QUALITY CONTROL

Many hunters have experienced the phenomenon of antlers shrinking between the time they see them in the scope and when they find the end of the blood trail. This antler shrinkage is thought to be related to them hitting the ground hard, which has given rise to the term “ground shrinkage.” Although we all joke about such shrinkage, there is another form of shrinkage that is being discussed in some circles.

Our use and admiration for antlers comes from their usefulness as tools and also the fact they have always had a spiritual quality serving as symbols of masculinity, rebirth and social status. Through the centuries, our passion for antlers has not waned, it has intensified. Our tendencies toward antler worship today far exceeds any other time in human history, including the times when we relied on them for our survival.

Today, our growing interest in antlers is fueled by our ability to tap on a piece of glass and easily share pictures around the world via social media. These pictures are interesting to those of us who hunt, but they have the potential to give others ammunition to attack us. Recent attacks have been levied against the harvest of mature animals with large antlers and whether removing those animals is