I plan on doing a little shed hunting once this snow let's up. I have found shed's in the past but has always been by chance. Is there anything or place in particular that would increase my chances of success? What has been working for you guy's?
If you have a winter food source, winter wheat, standing corn or beans, I would begin there. Check the field over good and then work your way back into the woods, be sure to check fence crossings and ditch crossings. These are places where deer jump and the impact of landing can sometimes jar loose a horn. Good luck and I hope this helps.
No agriculture over here, so we have to look for normal wild food sources and nothing brings deer in better in the cold than cedar/juniper/arborvitie, etc. If you can find a cedar swamp or cluster of any of these types of conifers, deer will often yard up, coming from miles around when the snow gets high and will hang out. When I started finding these, my shed collection exploded. Use what Joe said about places that may jarr an antler loose. I've found tons here in Massachusetts, never found one until learning this.
horse back best way I know of to find sheds Good advice above though.
I find most of my sheds in grassy waterways in cor/bean fields. It seems they really like tobed in these in late winter at night between feeding.
Bedding areas in the nastiest thick stuff on the property is my next favorite spot.
I don't start hunting sheds until med Febuary though as i do not want to bust the deer out of there bedding areas and have them switch areas on me.
South facing slopes, bedding and feeding areas, fence crossings.
I will 2nd the ag. feilds. Very likely spot. Also beddning areas. I always go stump shooting and sometimes happen by a shed!!! :eek: :knothead: :bigsmyl:
I found that you find many more sheds when you actually dedicate specific time for it. I used to hike around and keep an eye out for them and found some. since I started spending time grid searching areas and looking behind every clump of grass i have found many more. Over the years I average 6 hrs for every shed i find. Some days you'll find a few in a short time and other times you won't find one for a day or 2.
Great info here fellas, thanks for sharing.
Look for sheds on the edges of secluded ponds. Ponds in the middle of or directly next to crop fields are best. Some of my biggest sheds were found just into the water from shore.
And head out now while the snow is still on the ground. That way you can find the heavily used trails. Those have been good places for me. I find and mark all the places the deer are using then go back when the snow's gone....
If you can find a runway or 2 ....follow it. Will lead you to bedding,food and other places they hang out. Don't look for antlers....look for a piece of antler, a tine or base, most of all have fun doing it. Late season scouting is kind'a neat!
Finding good sheds, not eaten by porcupines is tough in NM. I'll be looking though.