How much does a skull shrink?

[Tikkamike]

I just inquired to the B&C club about the wyoming state record black bear and found out that "green" mine out scores it by 9/16" I dont expect to beat it in fact I wouldnt be surprised if it didnt even make book after drying, just wondering if anyone can tell me on average how much they think skulls shrink

[Wingnut]

Mike,
From my understanding the 60 day drying period starts as soon as the skull is properly cleaned. The B&C rules say that all material except bone must be removed before the 60 day drying period begins. I have done a couple of smaller bear skulls and I found that boiling the skulls makes them shrink more than having them cleaned using beatles. After the 60 day drying period the one that I had boiled shrank about 1/2 inch. Mostly from the length measurement. The beatle cleaned one only shrank a little more than a 1/4 of an inch. The only problem would be finding beatles that are local. More taxidermists are using them so you might check around. I would say that getting it done sooner than later is your best bet. Let us all know how it goes. I think you have a good chance of taking the record!!!

[cowboy]

What did it "green score"??

[Tikkamike]

22 1/2

[winmag]

Originally Posted by Wingnut

Mike,
From my understanding the 60 day drying period starts as soon as the skull is properly cleaned. The B&C rules say that all material except bone must be removed before the 60 day drying period begins. I have done a couple of smaller bear skulls and I found that boiling the skulls makes them shrink more than having them cleaned using beatles. After the 60 day drying period the one that I had boiled shrank about 1/2 inch. Mostly from the length measurement. The beatle cleaned one only shrank a little more than a 1/4 of an inch. The only problem would be finding beatles that are local. More taxidermists are using them so you might check around. I would say that getting it done sooner than later is your best bet. Let us all know how it goes. I think you have a good chance of taking the record!!!

+1 exactly with my own experience.

I missed Oregon book by 3/16" after boiling my first bear skull. Started at 18-3/8" shy (Oregon book is 18-1/8" or bigger) after boiling it was 17-15/16"....

My last big one was just over 20" green, & finished at 19-5/8. I need to enter it still.
In the future however, ill be using Beatles!! Clean, fast, & less shrinkage by all accounts. I've talked to many many folks about Beatles, & its pretty much unanimous.
Congrats on that big ol bruiser! Most folks hunt a lifetime & never achieve a trophy bear of that quality. Great job Mike.
Lemme know if you need some numbers for Beatle guys. There's a couple here in Central Oregon right down the road.
Of course you take enough game, that you could almost order your own, & have a dandy side business doing European mount skull prep for your friends & family! They're not cheap, but not horribly expensive to order either. You just gotta have enough stuff for them to eat or they die & don't make you any $$$.

[sp6x6]

I have boiled alot of skulls and I have had many stay within 1/8-1/4''When alot of guys that dont know the score system, they improper read off some meat or gristle ,and get a larger reading. Some guys keep them in freezer to last minute,then do a quick boil,just enogh to get jog done. This is not "technically ''right, but done.I have heard that beetles can be over done also with heat lamps and time but have not used them. I shot a large cat with my bow and it made B&C.But I had to have a official B&C scorer,but a official B&C qualifies for Pope.The B&C score was 3/16 larger.When a official score reads + 1/32,that is rounded up to next 1/16,these are judgement calls,that is why WRecords are panel scored.When you have a great skull like that you dont want to damage either front or back,or bust a cheeck bone,then it will looses alot of its score.Good luck on your bear. A friend of mine arrowed one that was 21 3/4 P&Y,that was the best that I have seen,looked at a few 21''. I arrowed a 21 1/16 number of years back

[HARPERC]

My recollection is my partners B&C grizzly shrunk a 1/2". Boiled and bleached I believe. When I was a kid a neighbors grandfather killed a monster black bear, that initially looked like it was going to be the new CA # 1, disappeared from the taxidermy before pickup. Kind of the ultimate shrinkage (just saying).