sheds & rubs?

Steve Seeger · 03-12-2004, 08:40 PM

I went out hunting for shed antlers for a hour or so after work this evening & noticed what looked to be fresh rubs. I also found this thread on another forum: sheds & fresh rubs. Has anyone here noticed rubs just before blacktail lose their antlers?

I looked around the deer trails going from a meadow into the brush, but didn't find anything. I even used my binoculars to scan around & peer through the brush & into the shadows. When looking for sheds, is it better to be meticulous like this, or should I move faster to cover more ground?

(For those concerned about disturbing wintering deer, I'm down low on the West side & there's already plenty of fresh green popping up. I also took my cougar tag & rifle, just in case. One less cat this spring would mean several more deer in the fall..)

[ 03-13-2004, 07:21 AM: Message edited by: xfdmazqgwu ]

gottafish · 03-13-2004, 12:38 PM

Have you found any yet. I have yet to find a antler been looking to. I wonder if somebody beat me to them????

BrianMaguire · 03-13-2004, 05:03 PM

Quote:

I went out hunting for shed antlers for a hour or so after work this evening & noticed what looked to be fresh rubs

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Don't know about deer but at Jewell 2 weeks ago there was a cow in heat and the bulls were rubbing like they would in Sept. It may be Elk.

Quote:

I went out hunting for shed antlers When looking for sheds, is it better to be meticulous like this, or should I move faster to cover more ground?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">I cover some ground when shed hunting but I never hunt for Blacktail Sheds. The shapes and colors of sheds rather stick out so I find it best to move.

Quote:

I also took my cougar tag & rifle, just in case.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Good idea Feb/March is cougar breeding season as well.

Steve Seeger · 03-13-2004, 09:22 PM

I went back out all day today & found a couple:

I found them on seperate trails leading out of the same meadow, and the color & mass is close enough that I think they're probably from the same buck. One is a 3 point w/ an eyeguard (& a nub where the 4th point should be) & the other is a regular four point. He's not a "book buck", but he'd be a shooter for all but the most discriminating trophy hunter. Maybe he'll be bigger next year! Unfortunately, some deer won't be getting hunted next year:

Here's one of the rubs I saw:

It's low on a small tree, so I think it might be a deer rather than an elk. I did see some big ones that are probably elk, & I saw some other relatively fresh elk sign (in addition to lots of deer sign)

The blacktail antlers do blend into the environment pretty well - they're relatively dark to begin with, & there's usually all kinds of brush & deadfall on the ground next to them. The shape does help highlight them a bit, especially if they're situated with the arch up. Can you spot the shed below? Darn blacktails are so stealthy, even their antlers are extra hard to find!

Both of the sheds I found were right in the middle of trails, but that doesn't mean I didn't miss some off trails. I spent some time looking in bedding areas & under brush adjacent to trails & meadows, but didn't have any luck there. (Be careful if you're really gung ho like me & get down on your hands & knees - I put my hand down on some sort of stinging nettle & it felt like I'd grabbed a fistful of yellow jacket. My hand's still a bit tingly!)

Here's a closing shot of me w/ my first ever shed antler:

Steve Seeger

[ 03-13-2004, 11:59 PM: Message edited by: xfdmazqgwu ]

winterkill · 03-14-2004, 12:09 AM

Those are some great sheds especially for your first set

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] . Now you have to find the punk who left them for you during the fall. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

I think most sheds are found on trails, much like the sheds you found. If you look above the shed alot of times you will find that there is a branch hanging across the trail that caused the final break in the tissue connecting the horn to deer. That is not to say that its the only place to find a shed because I know I have found numerous sheds on rock logging roads.

I have found a couple of sets of blacktail sheds, but only one so far this year. Its a big 3 point, and I think I saw the deer who is responsible for it. Hopefully he is still alive next fall, but who knows with the blacktail population in such decline

. I have yet to find a elk shed, but I did find a brand new buck skull with the 3 point antlers still attatched last year, which I thought was pretty cool.
Ian

[ 03-14-2004, 01:13 AM: Message edited by: winterkill ]

Twitchs_Tackle · 03-16-2004, 01:11 PM

I think I spotted it. Great picture... take a few more, it gets me jonesing to go out searching! :grin:

I find most of mine, especially the elk, in bedding areas and pockets of think cover. Also walk fence lines. I think as the pedistles weaken, and the animal jumps a fence, they often snap off within the first few steps after they land on the other side.

[ 03-16-2004, 02:14 PM: Message edited by: Twitchs_Tackle ]

Steve Seeger · 03-21-2004, 09:23 AM

Quote:

I think I spotted it.

Yep, that's it. Sorry it took me a while to get back... I replied twice earlier, but it looks like they both got lost in the bulletin board shuffle. I don't have any other good "hidden shed" pics right now since the two above are the only ones I've ever found (but I've only been looking for a week).

Steve Seeger

Jignfloat · 03-21-2004, 10:48 AM

The rub in your picture is old...as in last rutt....certainly not a new rub. But!!!! it does tell you where a buck was marking his territory last rutt. Old rubs play an important part in post season scouting, and should be put to use next season.

Very nice shed you found!, and does appear to be a matched set. We found a matched set from a big whitetail as we hunted last november in northeast Wa., it is a main frame 10 pointer with double brow tines. Some chew damage on one side, but we are thinking of restoration.

Russ

stick flicker · 03-21-2004, 08:53 PM

I think that the bull elk still rub thier horns in the late winter and spring. I see fresh looking rubs were I spotted a young bull while scouting a few weeks ago, its good to see him hanging around.He showed up last summer, and has set up shop. Elk communicate with other elk all through the year . Scent marking their territoryis an important aspect of rubbing. Its a good way to keep track of sex, maturity, and social status.