New here.

[IowaShedHunter]

I've never used a dog. I do remember seeing guys taking their dogs with them, but don't know if the dog found any. I'm sure you could train one. I used to have a dog that chewed the heck out of them, got rid of him a long time ago.

Chris

 

[deershed]

Shag-Thanks,but I just get lucky now and then.When you have to deal with looking for little ones you tend to look longer and all the harder.

I think I like shedhunting better then any of my other outdoor activities.Shed hunting is the catch and release of hunting except you get to keep the bone and there's no bag limit on how many sheds you can find.That is if the competetion doesn't beat you to them.I probably wouldn't find half the sheds I find if I didn't enjoy it as much as I do.I honestly think I like it better then deer hunting.

IowaShedHunter-I have to agree with you on the more severe the winter the more concentrated the sheds would be.This past winter was down right nasty with snowfall after snowfall.We had deep snow the entire shedding period and I kept coming up empty with sheds til I finally figured out where the deer where holed up at that time.Then when I found one shed I usually found at least a couple.At the same time,areas such as open fields where I'd found sheds in the past didn't produce this year,just too much snow.
I agree with your other tips too,but believe #1 should have been "keeping after it".No matter how good you are you always miss them and if nothing else.Sooner or later you have to find something.You put the odds are in your favor the more time you spend looking.

 

[TJF]

Chris
Congrats on the sheds and thanks for sharing the picture. You are right that you live in deer heaven but you have earned every shed you have found. I always have been impressed by your dedication, zest and smarts when it comes to shedhunting. I seriously doubt it would matter where you lived, you would find nice sheds and quite a few. You gave great tips on shedhunting and they will apply anywhere to anyone. Congrats again on your sheds.

Tim

 

[IowaShedHunter]

Thanks Tim for the kind words. I think your son and you do as well as I do if not better. I know North Dakota isn't as well known for big deer as Iowa, but you guys always seem to find some pretty big sheds. You guys have to be getting quite a collection now.

Chris

 

[TJF]

Chris
No, we have a long ways to go before ever coming close to you in the shedhunting department. We've been at it for 5 years now ( Tyler was 7 when we started ). First year we found 20...Second year a whopping 2.... 3rd year we got serious and found 70... 4th year we found 73... and this year we found 86. Tyler found 6 more then I did this year and earned everyone of them. Lots of miles put on.

We haven't been out for well over a month since spring's work on the farm started but we snuck out of the house last Friday night and walked a harvested corn patched that was too wet for a farmer to get worked/seeded. Tyler found a medium sized 5pt with a sticker on the G2. Wife was a little growly when we got home so I think we are done shedhunting for the year. Course I just spent all weekend helping her brother build his garage so there should be a few brownie points in there for maybe another small walk or two as we didn't get to hit all the corn.

Tim

 

[IowaShedHunter]

Wow, Tim 250+ sheds in 5 years! I wish I would have had that much success. I think I found around 120 sheds in my first 6 years of shed hunting. It was hard to keep motivated in those early years.

Chris

 

[TJF]

Yes but there are two of us compared to one of you. I kid you not when I say Tyler is a lean, mean, shedhunting machine. I had a 10 shed head start on him this year using my dinner breaks at work while he was in school. About drove the poor kid crazy as he was chomping on the bit to get looking. I was at 14 sheds when he found his first 2 sheds of the year and he never looked back from there on. After 3 weekends of looking he passed me in the number of sheds. He had a 9 shed lead at one time and I cut it to 2 but it was as close as I came.

We don't compete with each other although I notice he picks up his pace when we approach a good area. When you see him find a shed, you know it wasn't to beat you to it. The big grin and "Hey daaaad !!" says it all. He just loves finding them.

He has an eye for sheds and a very good understanding of deer in general. I haven't "sneakily" helped him find a shed in the last two years. He gets first call on who walks what when we walk an area though. I wanted him to rely on himself instead of me. He learned fast on what to look for and how deer use an area. This should help him when he starts bowhunting this fall and also one of the reasons I decided to do it.

I give him all the credit for our success when it comes to shedhunting. Granted, I like finding sheds and experiencing all the great things nature has to offer, but sharing it with him is what made it addicting. Doesn't matter if we find 0 or 10 sheds in a day, it always is a great day.

Tim

 

[deershed]

TJF-Congrats!!That's a great team effort you and your son have. That's a great track record you two have over the years except your second year.No doubt you didn't get out much that year.
You don't have to explain that smile on the kids face when he finds a shed,that's what it's all about. My youngest has been going with me for years,he'll turn 8 this year and is starting to really get into it.He sounds like your son except I don't hear the end of it when he finds one.

I wish everyone could take a kid just to see what their missing.
Congrats again!!