Why can't I find matching sets...

[Coastal_native]

.....because I haven't been looking here   Every year when I look at aerial photo's of this shed area I always convince myself not to waste time in this one little swampy brushy corner because the few times I've walked the edge it was knee deep mud.  Today I came across a mainline elk trail that led me right in to it. 

I immediately noticed that it was thick with skunk cabbage, and all of the new shoots had the tops freshly bitten off.  It dawned on me that the elk probably congregate here every year when the skunk cabbage starts to sprout, and if they're still packing antlers they're probably gonna drop em there. I found all 6 of these sheds within 25 yds of each other and 3 other chewed up chunks of antler.  I'm pretty sure at least two of these old ones would have matched up sides from previous years and the fresh one matches up one I found two weeks ago!!  I didn't spend too much time looking around because I was pretty sure the bulls were close by...and I still have antlers unaccounted for.

So, if you're on the west side and you know where a good skunk cabbage filled swamp is...and it's near an area used by elk...go check it out.

[Alan K]

Daaaaamn! 

[klickriverchromer]

Don't give up EVER!! Sounds like u need some wadders Elk love those swamps. Stinky nasty mud is one of there favorites to get rid of pesky bitting bugs

[willapawapiti]

Great post and pics! Thanks for the tip!

[oldleclercrd]

 

[dreamunelk]

Holly toe-nails C.N. a little swamp was discouraging you!  Wow, I remember a college kid who thought nothing of almost crossing the west boundary east to west on foot one day because they thought it would save time.  Or did you miss read the aerial?  I can't remember it seems so long ago.

Nice find!  Now where are the big ones?

Got a little swamp in the CW that I saw a half dozen or so bulls in a recent outing.  Plan on going back to see if I find the sheds.  Couple of them where very respectable.  Not sure I will be able to find from the ground.

[Coastal_native]

Holly toe-nails C.N. a little swamp was discouraging you!  Wow, I remember a college kid who thought nothing of almost crossing the west boundary east to west on foot one day because they thought it would save time.  Or did you miss read the aerial?  I can't remember it seems so long ago.

Nice find!  Now where are the big ones?

Got a little swamp in the CW that I saw a half dozen or so bulls in a recent outing.  Plan on going back to see if I find the sheds.  Couple of them where very respectable.  Not sure I will be able to find from the ground.

Most likely I miss read the aerial   My favorite was the short little trip we took down on the floodplain of the Quinault for a MaMu habitat assessment.  It started at dawn and put us back to the rigs with only minutes of day light to spare..."Nah, I'll just leave my lunch in the rig, this won't take that long."  We picked up an old mossy 6 pt. bull shed and set it on a stump...and ended up not making it back that way to get it.

How often are you up in the CW on personal time?  Chances are I'm just right down the road from you.  I'll probably be camping up there quite a bit when the weather breaks.

[PlateauNDN]

Way to go brother! Don't give up the fun has just begun to find the other sides! Quinault huh? I was just hanging out with a colleague from the Quinault Nation in spokane this past week. Some nice area you got there.

[dreamunelk]

Yeah, I remember that one too.  I use the story when I am instructing on GPS use.  I tell the story about the guy who refused to believe he was 25' from his rig and chose to walk a straight line.  Good times! Talk about misadventures!

Off an on I am up there.  Plan to spend some time up there in the near future.  Plan to do a little early scouting and look for sheds.  Also want to tromp around the Matheny.  Be awhile and want to see some things.

Let me know when you up there I may come and visit.

[blindpig]

Heck of a day, found matching set in a bed once, my buddy stepped right over them.

[YoterHunter]

nice find .clean up the horns .and stain them i yous a dark oak the more coats the darker they get

[awallfishnhunt]

nice i think you were just stockin them up for awhile