Shed hunting is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the scenery while also getting some exercise. Here are 10 tips to help you find sheds in the western United States:
1. Look for deer trails and track where the deer have been walking.
2. Check areas where deer like to eat and bed down.
3. Look for rubs on trees where deer have been scratching.
4. Be on the lookout for fresh droppings.
5. Use binoculars or a spotting scope to scan open areas.
6. If you see a deer, watch where it goes and look for sheds in that area.
7. Pay attention to the wind direction so you don’t spook the deer.
8. Be patient and take your time.
9. Bring a friend or family member to help you search.
10. Have fun and enjoy the experience!
1. Know Where to Look
In order to find sheds, you need to know where deer spend the majority of their time. Look for areas with fresh tracks, rubs, and browse. These are all signs that deer are frequenting the area.
2. Look for South-Facing Slopes
Deer tend to spend time on south-facing slopes during the day to stay out of the wind and cold. These areas are a great place to start your search.
3. Scan with Your Eyes
Sheds can be hard to spot, so it’s important to scan the area with your eyes. Look for anything that looks out of place.
4. Use Your Nose
When you’re close to a shed, you may be able to smell it. Deer have a strong scent, so if you’re downwind, you may be able to find it that way.
5. Listen for Sound
When you’re close to a shed, you may be able to hear it. Sheds can make a crunching sound when you step on them.
6. Check Water Sources
Deer need water, so sources of water are a great place to look for sheds. Check ponds, creeks, and rivers.
7. Check Ridges and Valleys
Ridges and valleys are another great place to look for sheds. These areas provide a lot of cover for deer, so they’re likely to spend time there.
8. Check Thick Cover
Thick cover is a great place to look for sheds because deer feel safe there. Look for areas with thick brush, trees, and vines.
9. Check Food Sources
Deer need food, so areas with food are a great place to look for sheds. Check fields, meadows, and forest edges.
10. Check Construction Sites
Construction sites can be a great place to find sheds. The deer are attracted to the new growth and the scent of the construction equipment.
How can I get better at shed hunting?
1. Find the food: Deer will shed their antlers in areas where there is plenty of food available. Look for areas with lush vegetation and plenty of browse.
2. Find the sun: Southern-facing exposures are often the best places to look for deer sheds, as the deer will spend more time there to stay warm in the winter.
3. Intensify your search: If you’re having trouble finding sheds, it pays to intensify your search. This means spending more time scouting potential areas and covering more ground.
4. Stop wasting time: If you’re not having any luck in an area, move on and try somewhere else. Wasting time in an area that isn’t productive is a surefire way to come up empty-handed.
5. Scout water cover: Deer will often bed down in areas with water nearby. This means that scouting areas with lakes, streams, or ponds can be productive.
6. Cover a lot of ground: The more ground you cover, the greater your chances of finding deer sheds. So get out there and start exploring!
7. Be patient: Remember that finding deer sheds is a bit of a waiting game. Be patient and eventually you’ll find what you
Shed hunting season traditionally starts in February and wraps up around the end of March. This is when the majority of sheds can be found, although they can be found throughout the year. Spring gobbler season is a good time to look for sheds if the rodents have not consumed them all yet.
What to look for when elk shed hunting
Shed hunting can be a great way to find antlers that have been shed by elk. However, it is important to be aware of low-hanging branches or brush that may encourage an antler to drop. Elk are particularly vulnerable in the early spring after enduring a long, cold winter. Depending on the severity of the weather, it may be best to wait until the end of May or even June to shed hunt.
If you want to find antlers, focus on areas where deer are known to bed down, as well as areas with dense cover such as warm season grasses and southwest-facing hillsides. These areas can provide a great opportunity to find a shed antler. However, travel areas and heavily used trails can be hit or miss, but they may still yield a shed or two.
Why am I not finding sheds?
If you are not finding antlers, chances are you are too late or too early. Eager hunters bust deer off the property before they drop their antlers and get discouraged early, keeping them out of the woods later, when the sheds are actually there to be found. Waiting to late is even worse.
The time to shed hunt is early February to March because that is when the bucks start to drop their antlers. The photoperiod, or the amount of daylight, tells the bucks when it is time to shed their antlers. So, if you want to find shed antlers, that is the time to go out and look for them!
Where is the best place to find shed antlers?
Deer feeding areas are important for the health of the deer population. Agricultural fields, food plots, and winter browse areas provide the deer with essential nutrients and allow them to stay healthy and reproduce. CRP fields and cattail swamps provide valuable winter browse for deer, and dense conifer stands and thick brushy areas provide cover and protection from predators.
The best time to hunt during the early season is the last two hours of the evening. Warm mornings and hot days cause deer to spend more time feeding at night, so they are less active during the day. As the evening cools, they’ll move around for food and water.
Is it good to shed hunt in the rain
Shed hunting is a great way to find antlers that have been shed by deer. Some of the best shed hunting takes place right after a rain or even during a light drizzle. The antlers seem to shine with an inner glow when the rain moistens them. Cloudy days are also good.
Dichromatic vision is the ability to see two colors. Ungulates are able to see yellow and blue, but not red and green. This can be an advantage in certain environments, but it also has some disadvantages. For example, ungulates may have difficulty seeing redStop signs or danger signals.
What time of day are elk most active?
Elk are most active during the morning and evening hours, so if you’re looking for the most activity, hunt during those times. Middle of the day hunts may be effective during the rut, but you’re more likely to see elk up and about during the early morning and evening hours.
Elk generally prefer slopes between 20 and 40 percent for daily living. Studies from Idaho to Montana demonstrate that elk very rarely use slopes below or above that range; few use slopes greater than 60 percent in steepness.
Where do bucks like to shed their antlers
When looking for sheds, it is often helpful to look in areas where there is some sort of disturbance. Creeks, fences, ditches, roads, and thick overhanging branches are all great places to look. Often, a shed will simply be hanging around, waiting to be dislodged by a little jolt or bump.
When looking at a deer’s head, you can usually tell if it’s a doe or buck by the shape. A doe’s head is normally more rounded on top between the ears, while a buck’s head is flattened by the base of the antler pedicles. Many old school hunters can spot a mature doe immediately by the classic “coke bottle” shape of the head. An adult doe will also have a longer neck and snout.
Is it better to skin the deer right away or wait?
If you want to skin your deer as quickly as possible, September or early October is the ideal time. This allows the meat to cool down and prevents spoilage. Make sure the air temperature is at least 40 degrees at night, so the deer stays in the shade of a tree.
Mule and white-tailed deer cast their antlers at different times of the year. Mule deer start dropping their antlers in mid-December, but some don’t shed until early April. White-tailed deer, on the other hand, start casting their antlers in late November and continue shedding them into late December.
Which direction should a shed face
The north-facing woodshed will have a dry pad in front of it, which is advantageous. This is because the pad will get direct sunlight and will be less likely to get wet. The other parts of the woodshed will not have this advantage.
This is why cryptorchid bucks are different- their testosterone levels remain low in early fall, which prevents their antler development from being completed and their velvet from being shed. This means that they don’t participate in the seasonal rituals of normal bucks.
Last Thoughts
1. Look for signs of recent wildlife activity.
2. Look for open areas that have a lot of sun exposure.
3. Look for depressions in the ground that could be potential den sites.
4. Use binoculars or a spotting scope to scan large areas of land.
5. Be patient and don’t expect to find a shed on your first few hunts.
6. Be prepared for different weather conditions and be dressed appropriately.
7. Bring along a GPS unit and a topographic map of the area you plan to hunt.
8. Be aware of your surroundings and be cautious of potential hazards.
9. Choose a hunting partner wisely and make sure they are someone you can trust.
10. Have fun and enjoy the experience!
Shed hunting can be a great way to find antlers in the western US, but there are a few things to keep in mind. First, look for areas with good deer populations and lots of cover. Second, focus your search around early morning or late evening when the deer are likely to be bedded down. Third, pay attention to deer tracks, rubs, and droppings to help you find where the deer are spending their time. Lastly, be patient and persistent, as it can take a while to find sheds in thick cover. With a little bit of practice, you can soon become an expert shed hunter.