I shot my first black bear that i posted pics on here a couple of weeks ago. i just talked to the taxidermist and he green scored the skull at 18.5 inches. needless to say i am rather excited because the pope and young minimum is 18.

so my question is after the drying time will the skull shrink enough so that it will drop below 18?

i read somewhere that it usually shrinks about 2/16" is this true.

it is being beetle dipped and i think that is all i am going to do with it for know so it does not shrink any more.

P.S. my moms bear skull measure the same as mine so we both might make the record books the same year.