Any sheds yet?

[Tony 270WSM]

Went just across the Columbia about a week ago and didn't find anything. Saw two seperate herds on this side in the last few days and they're still sporting their racks. About six spikes and five raghorns.

[boneaddict]

no elk. will be awhile

[Houndhunter]

elk are so wierd, theyre the last to shed and first to grow.... just doesnt make sense

[singleshot12]

Still goin out and looking for blacktail sheds soon,thought I saw a buck runnin around without headgear the other day,seems like a fruitless search sometimes,only found two in a lot of years of searching,those blacktail are a real mystery,can't give up tho.

[jimkirk]

a few bulls are droppin antlers at oak creek feed lot

[groundhog]

Does anyone know what the elk feeders at Oak Creek do with the sheds that they pick up? I heard once that they auction them off and I was just wondering if that is true. Here in E-burg the feeders keep them for themselves. Since the feeders are getting paid by the WDFW I think the antlers should be the property of the WDFW. What do you guys think?

[boneaddict]

I think they should leave them where they hit the ground.  They are being paid, and they are where public cannot go.  I'm QUITE sure they go for forries prior to the gates opening.  There have been a couple raghorns at oakcreek without both their antlers since Christmas.  Not sure if they were broken off, shed naturally, or never grew them.  Rags usually shed last.

[Cougeyes]

The wildlife belong to the citizens of the state, where does WDFW get the funding to feed and manage....us hunters.  I dont think they should be allowed to pick them up when they're feeding.  WDFW feeders are citizens, and i think they should have to go through the process like the rest of us, i.e. wait until the feed stations are open for public access to shed hunt, granted they have a leg up on the rest of us knowing where most sheds are.

But, if sheds were sold at an auction that would benefit wildlife and/or further feeding programs or enhancing habitat i would be all for that.

[groundhog]

The feeders in Ellensburg pick up a lot of antlers. They spend a lot of time each day glassing for sheds while they are being paid by the WDFW! I have been told by a friend that one of the feeders has a big pile in his shop that all came from the feed lots before they are open to the general public.
 I wasn't going to say anything but I watched a big bull shed today at the feed lot. Then I watched as the feeders tried to block my view with their truck as they picked them up. I guess it is ok for them to hunt sheds while on the payroll. About this time of year they feed way in the back of the feed lot so that they can pick up the sheds without being seen. I have a call into one of the agents, it will be interesting to hear what he has to say....... I think they should be auctioned off and if a feeder is caught sneaking them home he should be fired! What do you guys think.

[alecvg]

One of the feeding stations near yakima sell all the sheds their for fundraising.  Thats what they should do there too!

[saylean]

Im sure i will get flamed for this...but..its a free country so here goes...

In my humble opinion:

If a worker is out and about, whether it be in the field, out in the woods, or at the feedlot and he finds a shed, I say pick it up.

Should they be allowed to hunt for sheds on company time?....No, not in my opinion...but if in their travels they find one...sure.

I do also think that it would be great to see them auctioned off....I just know, if I was a worker at feed stations and say...on my lunch hour or breaks, I wanted to run out and see what i could find, I would just think it to be a perk of the job, like alot of us get for other jobs.

Again, just my own thoughts. For example, before I owned my own business, I worked for a game publisher...when Halo 2 came out..I had 5 copies of it on my desk with special edition stuff for free from MS....was it fair to those who waited like suckers in line? Nope...just a perk of the job..

Now of course..video games and wildlife are different, since wildlife is owned by the citizens of the state, but I was just making a point of perks of certain jobs. I just wish I could do it is all...

On that note, let the flaming begin.

[WAcoyotehunter]

I agree-  I find sheds at work and pick them up every time. 
 The feeding station might be a bit of a stretch.  Auction them, or auction permits to collect them (?)

[boneaddict]

I honestly wouldn't have any problem about it, but don't think they should get to hunt the feeding areas first, especially those that are completely off limits to folks, just because they have a key.  and.....I really don't think they should be paid for it.

[hunterofelk]

I found out that antlers don't bring much anymore.  Selling them at auction wouldn't buy anything for the elk.  I could be wrong, but doesn't the transportation department feed the elk?  To give those guys the benefit of the doubt, maybe their policy is to remove the sheds so someone doesn't climb over the fence and grab them. I think that is a good idea.  I feel your frustration though, I like to find the sheds too, and get angry when I hear about the cheating.  I don't know why people go to the lengths they do, a guy can make more money at a job then picking up sheds.
Also, the time I can put toward antler hunting this year will be very limited.  I feel cheated just being kept here in the city because of work.

[bobcat]

I could be wrong, but doesn't the transportation department feed the elk? 

No. The Department of Fish and Wildlife is responsible for feeding the elk.

[boneaddict]

WOW Jimkirk, your picture finally came through for me.  That ain't no raghorn.  He is one of the better ones.  Sorry shed guys, thats one that won't be on the hill come May.  Looks like the big ones are going to drop in the station this year for lal those WDFW boys.  Kind of an incentive to keep feeding them don't you think.

[280ackley]

Still goin out and looking for blacktail sheds soon,thought I saw a buck runnin around without headgear the other day,seems like a fruitless search sometimes,only found two in a lot of years of searching,those blacktail are a real mystery,can't give up tho.

I saw a buck last night just south of Tumwater along I5.  Still had em both.

[groundhog]

Here is my take on it. If a guy is a timber consultant or a surveyor and he is out doing his job and he finds sheds more power to him. That would be a perk. If the guy works for the WDFW than the sheds were collected on state time in a closed area and should be auctioned off.

I do not have a problem with the WDFW feeders picking up antlers that are laying in the open. In fact I think they should pick them up. If they don't pick them up then someone will spot them and then some guy will climb the fence and go get it. The result would be elk running in all directions. I just don't think the feeders should be allowed to take antlers home.
Lets face it looking for hidden treasure is fun stuff. I think what happens is that the feeders spend as much time each day looking for sheds as they do feeding elk. All on tax payers dollars in an area that is off limits to the tax payers. In my opinion that ain't right.

[wastickslinger]

I think they should pick them up an go hide them for the shed hunters, like an easter egg hunt!!

All kidding aside. I agree with groundhog. Since it is closed to public it makes it a little different.

[ICEMAN]

What we are talking about here is ethics. It is against the law for a state employee to receive a pecuniary benefit from his/her job. They should not, and cannot be allowed to keep sheds found during the duties of their job. Hell, cops find big stashes of money and drugs, should they keep them?

It is possible they are removing them from public view to reduce the chance of fence jumpers... but they should be required to account for them all.....

crap....here is a thought..... they probably are giving them to the indians....

[spike]

lol... i agree i think it would be cool if they did the Easter egg hunt thing with gps coordinates like Geo cashing and sell tickets with the numbers hahaha... its also funny you mention the Indians. if you or me pick up an arrow head and get caught we go to jail and have every native person alive suing you for every thing you own or hundreds of thousands in fines.but forest service workers who bust you have more artifacts than most would imagine funny stuff.... just a thought

[Ghost Hunter]

I've heard 'perks' and I've heard 'ethics'  and the two don't go together IMHO

[nwhunter]

I agree they should pick them up to keep the temptation down for someone to sneak in at night but they should defenitely have to leave them all at the feed station and auction them off or sell them. I was under the impression that this is what they did with the sheds they picked up but maybe I am wrong. Its not like joe blow who is out on public land on the job and stumbles across a shed , these guys are on the tax payers payroll and are in an area that is off limits to shed hunting until a certain date so they should play by the same rules we all do. My opinion. nwhunter

[deerslyr]

I cant honestly say I wouldnt pick those sheds up if I saw them while on the job.

[Red Dawg]

My understanding was that they were picking them up and selling them to pay for the hay. BUT that is not true. Talking with the fishhawk up there they have been collecting them now for about 3 years now. they have been hiding them in a grain silo somewhere and the state will action them off and the money will go into the general fund. That is strait from the WDFG Employee,.

[alecvg]

I saw a few elk missing antlers back in early march, but havent found any!

[Tony 270WSM]

Saw a spike today that still had his.

[Cougeyes]

The big ones are starting to drop, my dad had a couple around his place than he has been watching and they came out the other day without any antlers.

[Ghost Hunter]

Seen a spike roadkill today.  He had both his on solid

[cackle]

heard today that they are gunna auction 1/4 of the horns they have on may 1 at 3 pm

[Michelle_Nelson]

Where and when?

[cackle]

at the oak creek feeding station 3pm on may 1 thats what i was told by the guy workin at oak creek think his name was john

[bowpredator]

A buddy of mine is a state dot worker and he has talked to a few state game people down in Mt. St. Helens were they are feeding the elk and they are picking up sheds when they go down and feed the ones on the mud flow on the river. They said they are going to auction them off.

[JoeVon]

A buddy of mine is a state dot worker and he has talked to a few state game people down in Mt. St. Helens were they are feeding the elk and they are picking up sheds when they go down and feed the ones on the mud flow on the river. They said they are going to auction them off.

So they're gonna auction off a bunch of raghorn 5 points?  I've been up there a couple times in the past week and thats all I've seen down on the mudflow.

[boneaddict]

Thats for all those disappointed guys who went on May 1st and didn't find a thing because they have all been picked up.   NICE!

Buy one and tell your wife how you found it.

[chukar-ridge-quest]

WDFW elk feeders in Kittitas county are required to tag all sheds that are picked up in the feed sites. Started this year. I don't know what happens with them after that, but it is a good thing for the well being of the elk, for sheds to be removed from feed sites. Yeah it sucks for all of us that we don't get a chance to go find them, but one or two idiots jumping a fence will cause more stress to the elk (esp. pregnant cows) than we will be stressed by not getting the sheds.  Let's remember that the only reason we feed elk is to lessen crop and land degradation.   We put in the fences and cut off wintering ground for the elk, so we have to feed them to eliminate mass starvation. That all being said, it sucks for me just as much as the next guy when I don't find sheds. Not in the feeding areas but the places the bulls would have dropped without human interference.

NOT A WFWD EMPLOYEE

[chukar-ridge-quest]

I meant not a WDFW employee.

[rosscrazyelk]

Boneaddict. You go to oak creek alot what is the real deal for the opening? I alawys thought it was midnight.

[hunterofelk]

I was told by a wildlife refuge employee the opening time is when they unlock the gates on May 1, not midnite.  Still people are up there with spot lights.  I don't know why people go to the lengths they do for antlers.  It can't be the money, the prices are way low these days.  Is it an a by-product of our male egos?  I like looking for sheds because it is a lot like elk hunting and I get a rush when I find one.  Like losing my keys and searching all over until I find them.

[cackle]

i was told that the gate will open for people on foot and horses at 12 am may 1 and 6am for cars and 4 wheelers but next year no one cane go in till 6 am

[rosscrazyelk]

my buddy has already found some elk sheds

[klickriverchromer]

screw oak ck. go to boneaddicts back yard he always has nice sheds there.