Shed Hunting Tips
 

My brother and I are gonna be looking for sheds once the bucks drop their racks...I was wondering if you guys have any tips to aid in finding them?

RE: Shed Hunting Tips
 

This website might be helpful and it might contain links to other websites, I am not really sure though.

www.shedantlers.net

RE: Shed Hunting Tips
 

last spring was my first year i really put some effort into shed hunting. i am fortunate enough to have land right behind my house wear the deer group for winter. but i found when looking for sheds,don't look to far in front of yourself. stand in a spot and start at your feet and scan the ground in a semi circle. as you cover the ground with your eyes keep looking farther out,but not to far. seemed to work really well for me last year.

RE: Shed Hunting Tips
 

How early is the earliest you guys have found sheds?

RE: Shed Hunting Tips
 

late december

RE: Shed Hunting Tips
 

I have never shed hunted but I think I will try it some
this year. I know you have to beat the squirrels and rabbits to them.
They like to eat them up.

RE: Shed Hunting Tips
 

Yeah, I found a real nice one a couple years ago, but it had a big ol' hole gnawed in it already from something... I gave it away; might have added to the character, I guess, but I thought it ruined it. I think nice sheds make awesome decorations on a mantle or bookshelf somewhere.

RE: Shed Hunting Tips
 

Look any place the deer are. Thats the best advice I can give. Bedding and feeding areas are the best. But they can fall off any place.
I find around 75-100 per year and I still haven't figured it out.
What's everyones biggest shed? I have a single side 106 3/8 and a matched set 202 6/8 with no spread, of course.

RE: Shed Hunting Tips
 

I forgot, I already have pics of 1/2 racks and one with both sides gone.

RE: Shed Hunting Tips
 

One thing that I can say is "you will rarley find a shed - until you look for them specifically"

I mean - don't go turkey hunting in May and expect to find sheds - you probably wont.

When you are looking for shed antlers you have a different mentality. I've found sheds as early as late December, but must I find as the snow melts in March and April around here.

A couple tips:

Deer run when they are scared - and if you can find the closest escape cover to the feeding areas in January - you will find the most sheds there. They get knocked off on the edges of the "cover".

Sure you'll find some in the food source (corn, apple orchards, clearcuts) - also bedding (not many)- but most are found on the Edges of both- at least thats my experience.

FH

RE: Shed Hunting Tips
 

I found half of a ten pointers rack while hunting this spring. It may have been there for a couple years. The brow tine was completely gone and it was gnawed up some. I just happened to stop and I looked down and there it was at my foot.

I am going in Feb. or March and actually try to find some.

RE: Shed Hunting Tips
 

I've found 2 while bowhunting the year after they were dropped. One was a very nice eight that wasn't too badly gnawed upon. The other was a awesome and massive 10 point or better that was badly chewed up.

RE: Shed Hunting Tips
 

The earliest I found one was in shotgun season (right after Thanksgiving) here in Ohio. It still had some blood on it. As for tips on finding sheds I've read to look at creek and fence crossings where the deer have to jump across. The force from landing helps to jar the antlers loose. Personally, I've found them in some of the thickest/nastiest cover around and then some in my parents back yard. You never can tell exactly where you are going to find them. I'll start looking late Feb-early March.

RE: Shed Hunting Tips
 

The earliest I've ever found one was in February. I know plenty of guys that start walking in January and have found some the 1st or 2nd week in Jan. I've also seen plenty of bucks with only 1 side in Jan as well.

Places I look for them: I LOVE small thickets and woodlots. Brushy fields or brushy water ways that cut out into a field are also hot spots. I usually shed with a guy that finds 40-50 per year (obviously he has more time and goes more often then me) but one thing we don't really walk through is big timber....unless we know the strict patterns of a certain deer. The smaller places seem to be a better bet...especially for a novice shed hunter.