RE: shed hunting
We have a lot of marshes with little bedding areas deep in the phragmites. It's like walking through a maze. My rule of thumb is to wear at least knee high rubber boots, and whenever I'm on a trail that leads to somewhere thick, or wet, or just a pain in general, push on.
You've got to go into the thickest, pain in the neck spots to really figure out what's goingon with the area, and find where the big boys are tearing it up.It's the only time of year you can do it without getting poision ivy, oak, sumac... andticks, chiggars, mosquitos...
I've found two skulls this year as well - the poor boys ran back to their bedding areas wounded and never woke up.
P.S. They were on state land - one was hit by a car and one was gut shot by someone else.