Need input from taxidermist and hunters on shrinkage.

One of my hunters took a Namibian kudu in 2009. It measured green at 50" and 49" and was so stated on the permit. After a year, his taxidermist, who is also an official SCI measurer, got only 47".

Question: Is that much shrinkage, 2-3" common? Or, is this a situation where the measurements were overstated?

What is the norm for kudu horn shrinkage? Your thoughts and opinions please.

Geoff

At great risk...

sometimes shrinkage occurs due to misplaced items. How sure are y'all that they are still original? No, 2-3" loss isn't common, but variation between measurers is why you have official ones.

Thoughts and opinions provided.

More often than not the SCI score in the field by a PH (with the hunter helping hold the tape) is fudged for ego and promotional reasons; a tiny bit here and there and then 2-3 inches from reality is easy. Months later after boiling and real shinkage and a accurate score and suddenly "those aren't my horns."

Just a theory, but...

You measured the horn as they lay right after the kill, right? And from there, someone or another might have cooked the skull and perhaps the horns as well. If so, that would definitely result in more shrinkage than normal.

By the time the horns for my my blue and black wilderbeests got mounted, they looked quite different and smaller than when the photos of the kill were taken. The same thing happened to an Arapawa ram I killed in NZ.

Shrinkage does occur but is usually minimal. On a set of kudu horns properly slipped off of a core I have never seen over an inch of shrinkage. Most discrepancies in length have been from over zealous measurers in the field.

Ben

quote:

over zealous measurers in the field.

Ben

Lots of that going around!!!!

They can shrink anything from 1'2 " to 1 1/2 " maximum when cooked. A lot depends on the age of the animal and how hard or soft the bottom part of the bases is. I would say most commonly 3'4 " to 1 ". This is what I've found over the years when I measured my clients trophies and I measure them when they've shot them to get an idea of size and I also measure them again when they're ready for shipment to the taxidermist or freight company and that is the differences I found.

It is true no two people measure alike so if two different people measure you will get different results. I only fill in my permits when they've been cooked and dry, not the green measurement.

In your case I gues the PH measured and inch or two to long.

Roy

Thanks everyone for the input. This will give the hunter different possibilities and reason to return and try for a larger trophy.

Geoff

sounds like a good enough reason to make a second trip...

Rich

Mine shrunk from 60" to only 55"

Wow! That is substantial to say the least.

Geoff

Shrinkage? ask George Castanza from Seifeld. He knows much about shrinkage.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Lou:
Shrinkage? ask George Castanza from Seifeld. He knows much about shrinkage.

Like laundry?