central/southern illinois sheds
 

hey, i am new to shed hunting havent done it much the times i have i walked for 5 hours at a time and can never find any. there are plenty of deer in the area i see many bucks in season. any tips, i have also thought of trying a shed catcher, any tips on how to build one. as of now i am not doing it for exersise or fun i just want to no what kind of deer are in the area. any help? am i to late right now? i live in effingham county if anyone knows were that it, thanks

RE: central/southern illinois sheds
 

I think you are too early if anything. The deer in the area i hunt are just starting to drop most of them still have their racks.

RE: central/southern illinois sheds
 

Oh, you're not too early! I found 2 (150" 8 pt. and a 145" 10pt w/ broken G2 and both had been kicked off so they had already shed the first one) and a friend found 1 on the 20th of February. I had seen a few with one side a few days earlier too (all 1.5 yr olds). The same friend also found a matched pair (one had two main beams!) the week before. HOWEVER, we saw an amazing sight that day (you probably won't believe me but it's the truth).....saw about 125 deer (in one herd) and 50+ were bucks and most (about 90%) had both sides still. I'm thinking that last weekend and this weekend should have been and will be a really good time to go! (I know I'll be in the woods for sure) Good luck!

RE: central/southern illinois sheds
 

Take apeice of chain link fence about 2feet high and 6feet long and stake it with rebar into a W shape pour corn in to the Vs. Idid it once and got afork horn;thats big for my area. the antlers get caught inthe fence trying to get the corn out of the Vs.good luck from Pa.

RE: central/southern illinois sheds
 

Here in East Central Illinois I have found one shed from this year( the largest Shed in the pic) so far this year a few weeks ago. The other 2 sheds in the pic I found in the last couple of days and they are from last year. The earliest sheds I have found around here was in late January a few years ago.
I have found over 40 sheds and pickup racked skulls in the past , I like to use binoculars as an aide to save me alot of uneeded steps and keying in on travel trails, bedding areas, food sources, fence crossings , creek and river crossings...... I have found some of my best sheds by searching in pine and evergreen patches and bedding areas.... seems the deer like these pine areas to escape the cold winter winds and snow especialy if it is located close to a food source.

RE: central/southern illinois sheds
 

dayna....I saw an article in a mag. once about using 2x4 wire fencing and doing the same setup as you describe. I've just always been afraid to do it just in case you get a buck's antlers caught in there before he's ready to shed. I'm not saying bad things about you btw, just putting in my thoughts.

RE: central/southern illinois sheds
 

yea thats what i was thinkin, last thing ya want is a dead buck or a buck with a fence on his head runnin around lol.

RE: central/southern illinois sheds
 

I never tought of that; maybe plywood would work and be much safer. Thanks for the heads up.

RE: central/southern illinois sheds
 

I've found 7 this year. I started looking early. I've had more luck this year than in year's past. The only difference is I started looking earlier. I've seen 3 bucks in the past week with their antlers. But I've seen a lot of large bodied deer with no antlers.

RE: central/southern illinois sheds
 

Here are the four largest sheds that I've found this year. The top left shed is the largest. It has a 10" G2, 8" G3, and a 6" brow tine.

I found the top right shed yesterday. It's plain ugly.