Shed hunting?

[RuttCrazed]

Does anyone shed hunt during the off season? I have seen quite a few deer running around lately, but none with antlers so I thought I would look around during lunch the other day, I found one small 5 pt. Have they all dropped yet? Anyone care to share some tips or tricks to shed hunting? Do you look primarily on trails? Bedding areas? Feeding areas?

Rut

 

[kansasbrittany]

I've always wanted to spend more time figuring it out, but never have. I find them in pastures that have been burnt, but there is an obvious problem w/ them In W KS, I find them all the time in the CRP fields after they're burnt (sometimes before) but have never determined if that's a bedding area. My guess is that they're more commonly found in bedding areas than on trails b/c I never seem to find them on trails when going fishing or mushroom hunting.....ahh, speaking of which, I can't wait to eat some tasty morel mushrooms. Not trying to highjack the thread, just though of it and had to mention it

 

[M. R. Byrd]

They are just starting. Of the sixty or so deer I saw this morning maybe four or five were sporting headgear.

Here are the sheds I picked up yesterday.

Here is a trail cam from February 5th that shows missing antlers on one of the bucks.

 

[Upland Hunter]

I don't go out to specifically look for sheds, but I often find deer and elk antlers while upland bird hunting and turkey hunting. They are a nice bonus to any trip outdoors.

 

[cheesy]

I used to spend a lot of time roaming the pastures. Seems I found a lot around creek crossings and fence crossings. I'm guessing the 'jostling' as they crossed knocked them loose. Antler hunting is almost like mushroom hunting. It takes a while to get the eyes adjusted, but once you find the first one the others just kind of jump right out at you.

 

[cheesy]

Also, just look for a piece of antler, not the whole thing. Its going to be a single tine sticking up, or the flash of white from the main beam as it is laid in the leaves that you see. Not very often that the whole antler is exposed and viewable from 360 degrees.

 

[kansasbrittany]

I used to spend a lot of time roaming the pastures. Seems I found a lot around creek crossings and fence crossings. I'm guessing the 'jostling' as they crossed knocked them loose. Antler hunting is almost like mushroom hunting. It takes a while to get the eyes adjusted, but once you find the first one the others just kind of jump right out at you.

Come to think of it, I have found them around fences on several occasions. My boys are bone hunting every time I take them out to chase birds. They come back w/ all kinds of stuff mom would rather not have laying on the porch and in the yard All this talk of taking a walk in the woods has me itchin'. Looks like we may have a 70 degree day coming up. Good time to collect winter kill bait-fish and maybe pick up a few sheds from a creek crossing. Thanks for the tip! You always seem to weigh-in w/ something of value.

 

[-Wildcat-]

I too will likely head out sometime in the next few weeks to look for sheds. Thanks for the tips!

On another note, how about that game last night Cheesy?

 

[kscountryboy11]

all deer drop at different times, its crazy u never kno when they big boy you didnt get a shot will drop them. ive found sheds in decemeber a few times! ive only found two small antlers so far

 

[Nick]

I too will likely head out sometime in the next few weeks to look for sheds. Thanks for the tips!

On another note, how about that game last night Cheesy?

Wildcat, That game was horrible I'm a KU grad. My best friend, who is a K-State grad was in town last night from Iowa. His dad had knee replacement surgery yesterday. He came over to have a few beers and watch the game. What an ass whoopin'. I was on KansasCity.com (KC Star website) today. I wanted to puke at some of the excuses my fellow KU fans were coming up with. I love my team, but I know when to just admit that we flat out got a beatdown!

 

[cheesy]

I too will likely head out sometime in the next few weeks to look for sheds. Thanks for the tips!

On another note, how about that game last night Cheesy?

Listened to Bill Self on 610AM out of KC this morning on my way to work. He summed it up pretty well. "That was an @$$ whoopin'".

I was going to post a separate thread on here asking if anybody caught the score, but thought better of it.

 

[Toad]

Great game, I was there.:thumbsup: It was so exciting but anxious to watch that game. It was thrilling, but always a sense of worry that KU was about to get rolling. I was on pins and needles the whole game until about the last two minutes when Martin cleared the bench. I've had season tickets since '95 and seen a lot of teams hang tough for the first half and then roll over in the second half. I was SO happy to see this team build on the halftime lead and run away with the game.

Looks like it is being re-aired on TV next week, so I have it set to record so I can watch it again. No disrespect to KU though. They are legit and will bounce back just fine.

Anybody use their dog for finding sheds? I have read several articles in RJ and Gundog over the years about training your dog for shed hunting. Sounds pretty easy, really. I have always thought about doing it, but the crappie fishing will be awesome as soon as the ice melts and I will forget all about sheds...

 

[Shadow]

interesting that you ask-

my last male Britt would pick up some in late January quail hunting-
he carried back one shed that had 7 points on it- asked the landowner if I could bow hunt that fall- got a nice 14 point 198 2/8ths- easily could tell it was the same deer

 

[kansasbrittany]

Anybody use their dog for finding sheds? I have read several articles in RJ and Gundog over the years about training your dog for shed hunting. Sounds pretty easy, really. I have always thought about doing it, but the crappie fishing will be awesome as soon as the ice melts and I will forget all about sheds...

Funny I was just talking to my wife about this last night. I'm sure it could be done.

 

[Shadow]

Funny I was just talking to my wife about this last night. I'm sure it could be done.

I can pick up a deer horn- toss it- three Britt's sort of fight to get and bring back- sure woudn't take much to encourage them to go seek- then again- no deer arround here- so

 

[V-John]

Great game, I was there.:thumbsup: It was so exciting but anxious to watch that game. It was thrilling, but always a sense of worry that KU was about to get rolling. I was on pins and needles the whole game until about the last two minutes when Martin cleared the bench. I've had season tickets since '95 and seen a lot of teams hang tough for the first half and then roll over in the second half. I was SO happy to see this team build on the halftime lead and run away with the game.

...

Not to hijack, but I was at the game too. Tremendous atmosphere.

Anytime the students get an "F" KU chant going is a good time!
Pullen was possessed, but the guy that played out of his mind was Roberts. I've watched him play a lot of games and that guy is normally um... Awkward. But he played awesome.

I've heard of guys using dogs to find shed. A buddy uses his weim with varying success. I think if he worked with the dog consistently, she'd be good at it.
I read an article on it, and it seemed like another activity to do with your dog, and that's a good thing!

And some of those sheds go for big money!

 

[-Wildcat-]

Wildcat, That game was horrible I'm a KU grad. My best friend, who is a K-State grad was in town last night from Iowa. His dad had knee replacement surgery yesterday. He came over to have a few beers and watch the game. What an ass whoopin'. I was on KansasCity.com (KC Star website) today. I wanted to puke at some of the excuses my fellow KU fans were coming up with. I love my team, but I know when to just admit that we flat out got a beatdown!

Hey, you guys beat the hell out of us in Lawrence, so we're even (for once).

 

[Toad]

Pullen was possessed, but the guy that played out of his mind was Roberts. I've watched him play a lot of games and that guy is normally um... Awkward.

X2

I had always been one to groan whenever Roberts gets put in the game, but he has really turned a corner in conference play. I think you could argue that he is the most improved player on the team lately. Certainly playing more aggressively and his hands are getting much better. If he keeps up the effort and intensity, I will have to take back a lot of negative things I said about him last year and in the nonconference this season. Still, they shouldn't give him the ball at the top of the arc.

Damn, I love college basketball, and I couldn't be happier with the progress the team has made since I moved here in '95.

 

[Toad]

I can pick up a deer horn- toss it- three Britt's sort of fight to get and bring back- sure woudn't take much to encourage them to go seek- then again- no deer arround here- so

The articles I've read about teaching your dog to shed hunt made it sound really simple. Just get an old shed and toss it for your dog to retrieve like Shadow does. When the dog figures out that you want it to bring you antlers, then you hide it around the house and yard for them to find and bring to you. Once you get the dog to find them in the yard, then you're ready for the woods. It sounded really easy.

Another tip I remember was that you should bring an extra shed with you in a bag so you can hide it for the dog to find when the action gets slow. Supposedly it helps them stay focused when the sheds are few and far between.

 

[RuttCrazed]

I made it out for a little bit yesterday afternoon, but didn't find anything. I did see one real heavy 8 still packing both sides on my way home though.

I would imagine the dogs are smelling deer when they find the antlers, I would be worried my dogs would start hunting deer every time we went out, I don't want to send the wrong message.

Rut