RE: getting the sheds
 

Yes it would work but I would advise against using wire/iron or anything that a buck could get his rack rack hung up in. If the rack isn't ready to be shed, you could cause serious damage to a buck as he tries to fight his way free should he get hung up in it. A better method would be to leave them alone and let them shed out on their own, then do some tromping to find them.

If you've got to mess around, you could use 3 small hay bales. Lay two of the bales length ways, parrallel to each other and have 6 inches of space inbetween the two bales. Pour your feed in the center of your space then lay the third bale on top.

You could also pour your feed in bushes or where the trees are really thick. Trees should only be an inch or two in diameter so the buck can't get hung up and still could bull his way through the tree patch. They would have to work at getting the feed and shed an antler if it is ready to be shed.

Both of these examples would be much safer for a buck then using wire, iron stakes or rods.

Tim

RE: getting the sheds
 

BobS
On the older bucks we have found matchs sets laying on top of each other to more then 250 yards apart. The advise your state biologist gives is good when it comes to the older heavy racked bucks. On young bucks we have found them laying on top of each other to a mile plus from each other. The older bucks are stressed more from rut then the young bucks and tend to shed both sides at the same time. They will sometimes also kick a side off once they shed the other side. I would imagine they do this because of the lopsided weight of only having one side.

Tim

RE: getting the sheds
 

I believe that you can find all the relavent info regarding feeding of our whitetails on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website, I did.

Shed hunting is really great for sharing some quality time in the woods with the kids. With my two older boys and a few nephews we can reaaly thoughly cover some ground.

And boy do I have a few areas I'm just dying to shed hunt after seeing these monsters around lately!

The Boy from Illinois, Uncle Matt

RE: getting the sheds
 

I guess I will just do it the old fashion way and walk around and look