shed hunting

[Musky Buck]

Interesting, I'll have to get my card out of Tcam and see if any have shed. Last year was mid-march, but last year is last year so who knows. It really is frustrating to shed hunt my area when shedding and spring are so close together, I wish for earlier shedders so I have time to look. My camera is in a random area in a swamp where there is a spring or 2 of water that never freezes leaving water for the critters. Good luck and better shed hunt quick now if ya are with impending winter weather on it's way.

[Neighbor_guy]

The one we hit with the car on sunday was a recently dropped buck. The stumps were still bleeding, so it couldn't have been long. Northern anoka co if that helps geographicly.

[PostFrontal]

I wonder if elk and deer shed at the same times? I used to look at the elk down by Pine Island every year to see if they had shed theirs, and if it was an indicator of the deer in the area. Found some spikes around the same time on our property by Roch. But still have no clue. The elk along 94 in Rogers have dropped theirs.

[ntrider]

i tried looking for sheds last spring...congrats to you guys that do and have success...i thought it was like looking for a needle in a haystack...i had always thought that deer lose antlers in spring with a few in winter, but a lot of you are seeing a lot of them already...is this typical or is this just a strange yr???

[InTheNorthwoods]

i tried looking for sheds last spring...congrats to you guys that do and have success...i thought it was like looking for a needle in a haystack...i had always thought that deer lose antlers in spring with a few in winter, but a lot of you are seeing a lot of them already...is this typical or is this just a strange yr???

Typical. When deer will drop antlers is based on so many different factors (genetics, stress, etc.) that there is no accepted time that deer are expected to lose their antlers. Every year some will drop them early (December) and others will hold them until the new growth practically pushes them off (April).

[shedfreak]

I gotta agree totally with the last comment about every year will have december drops, and in the same woods, bucks that will hold on til April. Every year people try to come up with some scientific facts to come up with an answer but there just isnt one in my mind. People always say stress, but Where im located a deer has it made through the winter. Its as stress free of a lifestyle as ya can get!!! and yet Theres been a good half dozen or more in my neck of the woods picked up already! And those are the fresh ones, theres been some old ones picked up too. Ive got one of each so far, a year old 4 point, and a fresh dink 4 pt with a busted G2. This is my favorite thread of the year. Cant wait to see the pics flyin in here soon! Ill start it out!!

[2044Mustang]

Well I'm one of the guys who once in a while looks for sheds but am not very lucky in finding sheds. But I scored one on new years eve day. I saw 3 bucks standing together and one of them only had one side of his head gear. I thought I better pay attention while in the area and sure enough I found it. It was in an area where they were feeding and scratching in the snow.

[LOTWSvirgin]

I was going to wait 2 more weeks but I think now I might just have to get out. Thanks shedfreak I was hoping for for some relaxation but not no more I blame you thanks for the pick Hope you have another banner year for sheds!!

[shedfreak]

I havent been able to get out of late due to numerous holiday events and my sons first birthday. BUt I was able to sneak out for a quick one hour hike before my wife headed to work. On my way to the spt I intended of going, I noticed about 15 deer yarded up on the edge of a woods... Needless to say< i turned around and thought Id try my luck... 15 minutes into my walk, right in the middle of a deer trail, there it was just glowin at me. Nice 2 year old 4 pt side, short beam, but about an 8 or 9 inch g2 on it . I was able to catch up with the herd, and finally caught a glimpse of a rack... Sure enough, it was a half rack, which happened to be the buck I just picked the left side off of! I obviously shed hunt in an urban area, as you see the house in the background. Its all public land, and it was the only picture chance I had at him. I see hes missin the g3 on his right side. Oh well , Maybe the other side will drop tonight, we will see!

[DonBo]

How cool is that to get a photo of the one-horned buck you just got a shed from? Nice job!

[shedfreak]

haha yeah I was pretty stoked, I didnt see any antlers in the group, and then for a split second, I saw one, and I was like, hey I think hes a half rack, and then i was like hey I think this is his antler in my hand! I was determined to get a pic! Besides I figured if I watched him long enough, the other side might fall off! Im lucky, but not THAT lucky!

[shedfreak]

I wont bore you with TOO long of a story since we all just wanna see pics anyways but today was a good day! I hit one of my spots today, and was seein deer, but all had both sides yet...I was snappin pics of some of the bigger ones and follwing them through the woods, in hope one would drop! ( like we all do im sure) which by the way never happens.... or does it?! As i was followin the " herd" i saw a bed and walked over to investigate, and there it was number one of the day, 2 year old 4 point side, sweet! I noticed the deer crossed the ravine at this point (after stoppin for some ATLs) and i noticed one was all of a sudden a half rack....hmmm so i follwed the trail they were on, and there it was, nice 4 point side again, 3 yr old buck this time.... So i started followin some more, thinkin id get lucky.... well I did, but it was ANOTHER 4 point left side... It was an awesome day, I love gettin pics of the bucks I get sheds to, never expected to pick one up 5 minutes after takin a picture though! I came home and a buddy stopped over with a couple freshies he picked up today... and one looked awful familiar.... it was the MATCH to the one I had JUST taken pictures of! We didnt even know we were walkin in the same area... BOth sides of that buck were on the ground for just a few minutes COMBINED!!! pretty cool.... LOTS OF PICS!!!!!!!!!!

NOW AT HOME WITH ITS MATE!!!!

and my other 2 from today..............

[shedfreak]

[Deitz Dittrich]

Sweet stuff Freak

[Musky Buck]

Well done Freak, very cool !

[sticknstring]

Nice! Looks like I need to start burning some leather.

[certified jumbo]

shed freak - as always, top notch work man!!!!

well, my season is off to an alright start. went up to the shack to do a little ice fishing the 2nd and 3rd of January. With the nasty cold weather we packed up a little early and went to look for some early antler drops. with minimal looking and coming as a surprise i was able to find two small matched sets. a tiny 5 pointer and the longest spiker i've ever found. the little 5 points antlers were 3 feet from each other. the spiker was about 20 feet from each other. not big, but pretty cool none the less. unfortunetely, didn't have my camera with....i always have my cam with afield, but this time didn't. here are two pics at home, a little blood on all 4, but very little. more than likely they were end of december drops.

i hope to have some better pics for you guys as i'm going up for a hard 2 day walk this wkd. it seems again this year they are dropping a little earlier than normal in my area. most years, besides the last two i've had better luck in mid february. but, you never now what you find with antler hunting!!!

good luck!!

cj

[shedfreak]

nice jumbo... Im ALWAYS jealous of how you guys match up so many!! Keep em comin... ill be indoors all weekend unfortunately

[Deitz Dittrich]

LOVE the big ole spike.. thats awesome!

[perchking]

Nice job guys, I have only found about 5 sheds in my life.

[swampbuck]

No sheds yet this year, time to start looking!

Here are a couple of my favorites frm last year

[buckhunter21]

Wow I dont think I will find that many sheds in my entire lifetime. Cant wait to get home and start looking for some but it wont be for a few weeks and it might be pretty tough early on with all the snow but still fun to get out and do some walking.

[shedfreak]

Was that one weekends worth on the bottom pic? or a year end shot? or what? I have an idea of where ya were....from the terrain, and i have almost an exact ATL as the last picture. Just by seein the amount of old ones kid of gives the location away....maybe.. i could be wrong... anyways, looks like some dandies in there!!

[so haaad]

Looks like you've got a superior spot!

[james_walleye]

I saw a beauty today right in the middle of the road about noon on my route. About 125" 8 pointer. Should be a bruiser next season.