Guys, I have never shed hunted. I need some basics on how to proceed. I plan on beginning on Sunday of this week. I know shed hunting is going to provide me with some great insight on how I need to proceed with my overall plan for next hunting season. It is just another tool that will hopefully push me forward and turn the odds in my favor. Thanks all. Brett
Are the bucks already shedding down by you VS? Seems kinda early to begin now.. unless you have a lot of competition nearby.
Here's a good start though. This totally bodacious writer did this article about a year ago on some of it. It's short and sweet. http://www.bowhunting.com/blog/post/2009/03/08/Shed-Antler-Hunting-heats-up-in-March!.aspx
Duke, thank you my friend. I will read the article. Yes, they are shedding already. I have found sheds hunting in late December in prior seasons. I will start this Sunday. To be honest, I just love walking and scouting. I have some thoughts on how shed hunting will help me. I am an optomist and a dreamer when it comes to learning new things about the deer woods. I can't wait to get started. I don't have a lot of competition nearby as most people around me don't even scout much in the off-season. I probably should just wait until mid-January to shed hunt. But I will be out and about scouting already so I might just mix some shed hunting into the mix.
Thanks Josh. I need to buy a good set of binos anyways. I am excited about the upcoming year. I have a plan.
Well day 1 of shed hunting starts tomorrow. They are dropping already. I am looking forward to walking the woods with 2-3 inches of snow still on the ground. I should be able to make out some good deer trails as well. I plan on covering a tremendous amount of ground tomorrow before this snow melts in the next week. Good luck to everyone else.
VS...my best advice for shed hunting is this...DO NOT SCOUT WHILE SHED HUNTING! In the past I have found myself checking out rubs, scrapes, looking up in trees for likely stand sites...all this distracts from actually scanning back and forth looking for antlers. Of course, the longer you go without finding an antler, the easier it is to start scouting...for the most part now I feel I know the deer and paterns where I hunt - If I really intend to find sheds, the plan is to set out with a predetermined route, walk a slow pace, and scan side to side. How far I will look depends on sun/overcast and how dry/wet the leaves are. GOOD LUCK!
bz--"VS...my best advice for shed hunting is this...DO NOT SCOUT WHILE SHED HUNTING!" That is a big problem for me and thanks for pointing it out. I get caught up in scouting after I hit the woods. I need to focus on what I am doing.
