avoiding shrinkage?

[pupper]

Hi all, I was wondering what type of tactics are out there for keeping a bear skull as big as possible during the drying period?
I have heard of guys keeping their bear skull in a tub of water or freezer for the drying period, is that legal for B&C?
Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Gateholio]

Don't boil it, use beetles...

Freezing it would probably make it not shrink a teeny bit, if where it ranks in the B&C book is important to you.

[hunter1947]

Justin yes keep it in water during the drying period and you won't get the shrinkage..

[Ambush]

Don't boil it. Clean it very carefuly and gently at the back of the skull to avoid removing any bone. Freezing can actually cause shrinkage.

Keep the skull in a cool place, like on the basement floor, and out of the sunlight.

[guest]

Any temperature below 50 degrees past the knees will create shrinkage,
just had too ..........

CT

[bayou]

antlers,horns or skulls must be completely cleaned of all flesh and membrane prior to drying time, then must air dry at room temperature and room humidity in an unaltered state for at least 60 days prior to being officially scored. Just google any of the scoring methods, B/C ,pope and young etc they will explain there rules, the methods mentioned in the previous posts would make your animal ineligible for entry.

[boxhitch]

Can't figure how a drying period can be done when under water.
Sounds dumber each time I read it.
But then scoring judges may not be equipped with moisture testers.

[Gateholio]

Record books are so picky. :mrgreen:

No matter where it places, all parts of your anatomy will remain the same size.:wink:

[kbb]

use warm water, cold water will always cause shrinkage i hear

[pitbell]

If your going to have it officially scored it has to dry out and yes the scorer will be able to tell if it was kept in a freezer or water. Hence the term "drying period." Jut put it somewhere where it keeps cool like a basement.

[gameslayer]

If you are worried about shrinkage, just make sure you harvest big bears then you will have no worries:mrgreen:
Sounds like a lot of different opinions out there, a slow cool dry would seem to minimize the shrinkage.

[pupper]

Thanks for the tips, does anyone have beetles?

[oldtimer]

I thought Viagra was supposed to take care of any shrinkage you might have. Mike

[srupp]

Justin if you find beetles , Im lloking also for my black bear..

srupp

[hunter1947]

Keep it in water till the last month then dry it off and store it in a cool area for the last month of the drying period ,I myself would take that chance of keeping it in the water a couple months then the last month out of the water for drying ..

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Last I heard there was a guy in Penticton with Beetles......which is your best option to avoid shrinkage.

As many have stated it must be "air-dried" for 60 days.

First thought this was a scene from a Seinfeld episode.:?


SSS

[bighornbob]

Keep it in water till the last month then dry it off and store it in a cool area for the last month of the drying period ,I myself would take that chance of keeping it in the water a couple months then the last month out of the water for drying ..

Once you take it out of water it has to air dry for 60 days. So why put it in water to begin with??

BHB

[greybark]

:-D Hey Pupper , congratulations on your bear . Book measurments require a normal drying and NOT imercing in water . If the measurers decide soaking in water was involved they can refuse the entry .
:-D You got yourself a great bear don`t cheapen it with a method some refer to as cheating .
Again congratulations !!!!!

[pupper]

:-D Hey Pupper , congratulations on your bear . Book measurments require a normal drying and NOT imercing in water . If the measurers decide soaking in water was involved they can refuse the entry .
:-D You got yourself a great bear don`t cheapen it with a method some refer to as cheating .
Again congratulations !!!!!

Yah for sure, I do not want to cheat at all. That is why I was asking what is legal for B&C regulations.

[gutpile]

1. avoid taking a cold shower !

2. think about a beautiful woman !

3. when your cutting lawn hold the handle of the lawnmower close to your crotch ! :mrgreen: