Under the bird feeder

[Shag]

It's obvious some of you guys are doing really well in the "burbs". Two years ago in my previous job, I got to know a guy (management) who's a non-hunter and lives in the burbs of Syracuse, N.Y. RThere's a large wooded hill covering about 50 acres I suppose, and his home (one of many in the tract) butts up against the hillside. He always runs feeders for the squirrels and birds. Damned if he doesn't pick up sheds too when the snow melts off some--in the yard around the feeder. Well, he was telling me about a shed he picked up in his yard about 3 years ago. Saw the buck on a few occasions too--a monster by all accounts. Finally one day he brought in the shed to show me and let me take it home to measure and show my wife. It was a beautiful 5 point side, heavy and no chews. It scored 75" and I'm still jealous over it. That guy walks out in his yard and grabs a 75" side (what would the deer score...165-170" if symetrical and with a 15-20" spread?). I walk probably over a hundred miles every spring and my biggest ones all top out around 60-65". I found a way on to that hill and check it every spring and it's torn up but I come up empty....I'll keep trying. He never saw the deer again after that winter of course.

 

[Brotherwolf]

Aint that the way it goes...when you try your hardest and get nothing in return yet someone else, without even trying scores big time! Life is funny that way!

 

[deershed]

shag-I've found a few in yards that way too.If I were you I'd check that hillside out a little earlier in the year.Like now!!
If I waited like the average shed hunter til after feb.I'd probably only find half of what I'd normally find.
When I'm though bow hunting for the season (end of jan. for Md.) I jump right into shed hunting.

 

[Shag]

You convinced me. I'm going to try to get in there this weekend or next (snow depths are still a little dicey). Thanks.

 

[deershed]

Shag-you had to mention finding sheds in back yards.

I found one yesterday
on the the edge of some city slickers yard right on the edge of his yard where he cuts and the weeds start to grow from the field beyond.
I've never found one out in the middle of the yards,but back along the back edge.Guess the homeowners can't see them laying that far away.Some of these yards are huge!!

 

[Shag]

Deershed, I'm gettin frustrated with the conditions here. I wanna pound that sururban spot where the guy has bucks in his feeder every year. Usually he sees at least 4 together and by mid-February he would tell me of having them come in and they would be half-racks, one side off. I was out yesterday and the snow was so deep my snow-shoes sank 10" and walking was difficult to say the least. Gotta wait some more. By the way, this hill is about 40 acres maybe a bit larger, steep sided, mature-ish woods with some heavier cover and grape tangles on the northeast side. When I've gone to the area, rubs are everywhere and the trails look "roto-tilled". Completely surrounded by housing developments. To travel any distance, the deer would have to come down the hill, jump the fence that generally surrounds, beginning at the end of the yards, cross a few rows of houses and then enter another wooded hill behind those houses. I'm going to hit it as soon as I can walk it. Later.