Shed hunting

[bowman12]

In our area of heavy snow, it's best to wait until the snow melts and the vegetation hasn't had a chance to start growing. They really stick out. If I can find where they've wintered I'll hit the jackpot. I found thirteen in one trip 2 years ago.

[gunther89]

ORIGINAL: WiredToHunt

I would really be interested in hearing some different tips and tricks for shed hunting.

I've heard all the basics, like "look in bedding areas"...but are there any other gems out there that you guys have picked up over the years?

Look along fence rows.  Sometimes when a buck jumps the fence the force of him hitting the other side will jar the antlers loose.  Also look along trails if your looking when there is snow on the ground.  I have also found them under apple trees and maybe look near a spring or creek that didn't freeze during the winter.

[SwampLife]

i have found most of mine in cornfields, during turkey before they plow it, or sometimes they dig up old ones when they plow. Whenever i go looking for them, i never find them, always by accident. But i would guess any late season food source would be good.


Resized that pic for you... He's going to be a dandy =)

[NortWoods]

I have found more sheds on the outside edge of bedding areas rather than in them.  Such as the outside edge of young aspen stands or alder thickets.

[SHKYBoonie]

The No. 1 place I find more sheds than anywhere are in honeysuckle thickets. Look for the trails that lead into/out of thickets with low branches or vines they may have to navigate through. The antler gets caught in them and pulls them off. Always look several feet on each side of the trail because if they are running when they come off, they could go a good distance before stopping. My No. 2 spot is fence crossings going into/out of fields. I always find at least a few in these spots. No. 3 is bedding areas. Look under every treetop on the ground. This time of year they like to crawl under these to escape the weather. They usually have some type of canopy over them which pulls the antler off. Other than that, they will just be where the deer go. They could fall off anywhere in between bed and feed. Hope this helps!

[msbadger]

 You would think with being able to take pics like this from my porch ...I'd find at least one shed some where but nope...I think after gun season that the buck that make it leave the hill and return later [8|]...now I have seen a couple based on beds and tracks but no racks....yesterday I kicked up a bunch of deer ...fox and a yote....then 8 came in and feed past the house and through the woods...5 this morning...Know I'll take 2 doe off land this coming season...

[WiredToHunt]

Awesome tips guys, thanks!

[Ohio farms]

Thanks Swamplife.

[ranwin33]

Maybe I'm backwards, but I've always had the best luck when I'm just generally scanning an area as opposed to trying to pick apart each little bit of a piece of ground.  Usually the brightness of the antler makes it really pop from the surrounding background.

[arpy00]

Be sure to carry some binocs....you can easily cover more ground.