Memeorial Day Weekend Moose Sheds

[Rustyb]

My buddy, his wife, and myself spent four days hiking around in the deep woods of New Hampshire last weekend. Although he goes out all winter, this is one of the few chances I get to go out and look. While most of you guys have ended your seasons, we still have a week or so left before things grow too thick.
The weather was cool and bugless, but it did rain every day. I got sick of wearing rain gear and having to dry it out every night.
Long story short, we walked 8-10 miles a day. We found 12 antlers, of which 10 we brought out of the woods. I had my camera, but most of the time it was to wet to take an "as they lay" pick.

Here's one that we left.

 

[Rustyb]

Here's one "as it lay"

 

[Rustyb]

Here's a shot of two of their favorite trees. The one on the right is a balsam. It has been rubbed by the moose trying to dislodge his antlers. The one on the left is a Mountain Ash. The bark has been eaten off. I'm not sure which was done first. Maybe he built up an appetite trying to knock his antlers off

 

[Rustyb]

Here's all the antlers we took out of the woods. 3 new and 7 old. All of them had been chewed by rodents. Some more than others. There's also two walking sticks that are Christmas sized Balsam Trees that have been "rubbed" by the moose.

 

[shedhunternb]

Thats a nice bunch of bone. I didn't get out this spring looking for moose sheds, but I'm going this fall. The roads were not good in that area where I was going to go. Whats the moose population at in Vermont?

 

[rjlasko]

Congrats on your finds! Nice looking antlers! I also like the rubs! Very cool!

 

[Predator 1]

Great finds!

Nice collection!

 

[Dan Moss]

Those rodents do the damage to even the biggest sheds?

 

[deershed]

Congrats on a great 4 days of shedding!! You guys found some nice looking sheds.
One of these years I'll make a trip up North somewhere and maybe find my first moose shed.

 

[Rustyb]

shedhunternb
Esitmates for Vermont are around 5,000. In 2004 the bumped up the permits from 440 to 880 and this year they have increased the number again.
They actually want to reduce the herd somewhat as they have a negative impact on the timer industry. An adult moose will eat 40-60lbs of food a day. When you get into a yard there's nothing left of the young balsam trees.