Spread shrinking 3inches??

[Mxracer532]

So I gotta a ?, I had the Velvet deer seen in my Avitar mounted. a year or soo ago and got to looking at in on the wall a few months ago and something just didnt look right. So I measured the spread and sure as *censored* it was only about 21in wide and I know for a fact when I killed the deer it was 23 1/2in.
So heres how this all went down, the velvet got ruined on the pack out so I had to have it sent out to have artificial velvet sprayed on. Taxi said no biggie at all and cut the skill plate in half to box up the 2 sides to ship out. I was concerned about cutting the skull plate but was assured it would be exactly the same. So a few months ago when I discovered this I called him up (my 2013 deer is at his place getting done now) and he says no problem bring it in we can check it out. So long story short he took it apart and swears he did it correctly and that there is NO POSSIBLE WAY this deer ever measured 23.5in. So after several minutes of me getting pissed off after what I felt was me and my dad and brothers, freinds ect who all know what it measured being called liers he said fine we can spread it to whatever you want but its gonna cost you cause its a pain in the ass to do I eventually left to brew over it some more at home. haha
Anyone have something like this happen. I understand a rack will shrink (SOME) but 3in seems a bit excessive to me.

[270Shooter]

I don't know much about taxidermy but I think the problem is when he cut the skull plate in half.

[JohnVH]

and they do shrink, my brother said his lost like 4", another guy with an elk said his shrunk ALOT

I cut boards and put them in my mount this year, and asked the taxi to leave them in.

[hunter399]

I guess have your taxi measure before he cuts it in half next time and write it down .Then there wont be problem

[Mxracer532]

I guess have your taxi measure before he cuts it in half next time and write it down .Then there wont be problem

Thats exactly what I told him when he said it wasnt his fault and wanted to charge me. Anytime a skull plate is cut measurements should be taken. PERIOD!

[jrebel]

Why do they cut the skull plate?  How can they legitimately score a head if the skull plates are being cut?  I guess I was under the impression that a taxidermist didn't need to cut the skull plate to mount a head....  I would like to hear from one of the taxidermist on this so I can learn something.

 

[hunter399]

Did for cheaper shipping costs i woulnd bet

[Mxracer532]

Why do they cut the skull plate?  How can they legitimately score a head if the skull plates are being cut?  I guess I was under the impression that a taxidermist didn't need to cut the skull plate to mount a head....  I would like to hear from one of the taxidermist on this so I can learn something.

It was only cut to ship to have the artificial velvet done.

[jrebel]

Why do they cut the skull plate?  How can they legitimately score a head if the skull plates are being cut?  I guess I was under the impression that a taxidermist didn't need to cut the skull plate to mount a head....  I would like to hear from one of the taxidermist on this so I can learn something.

It was only cut to ship to have the artificial velvet done.

Yeah...that would bother me.  If it were cut and not put back to it's original spread....I would be upset.  I have never been a number guy until two years ago...I am trying to change my ways.  I have found the numbers have ruined me to an extent.  I wish I would have never started looking at animals and computing numbers based off their antlers.   I hope however it works out...you still know you killed a stud deer.   

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

 
I know if you saw a 23" 1/2" long 2X4 in half, the glue it back together it will be 23"1/4"...
Now figure cutting through the skull plate, lose that 1/4" and then make the antlers a little more upright...would not take much.

[Killmore]

You may want to apologize, They can shrink that much.

[Mxracer532]

You may want to apologize, They can shrink that much.

why would I apologies when it was 3in narrower then before the skull plate was cut? Measurements should have been taken and it put back exactly where it was. Besides I never said he did anything wrong (besides not measuring before & after).

[jrebel]

Can we see pics of the final product?  I love velvet mounts.

[jackelope]

Once the skull plate was cut, shrinkage goes out the window...however.... How long after you killed it did he cut it in half?
It could have shrunk in that amount of time.  They do shrink which is why there's a mandatory 60 day drying period  before it can be officially scored...
SO I guess what I'm saying is...did it shrink before he cut it/before he measured it?

[Mxracer532]

Once the skull plate was cut, shrinkage goes out the window...however.... How long after you killed it did he cut it in half?
It could have shrunk in that amount of time.  They do shrink which is why there's a mandatory 60 day drying period  before it can be officially scored...
SO I guess what I'm saying is...did it shrink before he cut it/before he measured it?

Im pretty sure we cut it not long after it was killed.
I will see if I can find a pic. Taxi still has it

[Mxracer532]

Pic

[idahohuntr]

If I had to guess I would say it is not the taxi that did something wrong...but that drying is the culprit.  My dad has a set of moose antlers...measured 42" spread as officially recorded by IDFG when he checked it in...a year later they were down to about 39" as they dried and curled in.  Several years later I want to say they may be down to the mid-30's   

[carpsniperg2]

It always has amazed me how much they can shrink.

[Pathfinder101]

Perhaps its a perfect storm of "all of the above":

Lost 1/4 inch when he sawed it
Shrunk a couple of inches
Put back together a little too upright

 

[MIKEXRAY]

Seems like when he took it apart and declared it was done right that he would of showed it to you before putting it back together to prove to you.  It would be obvious if scull plate was missing or not put back correctly. I could see him showing you and then saying it would cost more.  If he didn't show you he should of taken pics to prove.  Any how good luck with the problem.

[jackelope]

If I had to guess I would say it is not the taxi that did something wrong...but that drying is the culprit.  My dad has a set of moose antlers...measured 42" spread as officially recorded by IDFG when he checked it in...a year later they were down to about 39" as they dried and curled in.  Several years later I want to say they may be down to the mid-30's 

I wonder too if the blood still in the antlers(velvet) makes the shrinkage even more prevalent. They can shrink a lot for sure.

[Jonathan_S]

If I had to guess I would say it is not the taxi that did something wrong...but that drying is the culprit.  My dad has a set of moose antlers...measured 42" spread as officially recorded by IDFG when he checked it in...a year later they were down to about 39" as they dried and curled in.  Several years later I want to say they may be down to the mid-30's 

  and it's a beautiful mount anyway, I wouldn't worry about it that much.

Great deer but it's not like it was a 30" buck or anything     just enjoy the thing.

My dad shot a velvet buck back in the 80s and I've seen pictures hanging in camp where the tips are normal but they dried curled inward and it looks like a different rack now.

[TMortensen]

You said this is a buck you had mounted a few years ago and after you had it home for sometime you noticed that it had shrunk. How can you blame or question the taxi, if you where happy with it when you picked it up? I

[blindluck]

I have quite a few bucks and have only seen 3/4" shrink in out side spread. I always cut a spreader bar while they dry for the first 4 or 5 months though,

[bearkautz]

nice looking  mount !

[rasbo]

sucks but they do shrink,I have a muley that was 29 and now 27...every bear head I have mounted seems smaller also.

[bearpaw]

They definitely all shrink, I have never seen one that doesn't shrink. A couple inches is very common, so all things considered it's easy to see how your head lost 3 inches. I would try to talk to your taxi in a reasonable manner to work something out if that measurement is that important to you.

FYI - It's pretty common to cut skull plates in half to save on shipping costs or to save space flying home from a hunt. If you take a width measurement before hand you can give that measurement to your taxi, but if a skull plate is cut I have always been told it cannot be entered in the books, so if you think you have a potential record book head, do not let anyone cut it in half, buck up and pay the extra shipping.

[buglebuster]

My buddies dad has a muley from colorado that was 37 and now is 32

[rasbo]

I was in the pool,the pool I swear...LOL

[blindluck]

3 inches seems like a lot especially if its a recient kill, I have a couple 23" bucks I got back in the 90's, they are both 22 1/2  now. My dad got a 23incher this year and it still measures 23" only three months later though.

[jrebel]

The mount looks really good.  Thanks for posting.

[CoryTDF]

Here is my take on it. You lost the ability to have it scored the second that taxi cut it in half. So score is not the issue. When a person brings in a trophy to a taxi it is because he want to preserve the animal as closely as it can be done. This means that if the buck is 23'' it should come back near the same. Measurements should be taken and the taxi should make a solid effort to get it looking as close to live as possible.

I always put a block of wood in the horns for the set 60 days to help prevent shrinkage. If that was not done and no measurements were taken I'm sure the taxi got back the horns and put them on to look as best they could. The mount looks good from what I can see. I guess it's just a learning experience for you and him. If this buck was being scored than 3 inches could be allot but since it's not...... I guess just save the money it would take to fix it and use it to mount the next great buck you shoot.

[Mxracer532]

Here is my take on it. You lost the ability to have it scored the second that taxi cut it in half. So score is not the issue. When a person brings in a trophy to a taxi it is because he want to preserve the animal as closely as it can be done. This means that if the buck is 23'' it should come back near the same. Measurements should be taken and the taxi should make a solid effort to get it looking as close to live as possible.

I always put a block of wood in the horns for the set 60 days to help prevent shrinkage. If that was not done and no measurements were taken I'm sure the taxi got back the horns and put them on to look as best they could. The mount looks good from what I can see. I guess it's just a learning experience for you and him. If this buck was being scored than 3 inches could be allot but since it's not...... I guess just save the money it would take to fix it and use it to mount the next great buck you shoot.

This is exactly how I feel about it. Its about making them as (real life) as possible and to remember the memories from that day. So yes 3inches bothered me even tho its not a book animal.
With that said, he made some adjustments and I just picked it up. It measures 22.5 now so that accounts for 1inch of shrinkage so thats fine I can live with that. Here is the updated version.

[Timberstalker]

Looks damn good!

[blindluck]

Do you have a picture at the time of the kill, would like to see the comparison

[Mxracer532]

Do you have a picture at the time of the kill, would like to see the comparison

The angles are alittle different as the head on the mount is tipped forward and the pic after kill is alittle tilted back.

[Mxracer532]

Another.

[6x6in6]

Maybe it's just me or the picture angle, but it looks like the mains got laid down a little too much based on your field photo's.
Regardless, nice buck!!!

Apple's and oranges....I've had 3 elk lose over 4 1/2 inches on spread.

[blindluck]

Thanks for the comparison, It does appear the main beams are laying flatter. Either way, good looking mount.

[blindluck]

I have a couple 27" bucks I put a spreader bar between there antlers and forced them to 27 3/4" for several months while drying, it's been several years and they are right where they were at the time of kill.

[CoryTDF]

Here is my take on it. You lost the ability to have it scored the second that taxi cut it in half. So score is not the issue. When a person brings in a trophy to a taxi it is because he want to preserve the animal as closely as it can be done. This means that if the buck is 23'' it should come back near the same. Measurements should be taken and the taxi should make a solid effort to get it looking as close to live as possible.

I always put a block of wood in the horns for the set 60 days to help prevent shrinkage. If that was not done and no measurements were taken I'm sure the taxi got back the horns and put them on to look as best they could. The mount looks good from what I can see. I guess it's just a learning experience for you and him. If this buck was being scored than 3 inches could be allot but since it's not...... I guess just save the money it would take to fix it and use it to mount the next great buck you shoot.

This is exactly how I feel about it. Its about making them as (real life) as possible and to remember the memories from that day. So yes 3inches bothered me even tho its not a book animal.
With that said, he made some adjustments and I just picked it up. It measures 22.5 now so that accounts for 1inch of shrinkage so thats fine I can live with that. Here is the updated version.

Congrats on a great buck man. I'm glad you two worked it out and ended on a good note.

[Rick]

Just my opinion,but it was a better looking mount before you had the taxi "fix" it.

It looked closer to the actual deer than it does now.

[sirmissalot]

Just my opinion,but it was a better looking mount before you had the taxi "fix" it.

It looked closer to the actual deer than it does now.

Agreed. Main beams are laid out and the eye guards now point outward, whereas they were naturally pointing upward before, both alive and before fixed. Looks good though that's a pretty mount.

[sirmissalot]

Just my opinion,but it was a better looking mount before you had the taxi "fix" it.

It looked closer to the actual deer than it does now.

Agreed. Main beams are laid out and the eye guards now point outward, whereas they were naturally pointing upward before, both alive and before fixed. Looks good though that's a pretty mount.

[Mxracer532]

I think the angles are pretty deceiving but agree its not exact by any means. The eye guards actually were tilted to the outside alittle. Its hard to see that in the kill photo as the velvet was actually alittle webbed at the bases. Regardless I have learned alot through this ordeal.

just got my 2013 deer back today. Again far from happy. Its not positioned how I wanted and doesnt look right.

[blindluck]

Sorry for the bad luck, I learned years ago when a taxidermist told me they don't make a form the way I wanted it mounted that It was time to do some research. There are many good taxies out there that will give you exactly the right compliment to your trophy.