Is it to early to start looking for sheds? The reason I ask my buddy had an 8 pt. in one of his hog traps a couple of days ago.
I just found a real nice set of sheds in my backyard yesterday! LOL All the years of walking and searching that never turned up anything. Go figure! Sure made my day. Jon
It is never to early to start looking......However, you can burn yourself out.
I don't know anything about when the deer start dropping in Oklahoma, but they usually start dropping at the end of December here in Ohio.
I personally will not start stomping the brush until Feb. That will give me better odds that all the deer have just about dropped and I won't have to hunt the same place twice.
I usually find a few a year, but I spend a long time walking to find those few I come up with.
People say there are better places than others to find them...I have found that if you want to find some horn you have to be willing to search every deer trail you can find. I have personally found them about everywhere.
Beds, creek crossings, fields, and just laying beside a well used trail.
Good luck it is very rewarding to find them....
Just don't get discouraged if you don't find one every time out. Chances are you won't, but then again when you do find one it is worth the work.
as of monday all of the bucks I have been getting on trail cam were still holding their antlers. Im hoping they start dropping here soon. It should be any day now. I plan to check the cams again on Sunday so maybe just maybe it will show some of them as having shed. In which case the real work begins.
I have been seeing a lot of bucks still holding their antlers. Last sat I saw a 140" 10pt with both sides.....too bad he didn't come into range. I wait until the end of february usually.
I picked this one up last night when walking out of the woods from squirrel hunting. I didn't have a light on, just happen to walk right over it.
Good to know a decent buck is still around.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/lenladdershed.jpg)
They start dropping as early as the end of December and middle January here in Missouri. A friend of mine found a matching set from a huge 10pt. below his lake dam right around Christmas one year. Which makes a good point that the bigger bucks generally shed earlier than the smaller ones. I don't know if it's a biological fact or not, but I think it's because the big boys need a longer growing season for larger head gear?
They claim that the peticles begin to grow new antlers immediately upon shedding the old.
I found half of a decent 8pt. last year near the river on a gravel bar and it was the first week of January. I don't know how long it had been there, but nothing had chewed on it yet so I'm almost positive that it was within just a day or so of me finding it?
If nothing else, shed hunting is a fantastic way to get some exercise and if you carry your trad bow and some stumpin arras with ya, it's great target practice for next year. You also may find some old buck sign in an area you didn't even know existed? Food for thought.
the bucks are still carrying their headgear here in Virginia.
Pulled these off the trail camera yesterday...
(http://www.burnhamphotography.com/galleries/events/photos/wesgallery/3bucks.jpg)
(http://www.burnhamphotography.com/galleries/events/photos/wesgallery/6ptbuck.jpg)
WOW.....what a six point!!!!! :scared: :scared:
you live by a nuke plant???
-hv
nice looking 6 point
That is a dandy 6 point!! I'm gonna start looking this weekend. It's usually around the end of Jan or first of Feb in my neck of the woods...thats when I start looking anyway. A good walk in the woods is always welcome! Jason
Most have dropped in our area because of the tough winter. I've found around 30 so far.
That's a Jim Dandy 6 pointer!
That is a beautiful 6 pt. Wish I had seen him during hunting season where I live.
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e349/trdtnlbwhntr/MDGC0050.jpg)
i called this guy whacky rack because of what his rack looked like. He is the first of about 6 or 7 I have been getting regularly to drop.
Biggest 6 pointer I think I have ever seen. Keep tabs on that boy. He could be a BRUTE!!
I found my first brown of the year on the 15th, a little earlier than normal out here in Oregon. Have 7 browns so far, and no matched sets.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/downsized_0115011139.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/downsized_0115011246.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/downsized_0120011612.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/Jan20shed.jpg)
I found the brown shed on the right last year on Feb.5 and looked forever trying to find the match. A week ago a friend stumbled upon it and gave it to me. Still in good shape and nothing chewed on it all year!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/5x6sheds.jpg)
I saw that 6pt 4 times during the season, had him in bow range only once but never had a shot. His is on the hit list for next year. I think :confused: I have him figured out, but we all know how that goes.
Best of Luck with him next year he should be a bruiser!!
ttt
I have found 5 sheds so far this year from the cab of my truck. That is four more than I have found in about 12 hours of ground pounding. Every year I find a lot of sheds by driving 10 mph past hay fields. If I see something that looks like an antler, I glass it. If it is an antler I ask the landowner if I can look for antlers in their field. Most people will let you pick them up, some won't. Most farmers in my neighborhood are glad for you to pick them up though. An antler can ruin expensive tractor tires.
I picked up about 15 this year so far, mostly in the yard where I feed them or in the hay yard. I think I have 3 sets, and one side of a nice 5x5 that I missed in bow season ... With over 2' of snow on the ground they're a little hard to find in the woods - though I did find one Thursday while snowwhoeing with my wife. They started dropping here in mid December.
That is a freak show of a buck pale face. Seriously is that normal for VA?
Bucks are still antlered here in central NC. My father caught a glimpse just a few nights ago of the monster I was hunting this year. Never saw him during hunting hours. Only at night with car headlights driving home or flood light in the back yard. Guess that's why he's a survivor. He's rubbed several scrub trees in the area recently. I have walked the woods several times hoping to find one but they seem to be hanging on tight here.
Gak, i live in Tulsa and hunt locally. I went shed hunting before this snow arrived and all I saw were a lot of fresh rubs. I'll give it another shot after the white stuff melts.
They are starting to drop in SE TX. I have a couple of pics of bucks with only only one side. I walked about 2 miles thru the woods on Sat. but did not find any. A bit early still. I'll wait a couple more weeks and then hit the woods hard.
Good huntin.
I just saw a buck yesterday still carrying antlers. Right around my part of MO I commonly see them well into March. I know lots of fellas find them early but I never have. My best day ever was finding 4 in one afternoon that all appeared very fresh. The date was March 27th. I only remember because it's my brothers birthday.
one year i found a shed on december 31 in hendricks co. IN which is around indy. Last year i saw an 8 pt and a new fawn on the same day. it was april 2. all deer are different i think when it comes to dropping them.
found number 14 this season over lunch
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5215/5425676825_dac4ea58f6.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5426279112_938e4f132a.jpg)
Saw several bucks including a (normal six pointer) on Friday night here in VA. They just stood and smiled at me from the edge of my driveway.
now thats way cool
I found the one shed I posted pic of, but have seen a bunch of bucks still carrying. Came across this fresh rub this morning.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/Pictures/SnowWalk5.jpg)
Whitetails have shed already, Mule Deer still carrying their head gear. Way to much snow and drifts too hunt sheds yet. SOON Lovr the pics though, great 6 point.
Don
ttt
Here in Kentucky, I rarely find a shed before the 1st of February.
Been finding a few nice Blacktail sheds this last week...
This had the bloodiest base of any buck shed I've ever found!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/feb8shed10.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/feb8shed4.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/downsized_0210011250.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/downsized_0210011251-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/downsized_0210011236-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/downsized_0210011427-1.jpg)
Been waiting for your pics Ron. Very nice!
Very nice Ron!!! I'm so jealous :thumbsup: :D
The snow should melt off enough this week we should be able to get out and do some looking.
Tracy
A friend of mine & fellow trad hunter found these.
(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa48/WESLEYTHEBEAU/IMG_0680.jpg)
(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa48/WESLEYTHEBEAU/IMG_0682.jpg)
(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa48/WESLEYTHEBEAU/IMG_0683.jpg)
Ron,
That one has to be still warm...Wow nice find...I need to get some exercise for my back and what a better way to do it then to put on some chaps, a wool coat,grab a walking stick and cruise the trails...Didn't get to hunt much this year but anytime in the woods is good for the soul...
Im looking to shed hunt this year for the first time, as soon as all this snow melts down a little.
QuoteOriginally posted by K.S.TRAPPER:
Very nice Ron!!! I'm so jealous :thumbsup: :D
The snow should melt off enough this week we should be able to get out and do some looking.
Tracy
Tracy...It's been tough finding sheds so far. The snow melted and the animals began moving higher up into the timber. This is the first set I've found this year, hopefully not the last! In low snow years I tend to find lots of singles.
I'll have a brown set to send you this spring! :thumbsup:
:bigsmyl: Looking forward to it Ron :thumbsup:
Your pictures are always great buddy and really make me miss Oregon that's for sure. I hope your healing up good and ready for turkey season :archer2:
Tracy
Too much snow here. We have a mini thaw coming so maybe next week. Best I found was 2 years ago, one side of a 9 pt. My son-in-law found the match and mounted the sheds, then shot the buck that fall. One year of growth made a huge difference. Some of you fellas are going to be looking at some whompers this fall!
that is a huge 6pt.
A few of the biggest sheds I found last week.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/feb17shed3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/feb17shed5.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/feb17shed8.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/Feb17shed9.jpg)
Big ole forked horn off a big old buck!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/feb19shed9.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/feb19shed12.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/shed%20pics/feb19shed10.jpg)
I ran outside and found my shed right where I left it. :readit: Right behind the driveway :biglaugh:
I have spent many days and miles looking for shed antlers. I have found one several year old shed that was almost gone in spring and one that was chewed badly in April.
I never find them while looking for them. :dunno: Last year I logged about 28 miles and found the one that didn't resemble an antler anymore. My dogs appreciated the chew toy.
It got me thinking about how difficult it is to find shed antlers.
say you have a healthy pop. of deer in my area (10 per square mile). Now think about a healthy buck/doe ratio of 1/4. That would mean there are 2.5 bucks in the area I am looking and a total of 5 antlers that I am looking for per square mile.
The odds are not stacked in my favor, it makes finding something that much sweeter.
maybe this will help, deer tend to yard up and move less in the late winter,if you can find the deer when they are shedding it makes less ground you have to cover
Those are awesome tree killer great finds. If I find a small one this year I will be surprised. Thanks for sharing the pictures. :thumbsup:
Nice finds guys..I haven't found squat so far this year.
Not found any sheds but found two fresh rubs today while on hunting property cleaning up for owner....and found a fresh scrape...WTF??? LOL
I have a camera on my little food plot behind the house and the bucks are all still wearing their antlers around here.
(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/Hogbear/022-1.jpg)
the biggest of the bunch around me is still holding his antlers. When I get confirmation that he has dropped Ill start looking. I dont want to bump him out of the area before he drops.
we found antlers 14 thru 20 last week before the blizzard hit. in the blizzard I could see 6 deer on the drive way behind the last standing corn I have , one buck still carried both sides, last night he was only wearing one side.
In heavy snow years i have better luck finding horn in Jan then I do in March. I just follow the heaviest deer trails I can find and usually find horns laying in the trails. This year has been my best ever.
Are those mule deer antlers Tree killer? Gosh those Oregon woods are soooo pretty. Looks like you could move through there incredibly silently too.
I looked all morning saturday while we were bunny hunting at sleepy hollow state park but didn't find anything at all.
we found our cuddeback today that we have had out since october completely forgot about it until today and found an arrow from earlier this year good day and we have photos of bucks that have already dropped but the snow is makin it hard to find them
I found this one this morning in the timber. Just the tips were sticking out of the snow. It looks like it used to have a drop tine but was broken off near the base. Still lots of snow in the timber and I have still recently been seeing some bucks still wearing their headgear.
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j456/jalariso/ShedAntler2-22-11.jpg)
Snow is up to your "naughty bits" here, so too early for a good look.
I have looked and looked and found none this year. Yet my dog has brought 2 to my front door. A matching set! Go figure.
I found a nice matched set of antlers in late January. A 10 pointer at that, funnily enough the sheds were within 20 yards of a treestand. The property is withing city limits and it is not legal to hunt there, some people try to circumnavigate this by using a bow (not me), It is a good place to watch animals and there are some impressive deer that live on it.
I was finding some before our last snow. Here are the bigger sets I have found. (http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss101/blackfeather48/IMG_0081.jpg) (http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss101/blackfeather48/IMG_0082.jpg) (http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss101/blackfeather48/IMG_0085.jpg) (http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss101/blackfeather48/IMG_0086.jpg)
Those are awesome sheds guys, I had better get at it.
In North Dakota, I've seen bucks shed as early as late December... and I've seen antlered bucks in April.
I'm not looking yet because our deer are having a tough winter. Many are confined by snow to pretty small areas and don't need me chasing them around. I'll start when the deer start spreading out again.
Those are some nice ones....to much snow here still.....
Nice Sheds guys, I wanna get out looking to but ma nature isnt through pounding us with snow yet. Man I'm starting to go stir crazy.
Going to help my buddy Greg set up some feeders tomorrow. Maybe we'll have some time to look for sheds as well.
Found this on the counter this morning. My wife said she let the dogs out to do their thing and when she opened the door to let them back in Parker was carrying this.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v196/Kagyone/IMG_0094.jpg)
This buck is the last one carrying around here. Now just have to wait for it to warm up and the deer to disperse a bit.
Hit up a 7,000 acre conservation area near my house 2 days ago, hit it pretty hard. Not a single shed. Any Missouri guys finding any yet??
I saw a couple of 8 points two evenings ago with all their headgear, but they are usually dropped by now around here. Great pics everyone!
Parker is a very good dog!!! :thumbsup: :biglaugh:
Took him out for a short run, not far from the house and he picked up the other side. I saw it a moment before he did and managed to get a pix of him picking it up.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v196/Kagyone/IMG_0095.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v196/Kagyone/IMG_0100.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v196/Kagyone/IMG_0102.jpg)
He's the best!
Good dog...sit :clapper:
Do you rent "Parker" out? :thumbsup:
Sure Keith. Cost you couple of air tickets and room & board :)
that dog's pretty neat, now if only I could get my cat to do that!
USN-The sheds TreeKiller is finding are Columbia Blacktails. He has a serious "honey hole"!
I posted these pics in a different thread. Found these in the Spring turkey season last year. I know he made it through firearms season, so I'm going to set out to try and find this year's cast offs very soon. Snow is just about gone and I'm itching to get back out on the mountain...Mike
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee104/mooseman76/outdoors005b.jpg)
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee104/mooseman76/Photo066A.jpg)
:eek: :eek: :eek: That a moose or a whitail?!!
Most of the big guys have droped them around here,some of the little bucks still have them,I found four last week,seven so far this year.It keeps snowing and covering them up.
I would like to get out and do a bit of shed hunting. I read to locate spots they may have had to jump/land. (fence crossing, downed tree, etc) I suppose the jar from landing can knock em loose.
My brother is out this morning. I couldnt go because of other commitments but I'll post some pics on the results. Last time we were out a couple weeks ago, spotted a nice 10 about 140" hope he dropped them now.
QuoteOriginally posted by Gun:
Sure Keith. Cost you couple of air tickets and room & board :)
Gun, I just want one dog not two...He can have all the doggy bisquits he wants and he can even sleep on the Temperpedict King bed and I'll take the couch or the Lazyboy...He'll get the royal treatment and have a night in the Neigbors "Hot tub" if they ain't home that is...I can send my brothers lazy dog back to you cause he looks just like "Parker" and you don't have to return him...Matter of fact he is a brother of Bill Clintons yellow lab or some sort of relative I was told and he was a one women dog and had no relations with no other's...He ain't too smart but a good couch potatoe type of dog... :goldtooth:
I saw the buck I hunted all last bowseason while I was at my folk's house last night. He's now antlerless. He had them four days ago. Hopefully I can find them before the squirrels do.
We found a couple. 1 last week and 1 this week. Also found 1 complete skull. Dont know how it died.
Here is one that I plan on using to rattle in a big buck next fall.
:biglaugh:
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j456/jalariso/3inchShed.jpg)
Now that is a find right there ! Good eyes !
It's 3/1 so the bucks should have dropped their antlers by now . Where is the best place to find them ? Cultivated fields , forest , prairie ?
cool
My dog brought this one home the other day.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/dg5.jpg)
Anyone finding any sheds?
To much snow here but hopefully by next weekend I'll have some pics. Looks like it's going to warm up finally.
Nice finds fellas.
My brother and I found 7 last Sat. and will be back at it this weekend :thumbsup:
I haven't found any yet, but I saw 2 bucks on tuesday that still had headgear on. One was a six pt. and the other had shed only one side.
Anyone searching Lock Raven?
I have seen many nice racks up here. Just last night I saw a 10pt and a fork horn in the back yard. Still got them attached to their heads.
Still waiting for the snow to melt! :rolleyes:
Sorry Keith, no deal. Parker's that good!
Went shed hunting yesterday afternoon and still saw bucks with their headgear.
There are some *nice* sheds on this thread....
About half the bull elk in these parts have dropped and new growth has started, but some bulls are still carryin' both sides. They're in bunched in bachelor herds at the moment.
Hopin' to get into some sheds in April!
Have a great day!
Shoot straight, Shinken
Hey paleface, where are you in Va? I don't see any six pointers that nice in my neck of the woods. Nice pic.
not usual for me ... but i found one !!!
(http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn293/lossogwan/DSCN3206.jpg)
(http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn293/lossogwan/DSCN3215.jpg)
Found 4 last Sunday. Still too much snow around here. Chad
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m433/HolmMadeBows/DSCN6375.jpg)
The first shed I found this year was in the first Week in January,I was out looking two days ago and I seen two bucks who still had their antlersbut most have droped them.
TTT