Personal opinions about shed hunting.

[big wood]

i agree completely we do not need the government making more rules.. plus this is my time for training my kids on how to sneak through the woods

EXACTLY. THATS WHAT SHED HUNTING IS ALL ABOUT, EXCERCISE AND SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY!

[BC CHASER]

It is the guys running the animals around right now that are going to get more wintering ranges closed.  It's sad to see that some people's personal gain is more important than the well being of the things that allow them to do what they love.  I wouldn't be surprised to see this state introduce a fee/season for shed hunting.  You know the WDFW watches this site too.  What better way to help pay for enforcement on closed winter range areas than a fee for shed hunters.  It's so publicized now and more and more guys are doing it because they read about it and see pictures on sites like this.  Then they wonder why it's getting harder and harder to find horns and why they see so many more guys out in the woods.   

[Bean Counter]

I have a great idea! How about an additional "Shed Discovery Pass" and the fee can range from $56-347 depending upon how early you want to go out? We could put 35% of the revenues raised into the state general fund 25% to the highway department, and 20% to both Defenders of Wildlife and 20% to give as a bonus to the WDFW chairman as an annual  bonus if he promises to commission a study on the decline of WA elk  within five years of the reciept of each annual bonus? 

[Arteman]

No difference bearpaw. I don't blame shed hunters. I blame management. State should temporary close major wintering areas to all recreation. We need to protect our herds especially during harsh times.

Umm they already have closed most of the major wintering areas. 

[Arteman]

You guys sound worse than a bunch of fly fishermen chewing out a kid for dunking a worm. I doubt a shed hunter has as much impact as a cougar hunting hard or worse yet, a pack of wolves hunting an area. There are still cow elk hunts open in Utah on winter range. I see deer standing all around when we are elk hunting till the end of January. Same story cougar hunting, I see deer all the time. What's the difference if a guy is picking up sheds, hunting cougar, snowmobiling, hunting cow elk, or predators hunting the area 24/7/365. 

  A late modern cow hunt just ended today around my area.  Yesterday my brother and I watched a cow elk eating hay out of a covered area in a farmers field, usually elk split when we pull up but she felt it was in her best interest to stay and eat.  We watched her when a hunter came through the gate, seen the elk, then pulled up at the farmers house and knocked on the door and asked for permission to shoot her, they got turned down.  Oh, and she was heavy with calf.

[Arteman]

I don't know if "winter" shed hunting the mule deer winter range in amongst migrated herds of concentrated mule deer has an affect..., but one could only conclude. 

What I have a  BIG PROBLEM with is those that go into the deer winter range (I'm talking Chelan/Okanogan counties) in the conditions that we've have these last several days.  The freezing rain on top of the snow makes it difficult for the deer to get around without injury to their lower leg/s.  I have seen blood in the snow in deer trails around my house the last couple of days.  Anyone who's spend any amount of time trekking around during the winter months with a hard ice crust over a snow knows what I'm talking about.

I typically don't get involved in all the dramatic threads but it striked me as odd that you in one sentence would say that you have a BIG PROBLEM with people pushing deer in the conditions of the last couple days, and then say you in the last couple of days you have been seeing blood in the trails.  Sooo...  are you saying that you are out following deer trails and potentially pushing these deer in poor conditions where they possibly could injure themselves?  I could be reading to much into this, and if so im sorry.

[Maverick]

So how long till this thread is locked 

[jackelope]

I don't know if "winter" shed hunting the mule deer winter range in amongst migrated herds of concentrated mule deer has an affect..., but one could only conclude. 

What I have a  BIG PROBLEM with is those that go into the deer winter range (I'm talking Chelan/Okanogan counties) in the conditions that we've have these last several days.  The freezing rain on top of the snow makes it difficult for the deer to get around without injury to their lower leg/s.  I have seen blood in the snow in deer trails around my house the last couple of days.  Anyone who's spend any amount of time trekking around during the winter months with a hard ice crust over a snow knows what I'm talking about.

I typically don't get involved in all the dramatic threads but it striked me as odd that you in one sentence would say that you have a BIG PROBLEM with people pushing deer in the conditions of the last couple days, and then say you in the last couple of days you have been seeing blood in the trails.  Sooo...  are you saying that you are out following deer trails and potentially pushing these deer in poor conditions where they possibly could injure themselves?  I could be reading to much into this, and if so im sorry.

Don't hold me to this, but I think he lives in an area where the deer are in his yard.

[huntnnw]

Funny how guys know nothing about someone  where they are shed hunting and jump his sh*&! I have been out looking for whitetail sheds already..there is no snow on the ground and lots of available food in the area I am looking. There is 0  human presence in the area other than me here and there. I can then drive 20 min to another area which is a wildlife area that has heavy human traffic. Whats the difference with mt bikers, hikers in a area versus an area that gets very little human presence?  0 to me ...I understand these historical wintering grounds for muleys and elk that the animals yard up and and concentrate which brings droves of people to a said area..should be limited.

[Maverick]

I'm in the same boat as you. No snow, lots of food and nice weather. Some hard winter the bucks I'm looking at have had. You finding any sheds?

[huntnnw]

no..going this weekend..when I went 2 weeks ago before the snow there was 50/50 packing still. Should be off now

[UBA]

Don't hold me to this, but I think he lives in an area where the deer are in his yard.
[/quote]
Deer are for sure traveling thru his yard. He can see more deer from his kitchen window right now then just about anyone

[Maverick]

All the bucks I'm seeing are packing as well.

[Knocker of rocks]

So how long till this thread is locked 

And how long before the indians have to follow the shed hunting rules that the rest of us do?

[Arteman]

Funny how guys know nothing about someone  where they are shed hunting and jump his sh*&! I have been out looking for whitetail sheds already..there is no snow on the ground and lots of available food in the area I am looking. There is 0  human presence in the area other than me here and there. I can then drive 20 min to another area which is a wildlife area that has heavy human traffic. Whats the difference with mt bikers, hikers in a area versus an area that gets very little human presence?  0 to me ...I understand these historical wintering grounds for muleys and elk that the animals yard up and and concentrate which brings droves of people to a said area..should be limited.

  A guy posts some picks to share with us and haters start forming a lynch mob and start jumping to accusations.  Be no different if a guy posts a pic of a buck he shot and people started screaming poacher!  Then of course people feed off of it and the whole thread goes south.