Shed Hunting Anyone

[T.S. Allen]

Hey all I have been off the grid for a while. Its good to be back. Well I have FINALLY got a few days off and I am headed out to scour the hillside in search of shed antlers. Unfortunately the weather forecast is calling for snow.! Have any of you been out?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Think its still a little early here. Saw 10 or 12 bucks in the last week still sporting their racks.

 

[T.S. Allen]

Could be a bit early. I have heard if a few being picked up. I have been told for years that the bigger bucks drop earlier. I have shed hunted most of my life but I have never been able to gather enough evidence to support this. Does anyone know if this is true and do you have some lead to back it up?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

There were a couple of really nice 4x4's in with the ones I saw. One was at least 26". Still had there racks.

 

[T.S. Allen]

Well I hope they start dropping soon I am headed out on Tuesday and Wednesday. If I get any I will post some pics.

 

[Montana]

I'be found about 15 so far this year. Think they've all dropped here.

 

[T.S. Allen]

Are finding mule deer sheds?

 

[T.S. Allen]

Oh crap! I woke up this morning to a pile of snow in my yard. What a bummer I doubt it's gonna melt off before Tuesday morning. Maybe I better just head to Targhee and ski the fresh powder.

 

[Montana]

Yeah... Both. Maybe they drop early here who knows. I sent some pics to my buddy in Cali and he thought it was early too. A while ago, a customer of mine, game warden, said the latest he had ever seen a buck with horns was Valentines Day. He got a report of someone shooting a deer on V-Day and didn't quite get it. When he got to the scene, it was a big old buck, he couldn't believe it still had horns. The story etched in my mind for dates. Since then I balance the dates, not too early so I don't push anything but also try to be amongst the first in the field.

Here is some fun pics. My daughter with her first find on a year old shed and one of my better days this year.

 

[Montana]

Thought I would also share my best single find this year... A match set with another shed, circled, 10 ft away.

 

[T.S. Allen]

Those are great pics thanks for sharing. I will try and get a few old ones posted.

 

[T.S. Allen]

My son with one of his first finds.

 

[Montana]

Dandy shed... Always fun to get the kids involved

 

[ivorytip]

there is no rhyme or reason to when they drop. im convinced it has nothing to do with food health or weather. ive found trophy mule deer horns during end of december and seen trophy mule deer still sporting racks in march on same winter range on several diff years in totaly diff conditions. also seen deer drop one and keep other side on for several weeks. have only found white tail sheds so far this year

 

[T.S. Allen]

I have to agree. Growing up on the ranch outside Soda I used to watch the deer and elk all winter long. I could never pattern or diagnose any certain thing that got them dropping. I do love to shed hunt and since I am so busy with work I am unable to pattern or even spend time watching the critters this year. Also living in a new area where the snow is scarce and the animals are very spread out I cant even decide where to start. I am headed out in the morning to spend a day in Kelly Canyon, Tuesday in Swan Valley, then hit a few spots around Pinedale and Thermopolis on my way back to Cheyenne. I will keep you posted.

 

[velvetfvr]

I shed hunt and will start sometime soon, archery shoots now take up most of my time.


Sent from my iPhone using tapatalk

 

[dying to kill]

I agree wit ivory, i cant tell u how many articles iv read that so called deer experts have wrote talking about the best and worst ways to hunt sheds and why they do it blah blah blah. I havent found many facts about it that i believe. All i know is that if your not were the deer are you wont find any, and if u dont get out and look for em u dang sure wont find em. Thats my professional expert opinion.

 

[Montana]

Not sure if I agree with everyone on this and I am by no means an expert. We picked up 6 more sheds Sunday in 4.7 miles. All in roughly the same area. South facing, on the edge of something.. Opening, brush, ravine. We walk north facing and large openings and never find anything and that's where we can see the furthest/most. Timing is everything in my opinion. You can't push the animals out but you have to be with the first wave of folks. I am a 20-30 shed a year guy and would love to be better. I hear some guys find that in a day. That's who need on here giving advise, not me. . But I do think there is strategy involved

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

On my way to Lodge last evening saw 2 bucks still sporting their headgear. One was a 3x3, the other a forkie. One of my Lodge Brothers told me he has seen several elk with only one antler left. Looks like anytime here in SW Colorado.

 

[T.S. Allen]

Well my trip was a bust. It snowed several inches and I didn't find anything. A few of the canyons I was wanting to hit were full of tracks from fellow shed hunters. I was a little too late. I did see a few bucks still holding on to their antlers. I was also somewhat fooled by the lack of snow in eastern Wy. The spring like weather in this area had me a bit anxious. On the west side of the state there is a lot of snow. I didn't bring snow shoes so the post holing was a little too hard for this old guy. I am headed back this Sunday. Going to join up with a few friends in Soda Springs. I can't wait.