Is it time yet?

[1finepistolero]

Hey guys, I live in NE Ohio and I am wondering if it is time to go out looking yet. There is too much snow on the ground currently, so I will have to wait, but once it is melted, will it be worth it to go look now? I want to do the least amount of trampling through my areas, so hitting them at the right time would be nice. Thanks.

 

[deershed]

I've been out in my areas and some of the deer are dropping,but most are still carrying.If you were worried about spooking the deer before they all dropped I'd give it another couple weeks before heading out.If you stay away from bedding areas and try to avoid deer you happen to come across I'd head out after melt down.There are sheds laying already and you might pick some up.
If this weather continues as it's been you might not have any choice,but to wait.
Keep us posted on your finds!!
BTW-Welcome to the boards!!This is a great site,specially the Shed Hunting & Collecting forum.

 

[Shag]

I agree with Deershed's advice. You can nibble around the edges in feeding areas, maybe woods edges, etc where you won't bump or push the deer if you're careful. I've found some decent ones when the snow was still on but rapidly shrinking/melting. It exposes part of the tines, etc and can make them really stand out against the snow. One time I walked into a good spot along a big hedgerow bordering a hayfield. It was March and the snow was under a rapid melt, down to a few inches of wet snow remaining but starting to get a little patchy. I spotted a nice brown, heavy 5 point side laying tines down...all I spotted was the curve of the beam sticking out of the snow, the rest of it was in the snow. I turned and looked back with the binoculars, scanning along my tracks where I'd just passed. Lo and behold I spotted a 4 point side sticking out of the snow, from a good 75 yards away ...and I'd walked right past it! On my way out I found yet another I'd walked by, a nice 4 point side with just the tines projecting out of the snow. In areas where others are out skiing or snow mobiling the edges of the fields or whatever, you might want to make a periodic run-through before the weekend to get something that might be laying where a "casual" might find it. Good luck.

 

[1finepistolero]

Thanks guys. I think I will do a little snooping aroud this Sunday. Just about all of the snow is gone here at my house, so it should be out where I hunt as well. I will let ya know if I do find some. Last year was my first year and I found three. I got hooked after my first find, a five point shed, that if complete with the other antler would have scored around 132". Thanks