I was always told that most deer drop their racks around late Feb. and early March. I've had the most like finding sheds in bedding areas, along field edges, and places where a deer has to jump over something (for example, fences, creek banks, logs blocking trails).

I'm not sure when squirrilsand other rodentsget to them, but when we go mushroom hunting we find plenty of untouched sheds. I even find some during deer season from time to time that have been chewed on very little.