made on deer below my goals is made when you been in a slump and haven't killed anything in awhile. I used to get over anxious. But as I get up in age it doesn't bother me not to kill a deer, especially knowing he has a chance of being bigger
