jus shot my first nice buck with the bow and want a shoulder mount done. i have been talkin to ppl and they "dont do this... it'll do this to his rack..." and my uncle said his inside spread shrunk 2" i think he's full of crap. but i was wondering does this happen alot? should i worry?

I agree with you on the 2" shrinkage, B.S.! The spread will tend to shrink a little, but it won't be noticeable. You cancut a board the exact same width of the inside spread and put it between his antlers until they dryif you like, but I never bother with it.

good to know. i dont think ill use the board. not that big of a deal, im just gunna git him scored before he gets mounted. - i think my uncle jus said that cuz he knows my buck makes his look like a yearling.

careful with the board idea!!! ive heard that more often than not, that the skull plate ends up cracking when the spread does shrink because its weaker than the board. IMO, not worth the risk!!

If it shrunk 2inches it had to be 4foot wide,whether you mount it or not they will shrink thats the reason you have to let them dry before you get an official score on a rack.1/4 to 1/2 of an inch is more realistic on the inside spread.and a board will work but like someone said it could crack the skull plate I have never saw this but I dont use a board,I have saw people do this.

It will also shrink more if you cut the anlters off. Leave the antlers on the skull and it will not shrink as much. It can shrink a good bit when the skull cap dries and warps. So if you want the best score possible then leave it on the whole skull.

Best advice so far. Leave as much of the skull on it as you can when you cape it out. I like to cut them right at the top of the eye sockets.

If left on the skull the inside spread shrinkage shouldnt be any more then a 1/2" If cut off completely its hard to say how much they could shrink but I couldnt image 2"!