sanctuary shed hunting?

[TallTines]

I have a piece of land with about 40 acres of sancuary bedding area. I have left it alone during hunting season every year. It never gets entered. Iam going shed hunting down there in a few weeks. My dilema is in so many successful hunting stories of monster deer being harvested there seems to always be a spot they can call a sanctuary to get age. I have prided myself in not touching this so I will always have the deer feel they will never be bothered there. But when I shed hunt it is usually myself and about 3-4 other friends so we really cover some ground and bust up an area. I know it will be a long time till hunting season but I just don't want them to feel any pressure there. What are your thoughts?

 

[muddy]

Go by yourself. Hit the main areas and do it as quickly and quietly as possible. If it's your own ground I'd wait another few weeks so that you're guaranteed that all the antlers are on the ground. That or hit it again in a follow up in another month.

 

[Ghost]

If you only want to go through there one time, I would wait until March. I would also leave the 3 or 4 friends behind on that trip.

I don't think you will put enough pressure on a deer right now that would keep him from using that area again in the future. There is good reason why a mature buck uses that area and he will use it again for the same reason,...security. I plan to leave these areas alone for at least a couple of weeks. There are plenty of other areas to shed stomp right now,...right?

 

[Central Iowa]

I would plan two trips one in aboout two weeks and one the second week of March If you are after a particular set of sheds and they are in a hardwoods stand. The tree rats will make short work of them. I found a set last week one was on the edge of a food plot and untouched the other was half chewed up and was in a hardwoods stand of timber. We knew these shed had been on the ground for about a week from trail cam photos. I think if you and another person sweep this area the deer will just move around you as long as you cover one area move to another and not meander aimlessly throughout your sanctuary. Goodluck!