Shed season is officially OPEN!!

Santiam338 · 02-11-2008, 04:19 PM

I am starting the shed season a little early this year...After all the bad weather this year its a good excuse to get out and shake off cabin fever...

We took the ponies up today for a looksee and I found my first fresh shed...A MATCHED set lying together...

What a way to start off the season...

And NO Matt,you don't know this spot..

osulogger · 02-11-2008, 04:49 PM

LOL..... Nice Bill. Glad to see the season started finally

Those are some pretty big forkies, I'll have to scour the hills this weekend and see if I come up with something close to that

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

just_hunt'n · 02-11-2008, 05:04 PM

Wow...Thats a nice set

Northwest Pest · 02-11-2008, 06:53 PM

You found my rattlin antlers!!!!!! Thanks I lost around 2000 deer and 4000 elk antlers during the past season so you guys can just pm me when you find them and I'll pick them up! LOL

Wheels · 02-11-2008, 07:22 PM

Nice Find Bill.............was there a bed right there or do you think he lost them while he was walking along feeding? wheels.

beardbuster · 02-11-2008, 08:57 PM

Good looking set Bill! Those would make good rattling horns, or lamp post, or gate handles, or candle stick..........................

Big Unit · 02-12-2008, 06:51 AM

Nice job Bill!

Went last weekend. Found lots of snow, some tracks and no sheds. Was rather confused on why the tracks didn't have a set in them!

Better keep on looking!

BU

Ryan Pultz · 02-12-2008, 07:14 AM

I plan on getting out this weekend some time rp

Santiam338 · 02-12-2008, 09:19 AM

Hey Wheels,

I was along the edge of reprod and open timber..No bed,just lost them both at the same time...Matched sets are few and far between and are the holy grail of shed hunting...

Brad,

Not everybody can be like Ron,finding a set in the snow like that..One each side of the tracks...What are the odds...LOL

Wil,

I will prolly just throw them in the pile with the rest...

Check this out...The sheds were fresh and my horse could smell the buck...He was really checking it out...I thought for a minute he was going to pick it up in his teeth...I was ready with camera in hand but he didn't quite pick it up....I was going to give the shed dog guys heck if he did...LOL

beardbuster · 02-12-2008, 01:20 PM

I only keep the fresh one anymore. We pick up quite a few while turkey hunting. I have a bucket at home I toss them in and when guys say they need rattling antlers, they can come get some. Kids love them too - for me its just another thing to pack around. They are fun to find

mtn300 · 02-12-2008, 01:30 PM

Friend of mine found like 40 something this last weekend. It was on private ground though. Eastside of the state. The time is near to venture into the hills. To much snow the eastside in the mountains right now.

Blacktailfiend · 02-12-2008, 01:37 PM

Great find... Went to my area to retrieve a camera on sat and there was 3 1/2 feet of snow. going to look for sheds this weekend..... A little lower though.....

MJ13 · 02-12-2008, 04:32 PM

That's a heck of a trick you've taught your horse, being able to sniff out sheds and all....

Santiam338 · 02-16-2008, 07:18 PM

Hey Matt,

Snoopy sniffed out another....Forgot my camera and had to settle for a tailgate pic back at the truck...Waiting to see how you did...

That is 3 browns so far...

osulogger · 02-16-2008, 10:18 PM

I'm going to give it a go on Sunday Santiam.... will have a full report later in the evening.

Nice find.... Go Snoopy!

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

osulogger · 02-17-2008, 07:40 PM

Well I got out today with a friend; we ended up with three sheds and a tick

Everywhere we went there were people; mainly running hounds? We did however see two rigs with horse trailers....hmmmmmm......

Bill you didn't find that matched set where we found the big 4 a couple of years back did you? Horse tracks all over that place, and a deer decoy, a tree stand, and a couple of camo blinds. Sheez!

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

Santiam338 · 02-18-2008, 04:14 AM

Thats the beagle guys...They have been up there every weekend running rabbits....I think thats why the elk have not been in there...Lisa has a cow tag for that area...No matter ,it's shed season now,the heck with elk...LOL

Looks like you didn't do to bad...Good haul.. Ticks??YUK...

You mean THIS decoy??

I went thorugh there last week...Didn't find anything in there...The matched set came from way south across the hiway...

2 horse trailers huh...Hmmmm ,I wonder who that could be...

Ken found a fresh fork yesterday and that was it for us...He was pretty happy about it also..He didn't want me to get to far ahead...

sooslaw · 02-18-2008, 09:07 AM

man it looks like you guys are having fun. keep em coming, i will let you know when i hit the motherload.One brown for me.

Brotherpez · 02-18-2008, 02:43 PM

i Am Yet To Find A Single Shed, Where Both Sides That Close Together When Found Them? You Didnt Lay Them Out For The Pic? Looking For Sheds Is Great Fun, My Five Year Old Daughter Gets So Excited When We Head Up To Woods For Any Reason. Keep Up The Good Work

Santiam338 · 02-18-2008, 05:47 PM

Thats the way they were laying...Or a "as it lays" pic as us shed hunters call them.....I only find a couple matched sets a year and mostly older ones...A fresh set like that are few and far between...Sliverpicker also found a matched set like that this year...

I found a nice fork from last year today and that was it...I found it right off the bat and was figuring on a good day...Hmmm? think again...LOL

"As it Lays"

osulogger · 02-18-2008, 05:59 PM

That looks like last years fork to the fork I found! LOL I found mine on the "other" side of the hiway

Not telling where though..... sneaky sneaky.

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

Roseybulls · 02-19-2008, 06:51 AM

Here's a matched set I found on Saturday. These were the only fresh ones I found that day. This is my biggest matched set I've ever found.

Santiam338 · 02-19-2008, 07:45 AM

ANOTHER MATCHED SET??? This must be a record year or something....Very,Very cool...Way to go Zeb...

HUH?? , Did I miss them? Did you see any horse tracks???

Big Unit · 02-19-2008, 08:32 AM

Wow, need a closer look at them horns!!!!!!!!!!

BU

Roseybulls · 02-19-2008, 08:32 AM

Bill,
Lots of horse tracks. I was wondering if those were from you guys.

I found the matched set in a secret little Oak patch I know of, on the other side of the hill where I saw all the horse tracks.

Managed to find myself a little poison oak too.

Here is the ATL:

Santiam338 · 02-19-2008, 08:45 AM

There are some horses running loose up there..Mostly on the north west side of the mountain..I haven't been in any of the east side where you usually come in from..

I make a point to go through every oak patch I come to...They seem to like it in there..

osulogger · 02-19-2008, 06:00 PM

I found this hog today working in the old growth. Searched for probably 30 minutes for the match and gave up. It's out there. Also found the other two today. I even hiked back to the truck for the camera to get the ATL picture

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

Santiam338 · 02-20-2008, 08:09 PM

Hey Matt,

Did you get in any timber cruising that day..???

Check this out...Ken found a matched set today lying in a bed...This has GOT to be a record year for matched sets...I have shed hunted a long time and have not seen the matched sets like this year...

I hope it continues..

Wheels · 02-20-2008, 09:42 PM

Nice Bone Matt......................Darn limbs/blowdown from all the wind makes it tough sometimes...........almost got away from ya........good eye. Wheels.

bmclaren · 02-21-2008, 10:53 AM

Nice. I think I might have to go this weekend . Saddel up the ponies and go.

sooslaw · 02-21-2008, 06:58 PM

nice work boys! man matt, that is a hog. nice buck zeb. Bailey brothers are off to a stellar year.!

Wheels · 02-21-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sooslaw

nice work boys! man matt, that is a hog. nice buck zeb. Bailey brothers are off to a stellar year.!

Where's your antlers Rich? I figured you'd be on to some by now. Later, Wheels.

Santiam338 · 02-22-2008, 04:31 PM

We got out this afternoon and found 4 sheds and a bobcat skull (I think).

I spotted a ribcage sticking up out of the grass..Of course I investigated...Dang...He had nubs on the skull where he had already shed off...I was kinda dissapointed on that..I was looking trying to see what he may have died from when I finally spotted it......I guess he shed one off ,and then died for whatever reason...The other side must have finally came off while the coyotes were dragging it around...

This has got to be the best "as it lays" pic ever...

Also saw this...I kept the 243 handy after that..

Brotherpez · 02-22-2008, 06:22 PM

I CANT REALLY TELL HOW BIG THAT FLAT TAIL TRACK IS FROM THE PIC. WHAT DO YOU THINK, THE SIZE OF OF YOUR HAND? 100 lb? THATS A GREAT PICTURE, GOTTA BE FRESH.

osulogger · 02-24-2008, 07:54 PM

Great finds Bill.... you should go back and pick up his skull.... that would be neat to the head and horn! Never know, you might find the other side sometime too! Your other skull looks like a raccoon.

Went out Friday after work and found two; including my first fresh horn of '08!

I was stoked and continued to walk, only to find 3 cougar kills and no more bones

Got out today for the afternoon and walked a lot. We saw 7 bucks from across the draw. Best I could tell, half were still packing bones. Ended the day with none other but a MATCHED SET! They're small, but they match

No ATL pictures, it was raining and didn't want to sacrifice the camera.

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

Santiam338 · 02-24-2008, 08:17 PM

Hey pez, Yip I screwed up..I should have put something in the pic for reference...I have seen a lot of longtail tracks and this is a big tom,no doubt about it..

Good job Matt..I didn't get out but Ken found 5 today ..That makes him 6 ahead of me now..

osulogger · 02-28-2008, 06:26 PM

Found this fresh one today while checking on the loggers....

My guess is someone got a headache after losing it.

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

just_hunt'n · 02-28-2008, 07:15 PM

great color on that one OSUlogger

sealgal2008 · 02-28-2008, 07:51 PM

I just moved to the gorge last month from Missouri and hope to find my first mule deer and elk sheds soon. Back home Ive got piles of whitetail sheds. Ive been out a couple of times but "work" has kept me busy most daylight hours. Its great to see all those sheds folks have been finding. I'll try to figure out how to post a photo of my fisrt WA/OR sheds.

Betty

beardbuster · 02-29-2008, 12:53 PM

There is some good area in the gorge for shed hunting. We had a bag full after a turkey hunt last spring. Some really nice ones too

Santiam338 · 02-29-2008, 07:17 PM

Hey Sealgal,looking forward to some fresh pics..

We got out before the storm today...Looked for several hours in good country without seeing anything ...I finally spotted what looked like a tine sticking up out of the grass..,,It turned out to be a fairly impressive 4 point..I figured I had caught up to brother Ken by one..

But it wasn't long and I heard him hollar...A fresh 4 point..Dang!!

And then he found this treasure..

I am never going to catch up..

Santiam338 · 03-01-2008, 06:25 PM

No one went out today??

Here is our haul for the day...

Only 3 are mine.

But,2 were a match set,my second of the year,,

sealgal2008 · 03-01-2008, 06:45 PM

WOW! I'm still looking. I cant wait to find a shed from anything other than a whitetail. Maybe my problem so far ir I'm thinking like a whitetail shed hunter. Are blacktails and mule deer different in there habitat needs? In Missouri I just go for a walk in the woods and sheds are at times abundant. Should I be looking in certain special places this time of year?

Cheers

Betty

sealgal2008 · 03-01-2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Santiam338

Hey Sealgal,looking forward to some fresh pics..

We got out before the storm today...Looked for several hours in good country without seeing anything ...I finally spotted what looked like a tine sticking up out of the grass..,,It turned out to be a fairly impressive 4 point..I figured I had caught up to brother Ken by one..

But it wasn't long and I heard him hollar...A fresh 4 point..Dang!!

And then he found this treasure..

I am never going to catch up..

That spike elk skull is so COOL! I hope I can get out a bit tommorrow.

Betty

Super Fluke · 03-01-2008, 06:50 PM

Nice sheds everyone.
That elk skull is tight.

tracker · 03-01-2008, 07:30 PM

In Washington you could not take the elk skull. If it is not shed you are not supposed to take it. We were out along the Snake River in Washington hunting pheasant. A guy found the skull of a huge whitetail. I think it had like 14 points eastern count. Anyway he left soon after getting back to the parking area with it. Maybe 5 minutes later the Game warden shows up and is checking our birds and licenses. I told him about the skull and he was real hot to know what the guy was driving so he could go run him down and cite him. Thats what he said. I told him flat out I would not tell him what he was driving because I did not believe in a stupid law like that. He had a county sheriff with him and they questioned me a bit about it but I did not say anything. They were both nice guys and we talked about the reason for the law but we parted company in disagreement.

Santiam338 · 03-01-2008, 07:36 PM

Can't take them here either,but there is no law on taking a pic..

Sealgal..Just cover a lot of country...It helps if there is a lot of sign..

Good luck..

sealgal2008 · 03-01-2008, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Santiam338

Can't take them here either,but there is no law on taking a pic..

Sealgal..Just cover a lot of country...It helps if there is a lot of sign..

Good luck..

Too bad you cant keep that spike elk, I'm glad to hear the law about only taking sheds and not skulls. Is that all deer and elk skulls or just ones with antlers? Anyway, I'm going to walk a lot of woods and hope I find some horns.

Cheers

Betty

beardbuster · 03-01-2008, 08:32 PM

If you split the skull you can keep it, otherwise you are supposed to tag it with a legal tag during the season. Found this out too from an OSP officer after I carried back a HUGE (scored 155) three point mule deer skull in the desolation unit. I was able to toss in back behind the campsite. On the last day of the hunt as we packed up without a deer to tag, I tagged the skull so I could keep it. I had it mounted soon after.

Bill: I like the shed with the double eye guard, very nice.

osulogger · 03-01-2008, 09:44 PM

looks like you guys have had a good couple of days! There are some pretty nice bones in the pile, that's for sure. Tell Ken good eye on the elk skull

Might try to get out tomorrow.... we'll see though.

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

scubaseth · 03-01-2008, 09:55 PM

What??? You mean elk don't shed skulls?

Scuba

Sirzonkalot · 03-02-2008, 05:18 PM

Santiam, sent you a P.M. Sirzonkalot

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jjelkhorn · 03-02-2008, 05:54 PM

Found a nice 4-point shed this morning when out elk hunting with my wife. Got a picture just need to learn how to post them. I'll work on that tomorrow.

sealgal2008 · 03-02-2008, 06:10 PM

Dang! You guys sure are ifnding them. I had to "work" today so no sheds for me yet. Maybe later this week.

Betty

Mike P. · 03-03-2008, 08:31 AM

Here is a matched set of sheds found together on my neighbors property not 75 yards from my back yard. This is probably one of the deer who wreaked havoc on my garden during the nights last summer. The funniest part about these being so close to home is that me and a few friends hiked many miles over in central oregon only to find 2 old sheds & a forked horn skull this past weekend.