QuoteOriginally posted by kennym:
Man!! You guys are getting it done out there Ron!!

We've had a mild winter Kenny...hardly any snow. The bucks started dropping early also, and moving up to higher elevations. Found a few lately at close to 4000 ft, much higher then most years.

Here's a few more photos from Blacktail country...

Two years ago I found a giant buck shed that was chewed and a year old. I searched for the other side that year and again last year to no avail. Several weeks ago I was in the same are and found a few fresh sheds, but I spotted something in the wide open, and as I got closer I could see it was a big antler...and as soon as I got up to it I realized it was the mate to the giant from 2 years before! Counting the eyeguard it has 9 points and very heavy!







Here they are...Reunited and it feels so good!

An antler would never make it 2 years here Ron, rodents love em!!

Headed out again tomorrow (hopefully).  I've been finding a few old ones, but nothing brown.  Here in SoCal, the sun bleaches them out really fast, so you have to get on them quick!

A few pics of some old ones. Time to find some brown!

This made my day! Black bear skull.


Big, heavy and tall.


Buried matched set.


A couple future big boys!


The days haul and my assistant.


Same deer?  Both sets found within a half mile of each other.

Wow Ron, you must have a bunch of deer around to turn up those that quick !   :eek:

Good stuff guys. keep them coming.

I love this thread. I've been following deer trails all over in my snowshoes with no luck but it's nice to be outside if your dressed right...



Deer beds look like holes...

My Jayne has found 4 so far me ZERO! but 40 degree temps are in the 7 day forecast. I'll be covering some ground after we have a little melting action.  Man you guys out east wont see Green Grass till June

Keep em coming. Good stuff right now.

I found a BIG 5pt on Feb 15th high on a ridgetop and searched for several hours trying to find the mate.  My buddy Kyle found a tall 4pt the same day on the edge of some timber, but we weren't able to locate his match either.







I went back on the 25th to try and find the matches before it snowed. After looking in the immediate vacinity for several hours I went up the ridge into the big timber and started searching. Lots of windfalls and debris on the ground making it almost impossible. I had looped around and heading back down the ridge when I spotted an antler in the faint trail I was following and BINGO!  The match is a big 4pt and was a 1/4 mile from the 5pt. Feels good to get lucky now and then!



Here's the 4x5 set together...

Ron, what species of deer are you finding all these sheds for? I love how dark they are.

NICE, Ron!!

Do you guys search in particular locations, I can't seem/never have found one

I'm far from being good at it, but you have to look where the deer spend their time in Jan/Feb around here. Good eats and bedding and trails between is good for a couple...

Maybe somebody that finds more will help you/us!   :D

PD29, those are Columbia blacktail sheds from the Cascade Mountains in Oregon.  Beautiful deer and bucks that make it to that size are near impossible to kill, they get big for a reason!

Ron, that is an amazing buck!  Great job finding his sheds!

I was thinking Blacktail but wasn't 100% sure. Thanks.

Yes, these are Cascade Blacktail bucks.  They spend the summer in the thick timber and higher country and migrate to the winter range when the rut kicks in.

Something is wrong with the server tonight....

[Nev-uh had so many dubba posts before Rob!  A gnu personal rekord on Trad Gang....]

ditto