Shed dogs ?

[McFarmer]

No, not sled dogs, but rather dogs trained to find antler sheds. Anyone ever around one ? See one work ? I’ve read about them and I think this time of year that would a great way to get some exercise and watch a dog work.

Can they smell them for a distance like a bird dog ? Or do they have to stumble across them ?

What can you tell me about them ?

 

[Bob Peters]

Roxy has always loved deer antlers. When she was a puppy she got a shed to chew on. She found this one last April. I was really impressed because it was buried under a lot of tall grass, so she had to have smelled it.

 

[Matt D]

My ESS’s go shed hunting with me. It depends on the year but they find 5-12 a year typically. Via smell mostly but also some visual on large ones. There have been a few I would have never found if it wasn’t for them.

 

[gim]

Finding a sizable bull elk or mule deer shed can be worth some decent money. The caveat is that you generally need both sides.

 

[McFarmer]

I always walk the hay fields after the snow melts. A four pointer really ruins a $2,000 tractor tire. The crop fields don’t seem to be a problem, I do keep a close eye out the first time over, especially around the edges.

 

[Matt D]

 

[Quailnerd]

View attachment 10757

Geez man that’s a lot of horn, nice job. I found a nice mule deer set last week but they do t come close to those

 

[McFarmer]

View attachment 10757

Nice, so are they trained for that or they just like to do it ?

 

[Matt D]

Nice, so are they trained for that or they just like to do it

I didn’t do any special training really. Carey a horn in the truck and when we head out let them smell it and such. Some days they are more in to it then others and if the wood cock are migrating they are much more interested in finding those then horns. I figure any they find are bonus. Shed hunting for me ranks right up there with bird hunting as far as favorite activities.

 

[redcows]

Our lab picks them upon his own time. Hide a couple in the grass and try it.

 

[Matt D]

Finally a Decent afternoon. High expectations for this weekend as we are finally gonna walk some of our good stuff. See what happens.

 

[McFarmer]

Nice, I think that would be a fun day. I have lots of swampy and wooded acres I could hunt on.

 

[Matt D]

Nice, I think that would be a fun day. I have lots of swampy and wooded acres I could hunt on.

I love it. That was about 1.5 - 2 hours of walking.

 

[Wind River]

What state are we looking for sheds?? We always found many more and impressive sheds in Kansas than WI. Much easier to find in KS.
Nice work by your springers. Thanks Matt.

 

[Matt D]

What state are we looking for sheds?? We always found many more and impressive sheds in Kansas than WI. Much easier to find in KS.
Nice work by your springers. Thanks Matt.

I am in Ohio.

 

[Matt D]

Been a good 3 days. 6-6-10 including 3 matched sets today of deer we let walk this year with high hopes for next year. 2 sets were already chewed but the biggest set shown below was pristine as it was out on a grass lane.
View attachment IMG_1653.jpeg

 

[McFarmer]

Been a good 3 days. 6-6-10 including 3 matched sets today of deer we let walk this year with high hopes for next year. 2 sets were already chewed but the biggest set shown below was pristine as it was out on a grass lane.
View attachment 10802

Wow