deershed's 2008 Shed Season

[deershed]

There's not much going on yet,still alot of deer still packing.It's been a mild winter so far.I've got a few old sheds and a couple dead buck so far.I've made a few trips already mainly scouting and getting an idea where to concentrate my efforts this year.I did make a trip yesterday and saw a buck I know shed so it won't be long.
Here's some pics of what I've found and the buck I've seen.

My first find for the year was this 8pt.

The same day I found a dead spike.

My next trip Jan 7th. was a late season bow hunt then a short shed hunt.It was only a short shed hunt,I only looked for about an hour and found an old 5pt side.I wasn't planning on the shed hunt so the camera was left home.

My next trip out was more jumping from one area to the other checking out things.I was more trying to get a head count on the buck.In the one area about the time I starting seeing the deer I got caught up in a sudden snow storm.

I'd really like to find this guys sheds.

This guy was running around with the big 8pt.

Another guy from the same herd.

This doe was also running with that same herd.She had tumor growing on her throat.

As fast as the snow storm started it ended.Here's a few more buck from that same day.

Sometime while trying to get pics of the buck still carrying I stumbled across an old busted off mainbeam of what would have been a 8 pointer.

Here's sheds 1 & 2 for the year.

My trip yesterday I went back to the area I found my first shed for the yr.That same day I saw a nice looking piebald I wanted to try and get some pics off.I never saw the piebald,but some buck still carrying.This is the area I saw the one buck I could see for sure had shed already.

Some for still carrying.

After messing around with the deer here for awhile I headed back to where I got caught in the snow storm the other day.I wanted some more pics of that big 8pointer.As soon as I entered the woods here the first thing I see is the big 8.

Another one.

I think this was the same buck I saw the other day running with the big 8.They weren't together today,but they were close in the same area?

After messing around in this area for awhile I decided I'd better be heading home.I walked around in here for about 2 hours coming up empty with sheds.I was about 75yds. from the jeep when I spotted an old spike shed laying in some bare ground in some cedar trees.

shed count 3
dead buck 2

 

[Kurtish]

Great pics Deershed! That 8 point has some awesome brow points. Looks like you'll really be into the sheds again this year when they start dropping

 

[TazBux]

Great sheds.Awesome buck pics.How old are them 8pts?
Would that be their 2nd or 3rd set of branching antlers(not spikes)?
They would certainly make good monsters one day.

 

[whitem]

Great pics!

 

[Brettski]

that is a great lookin' 8

 

[fossilman]

Nice pics......................I have been having problems with my Stealth Camera(wouldn't rewind my film),so I called the company.They told me not to use Fugi film in it anymore.Its thicker than Kodak and won't rewind properly. They are right after I thought about it....
Learn something new everyday..................

 

[Sleepy]

that one buck as some real long brows on hime, those sheds will be nice

 

[Predator 1]

Nice work so far DS!

It's early yet, but it won't e long before there's more journals up and running!

 

[MULIES4EVER]

Man i love watching your season progress. You have alot of area to cover. Hunt away friend.

 

[deershed]

I made a couple more trips out.I made a trip last week too to check up on things and the deer are still carrying.My first trip I thought the snow would be gone,still had plenty.
My main goal my first trip was to see how the big 8 was doing.I found him and his buddies right off the bat.All were still carrying both sides and the big 8 was chasing a doe. ??? The big 8 and 3 other nice buck with a handful of doe were all running together.Every step that doe would take the big 8 was hot on her heels.
After seeing the buck all still carrying I went to a new area to check it out.I was never in this small area before and was pleased to find 4 small buck running there.I did find a nice rub I'm sure these guys didn't make so there might be more buck I using this area.All 4 small buck were still carrying and too much snow laying to worry about ols sheds until the snow melts.

Here's some pics in an open field were the snow was melting a little better.This was in the area of the big 8.

Here's some of the buck from the new area.

Yesterday I was back to the area of the big 8.It took a couple hours before I finally found him and he still had both sides.Before I found him I found one of his buddies and this time he was chasing the does. ???There were about a dozen doe and the buck would sprint from one doe to another.The buck was totally ignoring me while he ran from doe to doe all around me.No wonder I can't find fresh sheds.

here's the 8pt. that was doing all the chasing.

I also saw another piebald yesterday.This is not the same one I saw earlier,that one is in another area.This one doesn't have as much white on her.

Here's a couple more of my 8 pointer.

And here's a good close-up of his rack.I want these sheds.....

The big 8 was running with these doe today.

As I was walking along I thought I finally found my first shed of the day.It got the ole heart pumping and everything. ;D Turned out to be I think a honeysuckle vine.Not funny!!

After finally finding my buck in this area I moved to another area to check things out.Alot of snow still laying here so I didn't spend much time here either.I did see a half rack that looked like he shed one side.I did find a dead buck,a nice 8 pointer.

It's pretty sad when you've got as many dead buck as you've got sheds for the year.


shed count 3
dead buck 3

 

[DEERSLAM]

Nice pics and a good start on the sheds!

 

[deershed]

I went shed hunting yesterday and found my first fresh one of the year.I was giving up hope on finding a fresh shed before January ended.The area I went to produces my first fresh sheds of the year for the last couple years.The last 2 years my first couple sheds for the year found both years have been off the same buck.Today his sheds were my primary goal.I'd already made a couple trips in here earlier,but with the snow we had a good search was impossible.
About a half hour into my hunt I spot tines sticking out of the patchy snow.

I searched the area around where I found the shed with no more sheds being found.I then moved down the hill and up the other side to search another area the deer use alot.At the top I jump a couple deer one being a buck carrying one side about the same size as the shed I just found.Watching the deer circle out in front of me I'm thinking I won't find his other side today when I realize this buck is still carrying the same side as the shed I just found.That put a smile on my face knowing there's at least one more antler on the ground plus a possible off the deer I found the shed from.
After searching the field at the top here and having no luck I head back down the hill to circle back to where I started.Almost to the bottom I find my next find for the day.It's a dead buck and it's the buck I came here today special to try and find his sheds.I'm still not 100% certain it's him,but things don't look good.It's alot easier matching sheds up to each other then sheds to an antlered deer.

After finding the dead buck I returned to the point where I found my shed for the day then walked the hillside from there out.I went about 200yds. when I spot another antler.The hillside here was snow free and this one stood out like a sore thumb.Turns out this is the match to my other antler for the day.

Here's the two together.

After I found the first half it looked awful familiar.When I got home I did a little checking and found out I've got this guy's matched set from last year.

After the last shed it was getting late so I called it a day


sheds-5
dead buck-4

 

[TazBux]

Shame about all them dead deer.
Great finds.A nice eropean collection from one year can't be sneezed at,although it would have been nice to have seen them living abit longer(a few years).I wonder if it was A holes that shot him,or the cold weather?

 

[Predator 1]

Nice finds! Good job on match'n them up!

 

[Sleepy]

tis the season! great fins, pretty sweet when you snag two pairs!

 

[Kurtish]

Some great pics once again Deershed! I love that 1st ATL poking out of the snow

. I can see why that vine got you excited....did you break it off? I always try to get rid of things like that in areas that i walk more than once, otherwise they will get me excited more than one time in the same season. Glad to see that your shed totals have edged above the skulls.

 

[deershed]

After getting rain all night and the ground snow free I figured the next day would be good for at least a couple fresh sheds,yeah right.I spent about 3 hours thursday walking around the area I just found the fresh set in.I knew there was at least one buck in there that dropped one side.
No fresh sheds but,I did manage to find an old chewed shed that looks to have come off a nice buck with a split brow tine.

This was in the area I saw the piebald and thur. I saw her again.I came close to getting some great pics,she seemed to stop behind brush every time.

In this pioc it looks like the fawn's mother had a little white in her too.

sheds 6
dead buck 4

 

[B&CMulies]

Off to a good start!

 

[deershed]

My youngest and I went out yesterday and were skunked on the sheds..While checking out a new area we found another dead buck for the year.It looked like it had been laying for a while.It was all cleaned up and in great shape with a few small chews.

sheds 6
dead buck 5

 

[Bone collector]

Good job so far it's still very early, I'm getting snowed out in northern Wisconsin. I'm really getting the itch but will have to wait. Keep up the great finds.