There are many things about shed hunting that seem to be universally true, such as looking on a south-facing hillside or next to a lone evergreen. But I’m amazed at how some things can change. That’s been the case for me this season. I’ve only been out a handful of times, but already I’ve seen some things that surprised me. For example, in one of my favorite areas, the deer have shifted their movements slightly. They are still frequenting the same old haunts, but this winter, for reasons I haven’t yet determined, they have expanded into a different area. I’m not sure 1. why they didn’t use that area in the past as much and 2. why they’re using it now. I am a little bit excited by this. For one thing, the competition hasn’t seemed to have figured this out yet, even though the deer tracks are plain as day on the snow. (And that’s one advantage us northerners have over the southern folks. Snow not only tells you where the deer are, but also where they’re not.) The little set I picked up last weekend came from an area I hardly ever spend any time in. I’m excited for the snow to melt, because if I haven’t searched this area before, maybe others haven’t either and I’m excited to see what treasures are left from last season as well as this season. I took a brief hike today that lasted less than a half hour. Once again I went to a spot that is usually littered with deer tracks and droppings, but today it was nearly trackless. I can’t figure this one out either. The key is to pay attention to your surroundings and learn what deer are doing. In years past I’ve had a good season of shed hunting in one area, only to have a logging operation on an adjacent property draw the deer the following year, and I didn’t find as many sheds. That’s a problem with a readily identifyable source. Be aware of what’s going on around you. Most of all, get out there if you can!
I know what you mean about adapting. I live in Minneapolis and this is the first year I’ve looked for sheds within the city limits. I have not found any sheds here yet, but I have found some excellent looking spots that I will return to when the snow has melted. I’ve still seen a lot of bucks with antlers, so I might scale it back for the next few weeks. I did have one question for you Joe; out of all the sheds you’ve found, how many would you say you actually found in a deer bed? I have found almost all of my sheds on deer trails and around pines.
Comment by Nic D — January 21, 2010 @ 8:51 am
Hi Nic D,
I would say a lot of the sheds I find are in old deer beds, maybe 25 percent or more. It’s hard to say for certain because most of the sheds I find are after the snow melts. If you scroll down to my post “On the Board in 2010″ you can see that little broken-off shed was on bare ground where deer had melted the snow from lying in the same bed more than once. In fact, if it hadn’t been right in the bed, I probably wouldn’t have found it. In my area there are no cornfields or hayfields to target. Feeding areas are more dispersed as deer feed on natural browse in the woods. Bedding areas and trails are some of the more reliable areas where you can identify consistent deer use. With snow on the ground, it’s easy to say for sure that a buck was lying in a bed when it dropped its antler, as the antler will be lying in or right next to the bed. After the snow melts, it’s more difficult to say for sure that’s what the deer was doing, but I rely on my knowledge of deer habits (and my best guess!) to figure out what the deer was doing when it shed. In fact, in my logbook I record what I think the deer was doing for every shed I find, ie. bedding, feeding, walking, jumping a creek, etc. There is some guesswork, of course. One of my favorite places to look for sheds is under the south side of a lone evergreen. Whenever I find one there, I am almost positive the deer was bedded there. The other thing about beds is this: although deer aren’t active while in a bed and won’t be hitting their antlers on trees or on the ground or knocking them loose by running, deer do spend hours at a time in their beds, which helps swing the odds that that’s where the buck will shed. One thing I’ve often wondered was whether bed sheds just happen while the buck is lying there or if it happened when he’s getting up or lying down. I guess that will remain a mystery. You say you find a lot of sheds around pines. I would assume that would be a deer bedding area. Whether the deer are physically lying down or just traveling among the pines, I would guess those deer weren’t far from their beds when they dropped.
Joe
Comment by joe — January 21, 2010 @ 9:46 am
Good post man. I hit an area last year that used to be PRIME. I got there only to find there was a new housing development going up! Deer sightings in the immediate area dropped big. But, knowing the surrounding area was good territory, I figured the deer to move in those areas and that’s when I started to pick up some antlers. Actually, I’m off to check it out in the morning. I can’t wait. Another example was an area that got burned. It was a light burn, but it altered deer movement. Two years later it was AWESOME. With the burn being light and lots of new growth coming up it drew deer in like a magnet and held them there through the fall and winter. Found quite a few antlers that winter/spring. I love new possibilites…
Comment by Jeff Hauser — January 21, 2010 @ 9:40 pm
6 of my 13 so far this year have been in fresh beds… I agree with Joe that about 25% are probably picked out of beds, we just dont know it, because theres no snow to support the theory, but i definitely buy into it. And jow, you’re right about the deer being in different areas this year. Its completely opposite of years past…this is my 4th year now in the same areas, and the past 3 have all been mirror images of one another. I cant explain why they changed but they have… Get out to as many different spots as you can now, so you can see the tracks in the snow, because spring wont leave you any help.. minus crap covered trails
We’re up to over 80 now for the year… and its January! Im guessing february and march will yield smaller #’s.
Comment by Aaron White — January 22, 2010 @ 3:56 pm
Made it up to my Uncle’s place near Cumberland, WI yesterday, and found 4 sheds. All of them were from yearlings, but I did find one matched set. I looked in a few areas that I haven’t checked on his property before and it paid off. Talked to a few people who have still been seeing bucks, and I saw a nice 8pt, so I would say there are still quite a few bucks that haven’t dropped.
Comment by Nic D — January 24, 2010 @ 10:36 am
Hey Joe,
This may be off the subject of this blog. I was just wondering if you were going to do a follow up to your first shed hunting dvd?? It was a great dvd! I’ve seen a couple of others about shed hunting and unlike your’s, they lack tips, tactics, and most of all personality. I’m here in Kansas and have only seriously shed hunted for two springs now. The first spring I found maybe a dozen sheds by just putting on a lot of miles walking through the woods not knowing where to look. Then last year I did more research before heading into the spring woods and fields. I read many articles including your book and watched your video.(at that time the only shed hunting video I could find) As a result I found over 60 sheds including a matched set scoring 205 inches with a 20 inch spread. I still walked countless miles over two months, but because of your tips and tactics I owe much of that success to you. This year is also off to a great start with three sheds on the board including a 72 inch side from an old 10 point I hunted all fall. Anyway, best of luck to you this spring and to all the other shed hunters!
Comment by Todd — January 25, 2010 @ 12:10 am
I find that the smaller racks are the first to drop. The larger racks with the bigger pods take longer to dry up and drop off. I have found several small racks this year and have sighted many nice bucks still wearing theirs. Mark your trails now so that you can find them after the snow leaves. Thumb tacks at the very bottom of the tree work fine. I bought north of where I was for 20 years. The area is great. I know not many shed hunters here…I find alot of 1 & 2 year old sheds everywhere. The big pine groves are nice…no small animals to chew on them & the pines are bedding areas with alot of branches to help remove the racks. HAPPY S-HUNTING
Comment by Mike — January 25, 2010 @ 3:37 am
Todd, sounds like you really have the knack for shed hunting! Great totals and some amazingly huge sheds!!! I’d love to see pics! 200-inch sets are rare indeed! Sounds like you’re off to a good start this year, too. As for new DVDs, I did film most of my sheds last spring and plan to this spring. Not sure what I plan to do with the footage at this point. However, yes, there should be a new DVD next winter. Dan Hess of the North American Shed Hunters’ Club and I are going to shoot a DVD for the club. We plan to make it a multi-species video with whitetail and mulie for sure and hopefully elk and maybe moose and antelope. I think it’ll be a lot of fun
Joe
Comment by joe — January 25, 2010 @ 4:55 pm
Hey Joe,
Say hi to Dan Hess for me. I pulled a few tree stands out of the woods for him when he hurt his back a few years ago. Danny will know who I am…How did you guys do for the regular season? During the rifle season I found a nice skull with a very nice 8pt rack. Very little chewing on it. The deer must have died the year before. Where I am now (Adams Co.)we have too many wolves around. Deer fawn population is way down. Less deer mean less sheds. Dan has seen a couple of the nice sheds I found in L. Delton. 2 of them have bases that a dollar bill will not fit around. Could you tell me if it legal to take a moose antler from the woods of Wisconsin? I know taking racks from car kills is not legal…when is it legal to remove antlers from a dead deer in the woods? Or isn’t it…
Thanks,Happy Hunting, Mike
Comment by Mike — January 26, 2010 @ 1:07 am
Hi Mike,
I have never had the problem of trying to take a moose antler from the woods of Wisconsin! Wish I did! As far as taking deer racks, I’m really not sure. I think you’d have to check with a game warden for the legality of it.
Joe
Comment by joe — January 26, 2010 @ 10:54 am
Thanks Joe,
I know of a moose in wis. that is a regular in a certain area. I’m sure I’m not the only one watching…just have to be there first. I wish I could get my dog trained on finding sheds. I’ve seen one working and it’s amazing how many a good dog can find. My beagle just wants to look for anything breathing that he can chase. I will check with the wardens in the areas I shed hunt to find out what’s right and what’s wrong. Have you seen “PIX CONTROLLER”. Log on to that web site and go to WILDLIFE CAM. It is four, 24/7 video cams in sw penn. Deer feeder, road kills, bait piles. shows deer, turkey, coons, eagles, owls…etc. on the cams with sound. Good place to see when bucks are dropping. 1 buck has a broken rack on right side.
Time to turn in soon…Mike
Comment by Mike — January 26, 2010 @ 11:42 pm
Hey JOE, WHILE I DON’T CONSIDER MYSELF A PROFESSIONAL SHED HUNTER ,I’VE DISCOVERED A FEW THINGS IN THE LAST 15 YEARS ABOUT FINDING BONE .LOTS OF BOOT LEATHER AND CRAMPING MUSCLES IS ONE OF THE MAIN KEYS TO FINDIND ALOT OF ANTLERS.MY BEST YEAR I FOUND 44 SHEDS.I BELIEVE YOUR DOMINANT BUCKS ARE THE FIRST TO DROP THEIR ANTLERS,BECAUSE THEY ARE STRESSED OUT FROM THE RUT.I ALSO BELIEVE I FIND MOST OF MINE IN FEEDING AREAS SUCH AS ,HONEYSUCKLE WHEAT AND CORN FIELDS.LAST WEEK I WENT TWICE ,FIRST TRIP I FOUND 130B/C 8PT DEAD,AND ONE SIDE OF A SMALL ONE THAT BROKE OFF AT THE BASE.TRIP NUMBER TWO I FOUND ONE SIDE THAT HAD 6PTS ON IT.I ALSO FOUND BOTH SIDES 0N A 14PT 179B/C . THAT GOT MY JUICES FLOWING.I AM GOING TODAY,HOPEFULLY MY LUCK HOLDS OUT.
Comment by pat pittman — February 2, 2010 @ 5:59 am
Wow Pat, that’s awesome! Sounds like a real brute of a buck! Congrats!
Joe
Comment by joe — February 2, 2010 @ 5:30 pm
Hi Joe,
Find any good ones lately? Wife and I spent 3.5 hours Sat.& 4 hours Sunday looking. Found 2 sheds small. Found 4 dead deer, 2 does, 2 small bucks. Had a deer run into the side of my wifes new Dodge truck Sunday morning By R-A-Cri park. Snow almost completly gone in the woods and the ground is all matted down real nice. Sheds that I found could be seen at 50 feet. Brakbush field had over 100 deer in it again this weekend.
Mike
Comment by Mike — March 15, 2010 @ 2:55 am