Ground Shrinkage?

[JN]

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.

Same here when I see one I usually decide fairly quickly on if that is the one I want to shoot and don't look back. I would say if you are indecisive if it is one you want to shoot you will probably have ground shrinkage or regrets after taking it. For me this has worked and have only one I can think of that I had wished I had shot. It was a huge typical 8 point that I saw on the last day of the season and did not get a good look at him so I did not take the shot. Then when I seen the trail came photo of him I was like man that was a stud and should have taken the shot. I got several pictures of him around the farm after season was over but never saw him again after that season.

 

[Ski]

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.

That wouldn't bother me, and is well within margin of error.

I could understand on a club or outfitter requiring minimums but still think 6" is a reasonable, acceptable miss. So much of a rack's score estimate on the hoof is how it relates to body size. 114" rack on a small stature deer could look huge. 120" rack on a beefy deer would look small. Unless you've got pictures of the deer next to other deer to gage size, it's impossible to be certain until he's on the ground.

So I wouldn't sweat it. I kill deer here in this area all the time with sub 120" racks, and they are on mature bucks. I'd love to be hunting 140s and 150s but they simply don't exist here. If you put a 140" rack on one of these 130lb deer it would look like a moose! Proportionately the racks fit the bodies, so I accept it for what it is and am happy with what I get.

 

[TDW05]

Never experienced ground shrinkage that I can recall. I've always considered myself very fortunate and blessed to get any deer that walked out in front of me. Where we hunt there isn't very many deer. Just thankful to see them.

 

[MUP]

I may think about it for a split second, that maybe it wasn't the buck I thought it was, but then a huge wave of thankfulness comes over and takes care of that. They all eat good!

 

[JN]

That wouldn't bother me, and is well within margin of error.

I could understand on a club or outfitter requiring minimums but still think 6" is a reasonable, acceptable miss. So much of a rack's score estimate on the hoof is how it relates to body size. 114" rack on a small stature deer could look huge. 120" rack on a beefy deer would look small. Unless you've got pictures of the deer next to other deer to gage size, it's impossible to be certain until he's on the ground.

So I wouldn't sweat it. I kill deer here in this area all the time with sub 120" racks, and they are on mature bucks. I'd love to be hunting 140s and 150s but they simply don't exist here. If you put a 140" rack on one of these 130lb deer it would look like a moose! Proportionately the racks fit the bodies, so I accept it for what it is and am happy with what I get.

I had a deer this year I was after and based on the trail cam photos looked like a decent size deer and had a unique rack with crab claws at the end and a split g3. Well he got hit by a car and died in one of our fields and the ground shrinkage on him was alot. If his rack had not been so unique I would have said it was a different deer. After looking at him I was kind of amazed at how small of body he had on him and it gave him the appearance of being a bigger buck then he was.

 

[Tn_Va_Hunter]

Where I hunt. Any deer is a good deer that lives past 1.5. I don't get many days to hunt. But I won't shoot yearlings. We don't have the ability to shoot does during rifle season and one day during ML is all we get. I try to get meat for the table during bow season. But if not. Rifle i what I can and am happy to do so. As long as I'm happy. I don't care what you fellers thank. Lol. Just happy to be able to hunt

 

[Lost Lake]

I'm extremely thankful, regardless. That doesn't mean it won't make my shoulders slump a little if I gleefully trot up to him and realize he's a tiny bit different than I expected.

We aren't promised a single day. Glad to have my deer.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Take it and eat it, just like the rest of em. It's hard not to shoot one smaller than what you think when you hunt the rut in mountain hardwoods. You're not getting to watch them with your binos in the bean field.

 

[Iglow]

Start looking for fat sagging bellies and no necks.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Learn from it and move on. When I see a shooter, I know instantly. The ones I have shot where I have hesitated and he's a borderline shooter, I've regretted it every single time. I now only shoot ones that I know in an instant.

 

[Lost Lake]

Learn from it and move on. When I see a shooter, I know instantly. The ones I have shot where I have hesitated and he's a borderline shooter, I've regretted it every single time. I now only shoot ones that I know in an instant.

This right here.

Anymore, when I see one that I know I want to shoot, most of the time my eyes bug and I know instantly that I'm shooting. If I have second thoughts, it's usually means that I need to let him go.

 

[deerhunter10]

Learn from it and move on. Trail cameras help a ton several years ago it's was a little more prevalent. Mature deer are a different type of deer you pretty much know immediately what they are. Have done it still thankful for the deer. I have never ever regretted passing a deer, so if I'm not a 100 percent it's a shooter It's not getting shot. If I have to make a deer a shooter it's not a shooter either. The ones that get people are the deer that are running in tight spots split second decisions and that's where trail cameras help a lot. Always thankful though, but always learning.

 

[Ski]

I had a deer this year I was after and based on the trail cam photos looked like a decent size deer and had a unique rack with crab claws at the end and a split g3. Well he got hit by a car and died in one of our fields and the ground shrinkage on him was alot. If his rack had not been so unique I would have said it was a different deer. After looking at him I was kind of amazed at how small of body he had on him and it gave him the appearance of being a bigger buck then he was.

It's a real thing. Here's a good example. This series of pics shows a few bucks that exemplify what I'm talking about. Same tiny buck with big rack in all three pics. By himself he'd look good. Next to other deer he's an oompa loompa.

If you saw that buck alone and shot him, I'm guessing you'd feel a sense of ground shrinkage when you walked up on him.

 

[bowhunterfanatic]

Learn from it and move on. When I see a shooter, I know instantly. The ones I have shot where I have hesitated and he's a borderline shooter, I've regretted it every single time. I now only shoot ones that I know in an instant.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Now then "when I know I know", and if I hesitate at all it walks.

 

[BigAl]

Every buck ive ever killed probably had some ground shrinkage. Today, I take a little more time to judge but I'm sure it'll happen again. Doesn't mean I'm not pleased with what I've killed.

 

[megalomaniac]

fortunately, it doesn't happen often. In the past decade, it's been way more common for me to find out they were bigger than I thought when I walk up on them.

when it does happen, like bsk said, learn from the mistake to not repeat it.

 

[TN Larry]

I've had it happen before hunting thick hardwoods during the rut. I've also had ground "growage" as well. I just learn from it and move on. I haven't done it in a few years and try my best not to but sure I will again at some point based on the places I hunt.

To the OP, I wouldn't consider shooting a 114 as a 120 a mistake and within normal margin of error.

 

[Snake]

Never be ashamed nor disappointed just thankful .

 

[tellico4x4]

Happened to me last year. Had a ton of pics on a narrow tall 10 during past couple summers. First thing morning of Dec 2, I hit the rattling horns & he comes charging in before I get them laid down which was exciting in itself. We have a 2 out 4 criteria that has to be met and I knew the deer, and had no doubt that he'd make base diameter of 4.5" & beam length of 19.5". Knew he wouldn't make 175# or 16" inside though. He did make base but missed beam by 1.5".
If a deer doesn't make minimum, then it counts as a 2 for 1 and your done on bucks for year. You do however have the option of sending teeth in for testing if you feel like it's at least 4.5yrs. You can't kill another buck until results are in. I sent teeth off and during the waiting period I'm doe hunting and have to pass on this buck at 20 yards.

Teeth results came in at 4.5 and hunted the above buck rest of season to no avail. I flat just got caught up in the moment of him charging in and me predetermining that he'd measure. Guess what buck I'm hunting this year ?
If you do this stuff long enough, it's going to happen no matter how seasoned a hunter you are. Learn from it & roll on.

 

[DeerCamp]

Just happened to me in Oklahoma.

I was thankful for the deer but bummed my season was over up there with 4 days left to hunt.