Shed hunting

buckgtr · 04-22-2003, 09:29 PM

This is the first year I really targeted shed hunting and It is great. What a way to scout and find out what's running around in your hunting area. Genetics, age class of the bucks and what's left for next year. I can't believe that I hadn't been doing this for all these years. I started a little late this year but have managed to find 14 different antlers. No matching sets yet. My last trip out I relized everything has really started to grow and it will make it that much harder. What a rush it is to find a fresh shed laying on the moss and fern laden forest floor. If anybody has any pointers on what they look for when shed hunting let me know. I am a novice when it comes to this and would love to hear what people look for when shed hunting. Like North or South facing slopes, open areas, transition areas, fence rows and bedding areas etc. Thanks

Jeremy · 04-24-2003, 10:42 AM

I have never gone, do you just wander around and look for them or is there a technique???

Bounty Hunter · 04-24-2003, 12:58 PM

My buddy Hog King says a good spot is where a well traveled trail crosses a ditch or ravine and the animal had to jump down as he crossed. The extra shock seems to dislodge the antlers.

stick flicker · 04-25-2003, 07:52 AM

I have found a few here in the Cascades while out looking for bears and new tree stand spots. I watched three bucks in this canyon this spring for over a week so I hiked up there and found one shed from a previous year. What a cool reward for a tough hike.

buckgtr · 04-25-2003, 10:17 AM

Thank for your info. guys. It is a great bonus to find a shed on a scouting trip. I think I found a new off season addiction. It is just something about a blacktails antlers whether there attached to a head or a shed.

MarlinMark · 04-26-2003, 07:32 PM

Hey Buckgtr, can you post a pic of those 14 antlers?

Mark

buckgtr · 04-26-2003, 09:18 PM

Yes, as soon as I get a scanner I'll post one. I am going out tomorrow and maybe I'll find a few more to add. It's addictive. I harvested the largest Blacktail of my this life this past year. With a lot of hard work and dedication I have been lucky enough to harvest a number of large Blacktail bucks in my life but a Booner Blacktail buck has always eluded me until last year. My 2002 Blacktail is a perfect 4#4 with 2 1/2 inch eyeguards a 20 inch spread and 6 inch bases. His gross score is 141 6/8 netting 139 5/8. I'm going out tomorrow to try and find his sheds from the previous year. Wish me luck!

[ 04-26-2003, 10:30 PM: Message edited by: buckgtr ]

fishuntr2 · 04-28-2003, 07:29 AM

Shedding is fun. My biggest elk shed is now entered in the Oregon Boone + Crockett record book with a score of 123 7/8. Just wish I could run into one of these still attached during season! I find sheds in different areas and have noticed that sometimes the animal jumped a log or perhaps bounced down a bluff dislodging the antler. I have found 1 complete set of blacktail antlers, this was after seeing a buck that had just lost his. I went back to the spot and found both antlers together after less than 5 minutes of looking. One set of big elk antlers were found together but I wasn't in a position to pack them out and had to leave them for someone else to discover. Lots of deer antlers are found in open areas which leads me to believe that the deer purposely choose these spots when about to drop. Don't really know but it is a darn good way to spend time in the woods.
Bob

winterkill · 04-28-2003, 07:44 PM

I've found a couple of sheds this year, but the highlight was finding a blacktail skull with the antlers still attatched. It was a big 3 point and very fresh (it definitily smelled fresh). I found it in march. During last deer season my dad shot at a big buck just on the other side of the hill. We didn't find any blood and we thought he missed. I wonder if it was the buck my pops shot at? Or maybe a cougar coulda nabbed it, but I don't think coyotes would take it down due to its size. It's whole skeleton was lying next to its skull. Other then that I have found a few other deer sheds, mostly 3 and 4 points but no elk horns yet.
Ian
Ian

uey89 · 04-28-2003, 08:06 PM

I have been lucky enough to find a few elk sheds in the past two years. I have been turkey hunting and end up seeing glare on a hillside and go grab the horns. It Seems they tend to loose them around fence line and small creeks that the jump across. There are web sites that are just made for shed hunting that people have put together. If I had more time I'd find one and post it. Happy hunting

[ 04-28-2003, 09:07 PM: Message edited by: uey89 ]

japeter2 · 04-28-2003, 09:24 PM

I read somewhere that a guy built a feeder with a 2x4 horizontal above it. He then puts it out into the feild. When a deer eats out of it, alot of times it knocks the antlers off.

[ 04-28-2003, 10:27 PM: Message edited by: japeter2 ]

Don Becker · 04-29-2003, 02:02 PM

I've picked-up a few shed deer antlers over the years . . . 'nothing to brag about. But, I did find a very fresh shed (the blood at the base was still damp) 5 pt Elk up in the Saddle Mountain unit one year. Several years later, in the Willamette National Forest, I found another . . . one is a left and the other is the right. The latter one is weathered. But, they make an amazingly good matched set otherwise. I've long thought about mounting them and telling lies . . . . . Don

montster303 · 04-30-2003, 10:56 AM

I've never found a fresh shed....

I was wondering if they are in good enough shape that you could use them for rattling the following year?

thanks