Shed hunting

[LongWayAround]

Hey guys, I know there's got to be some expert shed hunters on here so I'm looking for some tips.

I've found a handful incidentally while scouting/hiking/hunting but I want to be more consistent.
So I'm trying to plan on making a couple dedicated weekend trips this spring.

I'm mostly just interested in learning my hunting areas better but I would like to find a few more antlers in the process.

Right now I'm thinking lower elevations, the edges of the sage, south slopes and things like that.

What I'm curious about are things like:
When is the earliest it's worth going to look?
Do you typically find elk and deer sheds in the same areas or do they seem to be separate?
Should I spend time looking in the timber?

I can't think of any other questions at the moment but I would appreciate any general tips.

Thanks!

 

[NVCHUKAR]

I am no expert but enjoy shed hunting, I usually start picking up deer sheds in february and elk in the end of march. Every location has its own time period. Here in Nevada the deer on the west side start dropping weeks ahead of the deer on the east side of the state. You will find the most sheds in areas that the animals are during the time of dropping. Start scouting now and find out where they are currently hanging out. If elk are in the same units as deer i find both. Not much timber in Nevada.

 

[PathFinder]

Which state? Shed hunting is all about location. If you don't have any spots, now is the time to find where the bucks and bulls are. They may move between now and then, elk especially (shedding from the end of March through April) will be chasing green grass. Every mountain range is different; it will take you all season to figure it out, but that's the fun part. The number one thing these days is to get away from people, if you want to find a lot of bone. Utah is a circus.

 

[Ross]

Some good advice so far. The keys are one find out when they start dropping in your area. It is very surprising on the variances across the country. Magnum picked his first whitetail set on 1/2/16. Two scout from afar and be careful not to rush in before they drop if watching bulls and bucks. That being said two things to be aware of. There can be serious competition in easy or well known areas and you don't want to stress the animals. Three keep a journal. Just like hunting this gets very addictive and over the years it is difficult to recall some specifics. Four be prepared to lay lots of boots trax. Finding sheds as noted is walking the line where the bucks and Bulls were when they dropped not months later. Five be Prepared for many days of nothing especially on elk but when you score it is an adrenaline rush. Shed hunting will enhance your time afield, is a great workout, another way to learn the country and add some cool finds to your trophy collection with thoughts of what may be available come hunting season. Yes look in timber and areas where feeding and bedding occur. It is a jigsaw puzzle that takes years to piece together and shed hunting spots are highly coveted and top secret. Unlike hunting a shed never walks to you have fun piecing it together.

 

[LongWayAround]

Thanks for the suggestions!

My hunting areas are all a few hours away so I haven't had much opportunity to scout lately but I've been looking at the winter range maps here in northern Colorado and have a few areas in mind. Unfortunately, some of the places I would like to look have access closures outside of hunting seasons.

I've only picked up about a dozen elk sheds and a couple of deer, all of which were found randomly walking into or out of areas. Having the same luck while purposely looking has been a more elusive. Hopefully, this spring will be a little more productive.

Do you guys typically find sidehills, ridgetops, or bottoms to be the most productive? Short of gridding the whole unit, I would like to be as efficient with my limited time as I can be.

Also, when it comes to glassing, do you find it productive to actually sit and glass with binoculars or do you use optics more as a tool to confirm potential sightings? I've heard of people doing it but can't imagine being able to pick anything out myself.

 

[PathFinder]

As far as terrain, again it's totally dependant on your area. I find lots of mine on open hillsides, secluded pockets, and terraces. Other places will be different. Glassing depends on terrain. I shed hunt two very different areas. In one, maybe 10% of the bone is found glassing. In the other, it's closer to 50%, sometimes more. Typically when we glass one up, more horns turn up on the recovery trip. It took me and my buddy two years of hiking and then analyzing our experiences to get it down to a science, and that's just on one mountain range. And we'll learn more new stuff this year. Weather will affect it too. I find it most efficient to travel like the animals would through an area. If I don't find anything, I move on. If I find a few, I'll probably grid out everything in the immediate area that I think the animals would be in.

 

[PathFinder]

Also, Google Earth is your best friend. Once you find where the bone zone is, zoom in and see what it looks like on Google Earth. Then slowly zoom out and find the terrain within 20 or so miles that's the same. This tactic helps turn one good day/spot into many, and will help you figure the big picture out faster.

 

[Art Vandeley]

Find the deer and elk. Don't go hiking through their area until the snow is gone and they have some green sprouts. Glass/walk your azz off. It's great fun.

 

[Josh Wright]

Love the handle Art Vandeley

 

[Backyard]

Find the deer and elk. Don't go hiking through their area until the snow is gone and they have some green sprouts. Glass/walk your azz off. It's great fun.

I dont think Id wait quite that long in my area, as they're all pretty much consumed by other critters by then. Gotta get out as they're dropping or you won't find much here.

 

[Art Vandeley]

Yeah Backyard I understand that. But I don't feel the deer/elk should be harassed or stressed anymore than they need to at the end of winter when their fat reserves are at their lowest. I wish more people thought like me and less like you.

 

[Backyard]

Yeah, thanks. WTF

 

[Regul8r1]

I used to hunt sheds years ago but I no longer want to pressure them this time of year. I want them to survive so I can hunt them. Article on idaho FG page. .... http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/media/viewNewsRelease.cfm?newsID=8024

 

[PathFinder]

I understand not wanting to harass game, but it's awful easy to shed hunt without running them out of the country. I have basically started my season already (mostly just scouting) and haven't bumped a single critter. If it was that easy to kill them I'd leave my weapons home. Just be respectful, don't bug the animals, and get out there and find some bone!

 

[LongWayAround]

I've been out the last couple weekends with the dog and finally found my first moose shed! View attachment 33971

 

[cfdjay]

Training her has been the best shed hunting experience ever. An absolute game changer when it comes to the enjoyment of shed hunting.