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Other Activities => Shed Hunting => Topic started by: Recurve-Elk on March 14, 2012, 10:07:01 AM


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Title: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: Recurve-Elk on March 14, 2012, 10:07:01 AM
 I have been trying to shed hunt for awhile now.  Probably put in a good 9 hours of search and haven't found anything.  I know an area where I see tons of deer, yesterday I saw upwards of 20, but no sheds?!?!  I would kill for even a little dinky shed!!! So what am I missing, I need some tips to put me on the right track. 

Anyone willing to share a few tips?

Edit:  Should I be looking in the thick stuff?  or in the open grassy areas?  Where there is snow?  Or mostly snow free? 
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: pjb3 on March 14, 2012, 10:22:29 AM
Gotta look down :chuckle:
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: JohnVH on March 14, 2012, 10:23:41 AM
I think south slopes? I look all over while hunting and never find them either.
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: quadrafire on March 14, 2012, 10:26:41 AM
Could be that someone already beat you to the area?? Seems like lots of folks out there scouring the hills
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: vandeman17 on March 14, 2012, 10:29:02 AM
You are on the right track if you are seeing critters in the area you are looking. Just keep after it and try to think about the areas where the animals would go and hide on their winter ranges...
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: Recurve-Elk on March 14, 2012, 10:31:33 AM
haha, dang it ive been looking up!!   :chuckle:  Ive been checking most southern slopes. but I think i need to just take my time more to thoroughly scan the hills.  Ill give it another shot tonight.  I want some bone to use in wood making and such!  Ill look for some hiding areas tonight!  Thanks everyone!  Good luck!
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: Arteman on March 14, 2012, 11:38:21 AM
Could be that someone already beat you to the area?? Seems like lots of folks out there scouring the hills
  :yeah: try to get to the least accessible areas on the map, Google Earth is your friend, most the easy areas in known areas are picked clean.  Also I read once to go by the 3 inch rule, so I try to do that (this could get out of hand) When I first started I envisioned a antler gleaming in the wide open with points sticking up, I've investigated a 100 times more sticks then I've found antlers.  Also, only 9 hours of looking and no shed yet would not sound off any alarms just yet.  Stick with it, you'll find them.  With this said I am far from professional, but I'm learning everytime out, this is the first year I've devoted any major time for deer sheds.
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: Shed Stud on March 14, 2012, 12:23:53 PM
What species are you concentrating on? Hundreds of miles on the boots and weeks behind the glass is what I contribute to my success.
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: elkh8me on March 14, 2012, 12:39:25 PM
I will preface this with "I am no expert".  Shedstud is the man and I agree with him.  I asked the same?  When I started.  Two of the most important tips were 1. Walk a long ways 2. Look at the ground.  Sounds simple but that is what I do.  Obviously you have to have animals in the area you are looking.  9 hours is just a blip on the radar for the time I put it.  Just when you are ready to quit look a little more and it will pay off.  Best of luck to you.
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: coachcw on March 14, 2012, 12:46:25 PM
try looking on garages and tool sheds  :chuckle:
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: Camp David on March 14, 2012, 12:51:58 PM
I practice all year by looking at the ground all the time for anyting that could be a shed. This will train your eyes to pick them up (a tip, a beam etc...) the ones in the open are easy, but being able to locate a tip is where it all starts to pay off. Most likely the hidden ones will be in the shade and often look like a wet stick without the bark.
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: Recurve-Elk on March 14, 2012, 12:58:01 PM
What species are you concentrating on? Hundreds of miles on the boots and weeks behind the glass is what I contribute to my success.

Mule deer right now, elk once the winter closure is lifted. 

Thanks for the extra tips guys, ill be looking for smaller parts of the antler.  I think ive been looking for a whole antler haha.
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: fair-chase on March 14, 2012, 01:02:09 PM
I'm having the same problem Recurve. All of my sheds have been accidental finds. I have yet to find a shed while actually shed hunting. This year was the first year I've gotten serious about it and put on a lot of miles. Still empty handed.

The other day I watched a buck who was bleeding profusely from both pedicals. Thinking I was on to something, I watched him for a while through the binos. Luckely a coyote pushed him out of the area so I could move in before dark. Did a complete grid search of both his bedding and feeding area and everything in between. NOTHING!!!  :bash: Not sure what I'm doing wrong but this is proving to be harder than actual hunting.
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: Shed Stud on March 14, 2012, 01:07:35 PM
For mule deer, the steeper the better. South face is good but in my experience the big bucks like a north slope snowy bed. Good luck!
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: Arteman on March 14, 2012, 02:53:13 PM
Also another thing, if your trying to find new shed hunting ground don't look for the obvious.  Don't Google where to shed hunt or anything like that, people are tight lipped and you'll won't find any info.  I suggest looking for wintering areas where they are more congested right now, I live in a area where winter doesn't affect the animals and sheds are few and far between and hard to find.  In one short week I researched a area I never been to and been picking up sheds everyday I've gone.  Animals live by one law that will never change and that is to survive, find areas where snow has pushed them down for feed from high altitudes, then download maps of the areas you find with elevation charts, public lands, then google earth it.  I've found info in odd places like construction zoning around muledeer wintering grounds with maps, or biologist studies on radio collared deer migration patterns from summer locations to winter locations.  Then it just takes getting there and figuring out what elevation the deer are hanging in and dropping, then learning the area.  I learned this year I was about 3 weeks late, all the deer were dropped, and i was finding sheds around tons of boot tracks.  Next year ill be on top of it, and know some key areas to check first.  I'm confident I've also got a good muledeer area located, just haven't been there to check it out yet.
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: Miles on March 15, 2012, 11:22:02 AM


Edit:  Should I be looking in the thick stuff?  or in the open grassy areas?  Where there is snow?  Or mostly snow free? 

You need to look where the deer were hanging out while they were shedding.  Yes it sounds obvious, but it's where you need to look.   Where the grass/snowline is now is most likely not where it was 2 months ago...    You need to search different elevations till you find the sweet spot.   There is no shortcut to finding sheds, you'll earn everyone you find while starting out.  It's what makes it fun.
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: Moose22 on March 15, 2012, 01:44:47 PM
Miles, I agree. I have a lot of miles put in in the last month or so and I am empty handed during that time. I still enjoy it. Keep putting in the miles for success.
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: JakeLand on March 15, 2012, 04:02:02 PM
good dog! they are easy to train
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: Co on March 15, 2012, 10:16:41 PM
Well some of the guys I know that find 100s a yr, actually owe it to Unemployment benefits  !!!!!! :bs:
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: Recurve-Elk on March 16, 2012, 12:04:03 PM
Well I'm up to around 15 hours of search.  Nothing yet haha, gonna keep on truckin!
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: toyoda on March 16, 2012, 04:37:56 PM
I am in the same boat as you. Lots of looking and no sheds. I have a hound so I just need I couple so I can train her to find them for me.
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: Stump on March 21, 2012, 07:40:11 PM
 :chuckle: You may want to look along trails and look around fences and logs they may jump over the jolt sometimes is enough to have something drop.
Title: Re: HELP! I need tips!
Post by: Co on March 21, 2012, 08:16:29 PM
back side of bager mnt.  get permitted by land owners, most dont want hunters, but dont mind shed lookers.... :tup:
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