skunked

[las]

I know some put in more time than I and some do not, but this year has left me dumbfounded! I shed hunted for close to 50 hours and did not find an antler. Curious if some may have had limited success as well? If so; is it because of more shed hunters? Less bucks? More rodents? I live in SE Minnesota. Thanks for the responses!

 

[Tsmola]

hey, I've goten skunked so far thsi year too, unless you want to count the dead 9 point I found. I don't know how many hours I've put in, but it's gotta be close to last year, I think I put in the most hours then.

I plan on getting back out this next coming week, I'll be done with my finals and school (I decided not to take a spring semester course, gives me a longer summer) and finally have some time to get out and enjoy the nice weather, and hopefully find my first shed before the weeds and bugs become unbearable.

 

[shelbyco150]

las,I've Got In 50 hrs. And Have Found Just One,I Know That's Better Than None But Not Much.Just Keep The Faith And Keep Lookin,After All Your Outside Doing What You Love To Do.That's The Way I Feel Anyway.

 

[Predator 1]

Gret responses on this one so far! and as las says..."keep the faith" and keep on going hard, you'll get there!

I'll give you a few pointers or tips though (but it might be stuff you already know)

In no particular order:

1) Find out where some deer spent the winter, ask land owners ect.

2) Search Those food sources

3) Bucks tent to hang out together during the winter and often feed in different spots and bed in different spots than the does and fawns. In other words searching in areas with the most sign is not always the thing to do.

4) Think like a buck. If your walking through the bush (woods) ask yourself...which way would a wiley old buck walk?

5) Walk slow!!! If you ever get in a good feeding or bedding area (and especailly if your in the bush) Walk very slow. One step...look around....another step.. look. It's very easy to walk within feet of an antler with all those sticks, leaves and brush (I know cause I've done it).

6) Go with the flow!! and always trust your gut feeling.

I've tried ripping apart areas where I didn't think there would be any sheds, doing a grid pattern with flagging tape and walking through and crashing through bush even a mouse would have trouble getting through. All I usually got was frustrated and I was concentrating more on keeping a straight line than focusing on antlers.

Keep plugging away!
Good luck!

 

[las]

Great tips - Thanks! You are right Predator, I do use a lot of those tips but are still great reminders. Everything is getting green around here and soon morals and trout will occupy the time shed hunting once did!

 

[osulogger]

Las,

I'm in the same boat as you, but on a different level I suppose. I find sheds while I'm at work (very lucky to have a job that entales that), but whenever I go on the weekends to spots I know that are deer and elk havens, I get skunked! Just keep hanging in there, our day will come and when it does, you'll find some really nice sheds and all that hard work and time (oh the day spent looking!) will pay off!!!

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

 

[shedhuntingislife]

ive only put in about 10 hours total this year and ive found 40 sheds.this is my first spring ive looked for sheds.

 

[shelbyco150]

Shedhunting,Sounds Like You Live In A Great Place For Sheds.