Sheds

[Lope]

Found my first shed of the year, a little one but a shed none the less. My big guy dropped his already. So it is off to the woods I go

[Ogz]

I found my first shed two weeks ago. Scored 70 inches exactly, which would probably put the actual score right at 160. Can't wait to start really looking.

[Bowbendr]

I have shed hunted a few times over the past years and have never had any luck. What am I doing wrong. What do you guys look for when choosing where to hunt for sheds. The area that I go in has bucks in the fall and I assume that they are also wintering there. I've logged a lot of miles with no success. Do you look in timbers, edges, fields or what? Any help would be appreciated.

[Admin]

Bowbendr,

I would stick close to food sources, I am glassing the herd from a distance and then walking the fields they are feeding in. Most the animals I am seeing are smaller bucks still carrying bone but have caught one big boy with both sides off.

Good Luck!

http://www.iowawhitetail.com/confboardpics/tlhs.jpg

[BigGuy]

My brother and I found 4 over the weekend while checking pounded areas. A 60" 4 point, 52" 7 point, 3 point, and a forky.

If you find one that you want to show everyone just e-mail us a pic or use the Upload function and we will post to the Conference.

iowawhitetail.com

[Mike]

I look for sheds in thick bedding where you have spotted bucks before. The shed I found was in a little isolated timber in the middle of a corn field. It is maybe 3 acres, but very thick and close to food. The shed has 5 pts. and scores 73 3/8. I am hoping to find the other side soon before the squirrels do.Good luck

[DC]

Bowbender,

You have been given some good information.

Shed hunting is a continuous learning cycle - the more you understand whitetail movement the more sheds you will find and the more sheds you find the more you will understand whitetail movement. I personnaly keep a log of my shed antler hunting, regardless of whether I find a shed antler on my excursions. When I do find bone I record the antler score, date, location where found, current weather trends, and any noteworthy deer sign. The information I have gained from recording my shed hunting and has helped me unmeasurably in hunting trophy bucks.

The best tip I can give you is know WHERE the bachelor groups are hanging out WHEN they are dropping antlers. If you can put those two pieces of info together and are persistent in your search, you will find some sheds.

It has been rather easy this year with the harsh weather we had in December. I call it a shed hunters dream, even though my buck hunting during late muzzleloader season was cut short because of the early shedding. I found my first shed on December 26th while on my way to set up for an evening hunt and 5 more before the first of January (January 18th was my prior 1st shed date). I have only been out once in January (the 19th) and found 2 more.

Go scoop 'em up! Most are already on the ground here in Iowa.

Randy Willey (DC)


[This message has been edited by iowawhitetail (edited 01-20-2001).]

Mike found this shed the other day!

Thanks for the pic.

http://www.iowawhitetail.com/confboardpics/mikeshed.jpg

[DC]

I took a friend shed hunting yesterday and I matched up an antler from a 140 inch buck that I had passed up 3 times during the hunting seasons. I also found a four point with another broken tine on the inside of the main beam. My friend found a year and half old 5 point with a 2 & 1/2 inch drop tine and a year and a half old 4 point with 2 more unscoreable points on the inside of the main beam. We decided to check one more spot before dark and my friend found an 82" 5 point that has total mass measurements of 20 & 3/8 with the base at 6 & 1/8. The antler weighs over 3 pounds. This is only his 2nd year shed hunting and his first time out this year. Some people have all the luck.

Needless to say, we are going back in for the match this morning. I will post a video snapshot in the next day or two.

Randy Willey (DC)


[This message has been edited by iowawhitetail (edited 01-22-2001).]

We look forward to seeing your shed finds, please contact the Administrator, use the Upload Function or e-mail your pics to though@iowawhitetail.com.

Thanks,

The Staff

[DC]

Posted pictures yesterday.

Randy Willey (DC)

Mike Borle ( Northern Whitetail ) posted this very impressive Canadian whitetail shed on his site and he gave us permission to share it with you.

NW Quotes,

"What I really like about this shed is not necessarily the bases, which are above average but not exceptional, but how the mass is carried out to the end of the main beam. H1: 5 5/8, H2: 5 1/8, H3: 5 1/8, H4: 4 3/8, for a total of 20 2/8 inches. For those of you that are interested the shed scores 74 4/8 typical."

http://www.geocities.com/northernwhitetails/spruceshed.jpg

[mincksy]

I have been out looking for sheds 4 times and have came home empty handed. I think it is a little early yet. I was out looking around the other night and saw 5 bucks still with their head gear on. I think I will wait a couple weeks before I will start looking to hard. I usually dont start finding horns till the last of Feb.

I know usually the larger bucks will drop their horns before the smaller ones in my area. I have been seeing both large and small bucks still with their racks. The deer have been feeding in our corn fields and I don't want to go in to early and spook them off and have them go to the neighbors and drop their horns there.

Im curious why in some areas the deer are dropping there horns and othere areas they are not.

If anyone has any input on this subject it would be appricated.... Mark Mincks

[DC]

mincksy,

I have personally found 16 antlers already and my friends who have shed hunted with me have found 7 already. Included in the 23 antlers are 4 matched sets. The last four antlers I found had already been chewed on by squirrels. A matched set my friend found yesterday were very fresh sheds dropped 10 feet apart - both on top of the trail. There was a 20 foot circle of frozen blood drops on top of the ground around the sheds. I assume the buck must have shaken his head to spread the blood around in that pattern. Send me an e-mail and I will tell you where to get the info on when, where, and why deer drop their antlers.

Randy Willey (DC)

[Ogz]

Went out on Thursday and saw 5 bucks sporting both sides still. I'll probably wait a few weeks before going back out. I hate to disturb these guys when they still have their horns, don't want them moving out and dropping somewhere else.

[Admin]

Ogz,

Sound wisdom! I kinda wondered on the timing myself. I combed some very good shed areas already and didn't find a thing. I need to catch back up with the bach groups again, we've got 3 - 5 inches of snow coming so they will be scrapping for food.

Later on,

TLH

[Admin]

The snow is making it more challenging up here, I haven't found anything of any size yet. Anybody else having any luck?


http://www.iowawhitetail.com/confboardpics/tlhs.jpg

[Northern Whitetails]

In my neck of the woods, even the big guys don't move once they have established a food source and bedding area that they prefer.

Until mid-January I've been concentrating on the fields, and now is the time to start in on the bedding areas, in my opinion.

Don't worry about chasing deer out of the area, unless they have an equally good food source right next door, they won't go anywhere. I have a friend with feeders, and all of them have camtrakkers flashing away at the biggest whitetails in the country. They keep on coming back for more oats and have posed for many rolls of awesome pictures!

[Admin]

I found a nice bachelor group this AM, most of the bigger animals were either one sided or both sides off, the younger animals had both sides.

Just a matter of time now!

TLH

[Admin]

Exactly, State Park bucks, they are quite the group.

Congrats on your find,

TLH, Founder - iowawhitetail.com -

[IAdroptine]

Most bucks in my part on NW Iowa still carry. Some of the stressed and run-down bucks dropped early like always but the majority have yet to give up there head gear. I hear reports from coyote hunters that several large bucks were spotted as late as last Sunday. We have never had a winter anything like this one in my many years of shed hunting and I know some great sheds are covered with snow and ice at this time, hope we get a break soon. Prime time is close so get to the timbers before the tree rats.

Good Luck, IAdroptine

[Admin]

Considering DC's strong statement I went out at dusk and the first deer I saw was a 1/2 buck ( carrying one side ) the next was a group of 3 bucks, one large body had both sides off, one had a 1/2 the last one had both sides, again the last two were younger.

See my attached photo,HalfABuck (http://www.iowawhitetail.com/test.htm)

[DC]

I have only seen 3 young bucks with antlers in the last 2 weeks - that's out of about 300 deer we have seen. If you are seeing bucks with antlers here in Iowa at this point in time considering the weather we have had, they must have an incredible food source, the very best in cover, and are the healthiest animals in the nation!

We finally found the match to the 82 incher Wednesday afternoon. Will try to post a picture soon.

[DC]

Nice photo Tony.

Prior to this year, I never got serious about shed hunting till the first weekend in February. Prior to this year my first fresh find was on January 18. As of yesterday afternoon, my friend and I have already found 30 sheds, 6 matched sets, 11 record book sheds (over 60 inches) and we think we spotted 3 more antlers laying in the field we glassed yesterday evening. If you want to learn more, send me an e-mail.

Goin' scoopin' again today. Taking a 12 year old kid with me. Should be great fun.

[Admin]

DC,

I have watched your tape and picked up a few tips. I enjoy shed hunting but not near as much as I like to hunt or photograph in the Fall. Plus you obviously make more time to shed than most and that does give you some expertise.

Our part of the state is very different than where you are at. We are very "Open Country" and don't have near the animals that you have.

As we have spoke in the past your insights are helpful but just one persons thoughts, as are mine and anyone else that cares to communicate on our Conference Board.

Hopefully we can all share our interest in the Iowa Whitetail on this Conference. My love is the animal itself, not in comparing my antlers to yours.

Well back to the weekend...wrestling meets, basketball games and most importantly my family.

Good Luck In The Future,

TLH



[This message has been edited by TLH (edited 02-03-2001).]

[IAdroptine]

Hi guys,
Don't get much fresher than this, my second shed of the season fell just this morning. It must have been off for a short time when I came along, blood was still on top of the snow as the rains started, yes rain. Twenty degrees and raining. I won't complain, anything to help rid us from all this ice and snow. Saw several bucks, one B&C, one with 70 inches on the left side with a 18" spike on the right and two 150 class 10 pointers. I would love to walk onto that spike, will keep you posted.
Mike

[Admin]

Mike,

Got some of the rain down are way also the last one we had really melted the snow then it colder and 5 inches fell. Anyway, Congrats on your find, send some pics of your finds if you can.

Good Luck!

TLH

[Admin]

Mike,

How'd you turn out today, any sheds? We've been at a wrestling tourney all day and just got back, seemed like a good day to walk.

TLH

[tjmitche]

Found one this weekend while taking down stands. Nothing worth a photo like the one's above though. Holy Cow! Some very nice bones gentleman.!!

tjm
webmaster@iowabowhunters.org http://www.iowabowhunters.org

[Admin]

Todd,

I am glad you mentioned stands, I have one I need to grab yet...

Yes, there are some pretty dedicated shed hunters out there. I am gonna take some time on Weds and do some serious shedding myself. I turn 40 that day and can't think of a better way to spend it than out in the woods, I should say out in the corn fields.

Anyway, probably see you in a few weeks in Des Moines, thanks for visiting!

TLH

[This message has been edited by TLH (edited 02-05-2001).]

[IAdroptine]

Tony, Only found other shed hunters yesterday, had the deer going crazy so I backed off in hopes they might calm down.

Good luck on Wednesday and Happy Birthday!
Oh ya, don't forget the Ben Gay.

Hope to make the Deer Classic, see ya there.
Mike