2010 Rookie Shed Hunter- Needs Pointed In The Right Direction

[Bulldog09]

Hey there everyone! This is my first year actively looking for sheds- it isn't going too well. I've been up in the hills for the last 7 days straight with not an ounce of luck. I know for a fact there are deer there (saw 5 as they were leaving their beds this morning). But my problem is I haven't a clue as to weather or not there are any bucks! So needless to say its getting pretty discouraging. I have a pretty good idea of the types of places to look-bedding areas,creeks,trails between feeding and beds, fence lines, etc. BUT I don't have a clue as to where good shed hunting would be. Now i know people guard their best places with their lives, im just asking for a little direction, maybe an area where they have been found before... or if anyone could tell me weather or not the places ive been looking are any good, Hay Canyon (Cashmere) and Butler Ridge (Monitor/Cashmere). Any help would be great! I'm leaving for boot camp at the end of June and finding a shed is one of the things i really want to do before i go!

                                  Thanks!

P.S. if you don't want to put any info. out where everyone can read it a Personal Message would be great! I mean, I've only got 4 months until I'm off to boot camp, its not like i would single-handedly snatch up all sheds

[bow4elk]

If you're finding fresh sign (trails, beds, etc.) then you're on the right track.  Some days are good, some really bad, and every now and again you find one or two.  It can take years to figure it out but dumb luck and time afield pay off too.  It's too difficult to give you direction beyond what you already know, really.  Just stay out there and enjoy the days in the woods while you can.

Boot camp goes by quickly.  Thanks for serving, and GOOD LUCK!

[wastickslinger]

Put yourself in deer country, find their beds, find their food, the rest is dumb luck. One thing I ave learned is to slow sown and use your binos. Glass across the canyons. You will be suprised what you can spot if you just sit down at a good vantage point and glass.

Good luck. Shed hunting takes time to fgure out.

[Shootmoore]

Best place is where you are seeing the deer winter over there.  Might be a tuff year as the lack of snow let the deer stay spread out a bit more than usuall.  I always figure shed hunting is just nice to get out and if I find bone thats the cherry on top.

Shootmoore

[boonerboy]

   These guys pretty much covered it. Glassing deer before the horns drop is a big advantage. Then you have an idea where the bucks are or arent. Some areas might have a ton of deer but hardly any bucks. Just keep gettin' out there and you will find them eventually. The days I seem to find the most are the days where I'm just out having fun and not worried about finding anything. Good luck at boot camp. stay safe.

[Pathfinder101]

Good luck Bulldog.  Good advice above.
I assume you are headed to the USMC, correct?

[Bulldog09]

thanks for the help guys, today was my 4th day in a row now, spent 7 hours out there today, spotted 20+deer, 1 buck with forks that i think might have walked right into me if i hadn't stood up!      i still haven't managed to find anything but all in all a good day spent in the mountains with the dog watching more deer than i could possibly hope to count.

-to pathfinder, no actually i've got a Navy submarine contract for now, but plan on resigning in to special warfare.

Thanks for the advice guys and good luck to you all. 

[wastickslinger]

Are you seeing lots of boot tracks? How far from the beaten path are you getting?

[carpsniperg2]

sometimes they are just a pain in the neck to find sometimes i do great then other times i cant find one for the life of me. good luck.

[ribka]

Shed hunting can be a "zen like exercise" Some days nothing and other days  literally tripping over sheds. My wife, who does not care, finds 10 times more sheds than me. Binos do help. Find where the deer/elk  have recently been and start hiking. Look in the brushy draws bedding areas.

Have fun in boot camp and maintain a good sense of humor. Went in 1985. Learned a lot about life in boot camp. You will learn to adapt and learn how to get along in different situations and with different people and cultures, Good learning experience

[Pathfinder101]

Good luck in boot camp!

[Bulldog09]

Are you seeing lots of boot tracks? How far from the beaten path are you getting?

Actually after what must be over a week straight now, i haven't seen one other set of boot tracks other than mine, just tons of deer. Oh, and im getting way, way off the beaten path. And i finally found my first shed ever yesterday!   its just a 9 inch long spike from a buck i spotted the day before. needless to say, that's all the encouragement i need to keep me going for the next month or so! Am headed to a new area today see if i can make the magic happen there!

and Thanks everybody!

[Rudy]

congrats on the first shed bro!  maybe i should get off my lazy a$$ and get out there too...