Any tips for shed hunting west side logging country?

[Pete112288]

I have spent a lot of time and worn out some good boots looking for sheds over the last 5 years or so. The only sheds I have found in the area I hunt and scout year round are one old brittle 3 pt deer shed in the middle of a clearcut while hunting and one 4 inch long piece from an antler sticking out from a rotting log, it had a base like a good 2 or 3 point but the mice had chewed everything up and it was all mossy. Is there something specific that anyone has noticed in this type of country that holds bucks in the antler dropping times? I will spend dawn to dusk covering small areas and sometimes just turn and burn and try to cover as many feeding and bedding areas as I can in a day. Cant help but discouraged from time to time going through these areas. No matter where I am I could walk past 100 sheds and not see them. The big timber floor is covered with thick 2-3 ft ferns, the jack firs are thick and belly crawl type bushy and the clearcuts have so much small brush and scattered branches from logging. Any tips in this kind of area or in shed hunting generally? I always end up assuming that its just not my lucky day and all I can do about it is try again and cover ground.

[billythekidrock]

Edges between cuts and thick dog hair.
Areas where they go over/under or jump obstacles.
Feeding areas and timbered benches.

[Pete112288]

Thanks for the feedback. What exactly do you mean by "thick dog hair"? Havent heard that term before. And benches I have wanted to ask about and get feedback to see what the "best" is. I have found one bench in my area that is 20-40 yards wide and it spans 100 yards or so along the hillside. But besides that I cant seem to find anything I would call a bench for sure. Is it better to try to find a big bench that goes along a big hillside or are small keyhole areas that level out on the slope good benches?

[woodman]

I think that you will get a few replies here.

I have two suggestions that are fairly obvious but have helped me find a lot of sheds here on the west side.

The first is what I was expecting to see when I opened this thread, that is to look down. People say it jokingly but it makes a real difference, so major once you start finding sheds that it will affect how you are during regular hunting season. I find myself looking down a lot and look up to see an animal leaving the area.

The second is to walk into areas differently each time that you enter it. I am amazed sometimes when I find a shed that is behind a stump or tree that I have walked on the other side of numerous times. I have found sheds that have laid for years that myself or hunting partner have been within a few feet and never saw until I came into from a different angle.

On the west side I try to find as many as I can before the grasses start growing. Once they start growing I generally only find them in the taller timber where the vegetation is sparse underneath.

Good luck to you.

[erk444]

Another obvious thing is look where you can see the ground. Try looking in alder draws or like said before, the fringes of thick stuff and feeding areas. I see a ton of deer in the thick ferns and salal, but it doesn't do you any good if you can't see the ground.

[Pete112288]

Its crazy how easy it is to overlook the simple things. Thanks for the tips guys

[Hawgdawg]

Railroad tracks in Tacoma water shed. no vegetation and they stick out like sore thumbs. Little jump over the tracks and they fall off like an apple in November wind storm.

[Pete112288]

Haha, yea only if there were train tracks in my area. I am not looking so much just to collect them. I want to find them so I can gain a better idea of the bucks that survived hunting season that my hikes and cameras dont show me. I know a few areas i could go to find some but they are not huntable. Although I do want to make some stuff with them I like the idea of finding them in my hunting area.

[mtman]

Expect to find them. Most people i shed hunt with seem to not think they are going to find them. what that leads to is distraction ,  not caring. I go with the attitude they are everywere and that helps not think about much else but picking the next one up. Just stay focused I would say that is the number 1 thing.

[elkh8me]

All are great suggestions and hard to add anything. But like a good story teller I will.  Deer sheds are a lot harder for me to find.  Probably because I am getting old and don't see as we'll.  most deer sheds I find are in the dog hair (thickly growing trees most often hemlock). These are about 2" diameter trees that are growing one inch apart so thick you can barely get through it.  Good luck I hope you find a handful of nice brown sheds.

[Pete112288]

Thanks guys. Hopefully I can get the time to go more than once or twice this year.

[Old Man Yager]

Swampy areas and ditches along the side of older roads. I've had a few old timers tell me the elk like to eat the fresh stuff popping up in early spring, and antlers drop in the ditches.

[_DarkTimber_]

Where nobody goes


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[pd]

Pete, after having spent 5 years and a couple of boots looking (mostly in vain) for sheds, what I would do is change tactics: Go find a shed hunting partner.  This is almost like learning to fly fish: You can learn by yourself, but it is so much easier to learn from an experienced fisherman.  Find a shed hunter mentor.