Help for first time shed hunt

[troyspinetar]

I want to start heading out after the first of the year. Just interested in what areas to look for, times of the year, etc. Eastern Wa vs West side? I don't mind putting in the miles of hiking to find em. Any help or other info would be greatly appreciated.

[Maverick]

Well man its pretty simple. Hike where ever the deer are. Deer drop anywhere from now till the end of April. Your best bet is march.

[Broken Arrow]

Not even close to some on here as in what i find, but i do know that boot miles = sucess. I find a lot of elk sheds on the east side on open hillsides, whitetails in the brush.

[Southpole]

Anywhere on the eastside would be better than the west. I have found quite a few sheds near bases of trees from squirrels dragging them there (usually small sheds of coarse). Another good place is on fence lines. If you can get some idea where the big bucks wintering grounds are, you can hit them in April/May. March is good too, but sometimes there is still too much snow on the ground. Good luck 

[motg9_6]

all west side people will say east side and all the east side people will say west. find an area you like with deer and put on the miles.

[boneaddict]

Whitetail will drop first, Muleys later.   Whitetails can handle more pressure than Muledeer on their range.  When I was gung ho I'd start about the first of February, now I try to wait to give the deer a break.   You will have guys on here already pushing the deer.  I disagree greatly with that and wish they wouldn't. 

Sheds fall off of deers heads.  THat means find where deer are this time of year and you will eventually find sheds.  Thats the secret

[MountainWalk]

I do know that in my old MT haunts, most elk shed I found were at around 4000-4500 ft elevation, and mostly on south and southwest slopes.  Here on the westside, Ive found most of my elk sheds in swampy spruce bottoms. Don't know if that helps any. Good luck!

[Alan K]

I'll pretty much echo what's been said, but add that I do well on the west side here in about 30' reprod.  The stuff that is just grown up enough to have drown out all the underbrush but still has dead limbs darn near to the ground.  You'll find highways and the sheds are much easier to spot in this stuff with the lack of brush.  I have also had success in leave areas and RMZs in relatively flat ground, which border clearcuts.

The attached picture is a blacktail shed I picked up a couple years back.  It was on the fringe of an RMZ, alongside a trail between bedding and feeding areas.

[RifleRidge]

Well man its pretty simple. Hike where ever the deer are. Deer drop anywhere from now till the end of April. Your best bet is march.

 

[JLS]

Agree with Bone, think of the animals.  If you're pushing them and running them in February, and even March, you are stressing them during a very vulnerable time.  Late, wet snows and a strong cold snap can be a killer, literally, for animals in questionable condition.

[rockymt]

Find a HIDDEN spot and grid out the south slopes. You can be in in elk heaven but if God already picked up all the shed's your out of luck!

[Whitehunter]

hit the woods my suggestion. walk them trails look for feeding and bedding areas.  most of my sheds come from under large trees with branches low towards ground.  but fence lines are also a great option.