Found The Other Half

[deershed]

Last year I found a matching set to a big buck.A better than average deer for my area anyway.This year my first shed hunting trip jan.11th I found one of his sheds for this year.A little over a month later,today I found his other side.
Earlier this year was the first time I ever got matching sets off the same buck.They were nice,but this guy is much bigger.
There is some bad news though,shortly after I found his first antler this year I found a huge bodied deer dead that had already shed his antlers.My first thought was that,that deer was the deer I got these big sheds off of.If so, there goes finding a third set of matching sheds off him.
Here's a couple pics.The first one is of both sets,the top set is from last year and the bottom this year.The second pic was of today's shed as it layed.
http://img18.photobucket.com/albums/v55/de...ng_Big_Sets.jpg
http://img18.photobucket.com/albums/v55/de...t_Side_2004.jpg

 

[Shag]

Deershed, way to go. Nice pics and great double set of sheds. That takes some doing. Why are you so sure the dead buck is this guy? Why would he drop dead(?) after having shed?? Injured, weakened from a wound or being hit by a car or what? Where the hell's all your snow. Geez. I think I mentioned on here a while back I know a guy in town here who (back when we had deer) found two complete sets off a really nice buck in an area of about an acre of thick crap within a old overgrown orchard here. For some reason this buck came to the same spot to lay up during the shedding time....two full sets from successive years on the first pass ever thru the area. Nice goin. Hey, we gonna get together for a shed hunt this spring sometime?

 

[buckhunter24]

Nice job finding the match! One way to tell if that dead buck you found was this deer is to find that skull again and see if the antlers fit in the holes perfectly. You'll be able to tell if it was him or not. Done this before and it works. Hope it's not him that you found dead.

 

[TJF]

Congrats on the matched sets. Hopefully they aren't off the dead buck you found.

Tim

 

[deershed]

buckhunter24-I'm ahead of you on that one.I'm letting the critters and the elements clean it up a little first.
I'm hoping it's not the buck that dropped these sheds.The dead deer was a huge bodied deer and was laying only 10 yds. from where I found one of his sheds last year.The buck that dropped those sets seemed to feel pretty comfortable in that area so just figured if it was him,that would be the place he'd go if mortally hurt.The deer was pretty fresh when I first found it,but couldn't see any obvious wounds or injuries.
It could be a totally different deer that I've never seen.This spot is with in 100yds. of where I found that monster shed a few years ago that measured 103".I never saw him or ever found any of his sheds after that one shed.

 

[h2obobh2o]

Deershed-can you post a picture of that 103" shed? Did you know he was around before you found the shed? or is the shed the ONLY evidence you ever had of him? I always enjoy your pics, and wish I had more of my own (finds) to take pictures of. I search areas similiar to yours, lots of houses and neighborhoods with patches here and there. I don't get out as often as you, that is what is probably hurting me. I am going to take my boy up to Elk co. this year with me to search for an Elk shed, my uncle has a cabin in Ridgway, a 30min drive to Benezette. Good luck to you, even though you DONT need it........

 

[Shag]

You got that right, he doesn't need it.

 

[deershed]

If you two only knew how much luck I have at finding sheds.Of coarse I create my luck by going every chance I can and then walking my butt off.LOL.
Serious,if anyone else went out as much as me they'd find just as many.I think the area one searches has more to do with the number of sheds found over anything else.My areas have good numbers of deer,but they seriously lack in the quality department.
I may have a slight edge over the average shedhunter and that would be my eyesight.It's either that or I'm so use to looking for little sheds that I may spot a few that may be missed by others.I've always said,anyone can find a big shed,but spotting those little ones takes talent.I've got over 30 spike sheds in my collection.

h2obobh2o-Shag and I went after elk sheds last year and will go again this year,right Shag?We went for the weekend last year and might I add that Shag found the only shed. (WT shed) We put alot of miles in and covered alot of country.No elk sheds,but had a great time.

I thought I posted a pic on here somewhere of that 103" shed.Not sure where so I'll post it again.
Before I found that shed I had no idea a deer of that caliber was even around.I never saw the deer nor ever found anymore sheds off him.It was like he was there one day and gone the next.The following year I saw another monster in that area,but don't know if it was the same deer.I never found sheds off that deer.I did run into another shed hunter this past fall and he said he found a shed with 9 points on it the yr. after I found the big one in the same area.I don't know if it was the same deer that I got my shed off of or not.
It probably was since monsters like that are not the norm.
Here's Shag's shed from the elk shed trip and the 103 incher.
http://img18.photobucket.com/albums/v55/de...d_Hunt_2003.jpg
http://img18.photobucket.com/albums/v55/de...3_inch_Shed.jpg
http://img18.photobucket.com/albums/v55/de...3_inch_Shed.jpg

 

[IowaShedHunter]

That 103 is so awesome! The snow is melting, the next month should be really good. Can't wait to get back out.

Chris

 

[h2obobh2o]

Thanks deershed, that is one awesome looking shed!! Iknow a guy that owns a sporting good store in Elk Co., he is a succesfull elk shed hunter, and he said in the fall that when I come up to look I should stop in and talk to him, he said he could give me some "ideas" on where to look. My buddy saw two real nice buck yesterday, and both had full racks. Do you think feed, or lack of feed has anything to do with when they shed? thanks again,

H2o

 

[deershed]

h2obobh2o-depending when you head up to look for elk sheds maybe we can all hook up and look together.I can show you plenty of areas to look.The trouble with finding elk sheds is those locals up there watch and follow them and catch them on the bounce when they do drop.
Shag will tell you,they follow the elk around from daylight til dark then find them again the next day to do it all over again.Either that or bait them in their yard and claim their feeding the turkeys.

I've always heard the level of testosterone in the bucks body determine when they drop.That's why they say the big buck drop first.The bigger buck do most of the breeding so when they dry up they drop.In my areas I've never noticed the big ones dropping first.I went out today and saw 6 different better than average buck still carrying both sides.
I'm sure the health of the deer also plays a big part in it.Injuried or stressed deer would be out of the breeding scene and would no longe need the headgear so would drop sooner.
I'm no expert on the matter just my opinion.

 

[Shag]

Deershed's right about those Pennsylvania types and the elk. It was weird if nothing else. You ease up into the woods first thing in the morning and there's some dude leaning up against a tree watching the elk back in the brush already! Twilight Zone material. The big ones fall in people's yards (on the corn pile) but Deershed get's the others. Yeah, maybe later in April this time, who knows?