Blacktail Sheds

[SGM R]

Are there any dedicated Blacktail shed hunters out there? If so, what time of the year do you start hunting fresh sheds?

Lets see some Pictures of your sheds.

[bow4elk]

I fall into the dedicated category but I'm pretty lame on results.  I get a few each year but I don't spend weeks at it or drive long distances to areas with good genetics, etc.  I also only look for lowland (0-500') elevation sheds.

There are a few guys around who do really well.  There is a method to the madness.  I just walk trails, check feed areas, and pray a lot 

[3dsheetmetal]

Haven't had any luck finding a living blacktail buck let alone a shed.If you can find a shed in my book you are a god.

[bow4elk]

Haven't had any luck finding a living blacktail buck let alone a shed.If you can find a shed in my book you are a god.

You are in prime blacktail country, so you should be able to find both.  Think winter survival - minimal energy usage for eating, sleep, drinking, and security.  Find places that bucks can feel safe, eat, and drink without exposing themselves to risks of weather and predators, and you should find deer and/or sheds.

Also, keep in mind that southern exposures (when the sun does peek out) will attract deer and keep food sources green longer into fall/winter.  This also attracts deer.

Expect to spend about 10 hours of hiking/looking per shed.  I spent around 40 hours last year and found 3, and not the set I was looking for.  I've probably spend another 60 hours since last February scouting and only found one more after that.  It's futile sometimes 

Good Luck!

[muledude]

I try and get out around mid to late feb. were i go look doesnt realy get alot of snow but the only way to get down in there ussually has alot of snow so it has alot to do with the weather.. Timing is very important.. Get out as soon as you can and as many times as you can befor turkey season.By the time turkey season rolls around I concentrate on elk shed as this is the start of when they start to drop aswell as the are alot of guys turkey hunting that find those blacktails shed while hunting so Im pretty much done for black tail by april 15 or so..as soon as enought snow is gone i head down into low lying canyons surrounded by high country black tail buck country. But like the othere gentleman said your gona have to put in your time ..  most of the really good places i find you cant drive right to so be ready to hike into some deep holes..

[SGM R]

Thanks for the information. I have a good Idea of where I want to hunt for sheds this winter so from what I understand Blacktail start shedding around Feburary. This sounds like a great way to stay in the woods and get plenty of exercise...I'll keep everyone posted..


Brian

[ELKBURGER]

I've seen bucks drop late dec. in sw wash. That may be a rare case but I'm sure they're all dropped by feb.

[SGM R]

Thanks ElkBurger, I took a hike today up Johnson creek near Rainier today and spent a couple hours roaming the woods and I did not come up with any sheds.. I did find some nice area with some good elk sign...

[lewy]

Bt have already started to drop, I usually start looking hard after superbowl weekend.

[SGM R]

Thanks Dewy,

I'd love to see some picture of your sheds when you hook up.

thanks for the reply

[pygmy1985]

I am not a  shed collector per se, but I won't pass them up.   I have found 2  blacktail sheds.  The smaller one was from the Winston Unit last year.  The larger one I picked up in the Skookumchuk unit, this week while hunting with my kids.    Unfortunately, I couldn't find the other side.   I  did see a nice mature buck in the general area in late August, but not since.   I have 7 more days to find him and fill my archery tag.   

[actionshooter]

A buddy of mine found over a dozen durring the muzzle season this year while walking the same trail.
 He WONT tell me where either. I've got it narrowed down to the 80,000 acres called capitol peak.

[Alan K]

Nice sheds pigmy!  Is that larger blacktail shed this years?

[SGM R]

Boy it's got some color, it may be this years. Nice sheds P

thanks

[pygmy1985]

Thanks.  Yeah, the bigger shed is likely from last year.  I has already been nibbled well at the tip.  It was partially buried in pine needles at the base of a tree, so this preserved the color well. It has nice mass.  It's actually a Ft. Lewis buck.  I haven't seen many, but there are some big ones.

Pygmy

[SGM R]

Picked this one up this morning. Looked for the other half, but no luck.. I'll keep looking and posting..

Merry Christmas,

[lewy]

Good for you man! Keep that spot in mind, bucks will winter there this year as well (that looks like last years huh?)

[rasbo]

I will start soon as they start losing them,I found these and two others a three and another 5 if you count eye guards

[lewy]

Thats a pig ras!

[Dmanmastertracker]

I will start soon as they start losing them,I found these and two others a three and another 5 if you count eye guards

 That is a nice buck Rasbo, hope you can run him down this next season.

[rasbo]

I will start soon as they start losing them,I found these and two others a three and another 5 if you count eye guards

 That is a nice buck Rasbo, hope you can run him down this next season.

I put two tree stands up and he never past by me in the light,Im not a trophy hunter but it would be cool to take him.Thanks

[SGM R]

Ras, that guy must love the night! Hey, thanks for the tip. I have it marked on the GPS and I'm keeping it marked on my master map...Heading back out this morning to find that buck, couple days left before I eat that tag.

nice find

[rasbo]

Ras, that guy must love the night! Hey, thanks for the tip. I have it marked on the GPS and I'm keeping it marked on my master map...Heading back out this morning to find that buck, couple days left before I eat that tag.

nice find

I better pull those tree stands out

[SGM R]

I just need them one more day, thanks

[rasbo]

I just need them one more day, thanks

Is there still some season left archery?

[coonhound]

I'm a casual blacktail shed hunter, here's a pile I've accumulated over the last few years.  I pickup everything I find even if their chewed on pretty bad.  I don't have any monsters but I've got quite a few respectable horns.  A few years ago I found a spike that had just been dropped, it was still red and wet, that's the only spike i've ever found.  The fresh looking 4 point in the back of the pile was found the same day one of my hunting partners killed the buck.


Coon

[LittleJohn]

Nice pile there Coon. A few miles I bet

[Aneoakleaf]

Nice find. What's the earliest you've found them?

[coonhound]

Nice find. What's the earliest you've found them?

Late December is the earliest...the spots I frequent are better in the spring when the snow melts out.

Coon

[SGM R]

You know that was a couple miles walking! dandy four point in the back and some real tall two's.. looking good coonhound.

Thanks for sharing,

[SGM R]

Skookumchuck until the 31st for deer...

I just need them one more day, thanks

Is there still some season left archery?

[Teachers Pet]

Great! Another thing to add to my to do list.

[SGM R]

Yeah, it funny how we find anything that will keep us on in the woods.. I found an incredible elk bedding area on sunday while wondering around looking for BT sheds...My GPS was in over drive marking areas..

[bow4elk]

When I find beds like that, I literally get down to eye level of a bedded buck/bull and look around.  I note the wind direction in that specific location in order to figure out why they chose that exact spot, especially in the winter.  They will do everything for a reason and move as little as possible to conserve energy.  Food, Cover, Water are the core needs.  Figure out where the water and food are and you might unlock a piece of the puzzle.  Cool find!

[Houndhunter]

i cant wait to get after some sheds, just waiting a lil longer

[SGM R]

I'm going out in the morning for a couple hours and I'm bringing the camera..I guess that means I'll get nothing.

i cant wait to get after some sheds, just waiting a lil longer

[SGM R]

Good Up Bow4elk,

I'm going up in the morning and and coming in from the backside. Not sure if I got the winds right but I'll know in the morning..the feeding area I found is about 200-300 yrds below this bed...water too!

I'll post in the morning

When I find beds like that, I literally get down to eye level of a bedded buck/bull and look around.  I note the wind direction in that specific location in order to figure out why they chose that exact spot, especially in the winter.  They will do everything for a reason and move as little as possible to conserve energy.  Food, Cover, Water are the core needs.  Figure out where the water and food are and you might unlock a piece of the puzzle.  Cool find!

[Axle]

BTs start shedding antlers in mid December. The bucks along the coast are the first and then their cascade cousins will shed later but I don't normally see any with antlers after January.
Really cold weather causes them to drop faster.

[SGM R]

Axel, you hunt sheds? I'd like too see your shed this year if you have a chance to find any. There is something about the BT that keep me going and I love to see the sheds. It shows the potential of an area.

thanks for your reply

[Axle]

Axel, you hunt sheds? I'd like too see your shed this year if you have a chance to find any. There is something about the BT that keep me going and I love to see the sheds. It shows the potential of an area.

thanks for your reply

I don't go out and hunt them on purpose. I see many of them but I quit picking them up years ago. I guess I don't have any use for them. The ones I used to bring home have gone to friends or knife makers for handles.
When I am out in the woods, I see them often. I have not seen any this season yet. I often see several bucks in December that have one antler or none. I saw one in the Fall River unit on Dec 15th that had lost both of his already. He just stood there as if he knew I was no threat. I wasn't due to no deer tag. He was a big one too and had the big bloody red holes in his head.
My mother had a boyfriend a few years back that got one in the wynooche unit on December 15th of that year and he thought he shot a doe only to see it had already shed its rack.
Galpster saw a buck a few days ago that had only one antler but I don't know where he saw it. I see them in and around the houses on Tiger Mt. and in Issaquah. The bucks get more brave once they have lost the head gear. Seems they have less to hide I guess.

[SGM R]

They are smart like that, if we only had half the sense these big bucks do we would have it made..It's kinda funny in this area that I'm scouting because I see deer sign but never any deer. Maybe they will start showing up. I do see them in the spring and early summer but not in the winter.

[bow4elk]

They are smart like that, if we only had half the sense these big bucks do we would have it made..It's kinda funny in this area that I'm scouting because I see deer sign but never any deer. Maybe they will start showing up. I do see them in the spring and early summer but not in the winter.

I don't see squat for deer in all my hunting areas.  I may see a doe now and again but it's not the norm.  The trailcams tell a completely different story though, which supports how reclusive and elusive these deer can be.

Axle, I wish I had your luck in finding BT sheds.  I pound the hills and valleys and come up with very little for my efforts.  That bloody hole buck you saw recently - you should take a mental note of that spot and hunt it this year.  He'll use the same area if he lives that long.