"Shed Hunting"
Here we are again, my favorite time of the year for picking up sheds. There are so many different ways to approach the sport and many factors that come into play for a successful shed hunt. I have been an avid shed hunter for over 15 years and have found 1000 or so sheds in NJ, PA, VA, ID, TX, and Sask. My finds consists of elk, moose, mule deer and whitetail deer sheds. I am a member of NASHC, QDMA, and Whitetails Unlimited. 

 

The most common questions that people ask me are “When is the best time to go shed hunting”, “Where is the best place to look?” and “What is your approach?” 

 

Sheds can be found any time after December when deer start shedding their antlers up until the spring green up when the foliage starts becoming thicker. An early start with shed hunting will most likely require one to go back over some spots numerous times as many bucks will still hold their antlers. However, sheds can drop at any time as the following examples will reveal. 

I have killed bucks in late December and in January that dropped their antlers the second they fell to the ground. On the other hand, two years ago, I shot a 130” class 8 pt in New Jersey on the last day of the season in February and he was traveling with three other bucks still holding both sides. Also, several years ago in the month of April, I photographed five bucks together all still carrying both sides. Now that I have less time (marriage, twins …), I usually start aggressively hitting the woods when I start seeing a lot of half racks.               

 

With regard to where to look, basically one can find sheds anywhere. Sheds can be found in one acre spots or 100 acre spots. Most of my spots have been in areas that are 50 acres or less. I have found antlers hanging in briar and honeysuckle bushes and in wire fences, as well as, laying in deer beds, in creek bottoms, on major trails, near fence crossings, under cedar trees, on lawns, in ditches where deer have jumped across, along road sides, under bird feeders and in all types of fields, including crop fields and pastures. Ideal spots have a minimal amount of human presence and are near a major food source. Deer will travel for miles to an easy food source. However, the key is to have a good understanding of your surroundings. If one lives in a rural area, an unpicked cornfield could be the food source, however if one lives in a more populated area, the food source could be shrubbery or a lush green lawn in a development. In Saskatchewan, I have found sheds in large fields, very small thick wood lots, swamps, along the major roadways, in the provincial forest areas, in a round hay bale and in the trails leading to and from farmer’s grain bins which spill out some easy picking for the deer. In Texas, I found a fair amount of sheds around water holes (called “tanks” in Texas) and in the surrounding thickets. 

 

The weather plays an important role in determining when and where to look for sheds. When shed hunting in colder weather and in the snow, keep in mind that there are certain areas that stay wet or do not totally freeze up. For example, crick bottoms that get sunlight, swampy areas and wet sections of fields. Deer frequent these areas for food sources rather than dig through snow or frozen ground. With significant snows, food sources become scarce and the deer will tend to congregate in certain areas like in the south facing hillsides, cedar thickets and honey suckle briar patches. These are the areas where I would begin my search. Also, in my experience, I find that the antlers drop sooner in colder weather combined with the presence of snow possibly due to stress. This will not be the case this year, with New Jersey’s unseasonably warm winter.  

 

Each person has his or her own individual approach to shed hunting. One of my friends from Canada that I go shed hunting with will cover a lot of ground relatively quickly. He easily walks double the distance that I walk. I will cover less ground with a more thorough search. In the end, we find about the same number of sheds per day. Neither approach is better; it is what works for you.

 

I used to grid areas off and search one section at a time. I would often go over the same section twice, the second time from a different angle. However, I no longer use this approach as it is very time consuming and one can only concentrate on one small area. 

 

Sun light is a factor when searching for sheds. I actually prefer overcast and misty days due to the shine that it gives to the wet antlers. Too much sun will result in shadows which can hinder the search. 

 

A good rule of thumb is to treat everything as a shed. I saw one of my largest Saskatchewan finds from a distance of 25-30 yards. There was only two inches of the main beam sticking out of the leaves and grasses. I started to walk away because I though it was just a stick, but I went back at the last minute and I am glad that I did. The main beam is 26” with a 14” G2 with a total of seven typical points. You have nothing to lose by going back to take a second look at something. It could be a false alarm, but then again it could turn out to be your best find ever.        

 

Finally, I never go shed hunting without binoculars. In fact, I have a pair that is a permanent fixture in my truck in case I spot a potential shed from the road.  

 

So try to find your sanctuary with plenty of critters in it and start pounding the forest floor. The bottom line is that the more miles walked and the more ground covered, the better your chances of finding the “treasured bone”.  

 

I hope you have a successful shed hunting season!

 

Tines Up,

Bob Ongradi

Bob Ongradi from XTreme Outdoors.