Wintering Deer

[bigbucksk]

I got home from tech school for the weekend today and decided to go out and look for some sheds while the weather was still nice. I took a drive about 2 miles from my house where I had found a few sheds in the past few years and where a bunch of deer usually yard up for the winter.

I drove up to a hill and peeked over and I saw deer everywhere. I didn't count them but there were more than 300 total. I took a closer look with my spotting scope but didn't see any bucks still packing antlers in the closer groups. There were around 100 deer within a mile and a couple hundred more hanging back in some brush which were to far away to see good. I looked along a few fencelines for sheds but didn't want to get to close and spook the deer to much so I'm gonna wait a week or two and go back again if the weather stays decent and I can get some time off of school.

I had my camera with me so I took a few pic. It was cloudy and the sun was starting to go down so it was kind of dark and most of my pics came out a bit blurry but I'll post a few anyways.

Any tips on how to shed hunt this area effectively? The deer are spread out over about 5 square miles and are hanging out in fields, open praire, dried up sloughs, and low brush.

 

[shedhunternb]

Them are great pics. You need a good shed hunting dog to look in those huge fields and a good pair of binoculars. Or I could go out and look for you. Ha . I usual do a grid pattern on fields. Going back and forth about 20 to 30 feet apart. Good luck and post some pics.

 

[north fork]

i agree with shedhunter , a grid pattern maybe place some stakes out with flagging tape and if allowed a quad in low gear by the look of the size of that area. mountain bikes work good also. good luck, hope you find some monsters..

 

[Predator 1]

I've been spending some time down near east end recently and the whitetails are in full swing shedd'n. Most mulies are still pack'n though.

I agree with both the pervious posts, do a grid pattern for those big areas. Those bones could be anywhere out there! A GPS is handy too. I'm sure you know how to use one since I think you said you're a surveyor. In an area like that I keep mine on all the time while I'm doing my grid, and marking any pick-up sheds as waypoints along the way.

When I get home I download my data into GPS track maker and I can see the path I took. This will let me know where I have and havn't searched yet.

Good job on not spook'n them out of there! I think that was one of my biggest mistakes in the past was going in too early and spookning the deer out before most or all the bucks had dropped.

I would start hard core for another 2 weeks or so. Be pateint! It will pay off in that honey hole. My dog and I could also give ya a hand if you like!!

Good luck buddy!! Post em when you get em!!

Pred

 

[B&CMulies]

I would suggest checking fence the lines, deer often nock their antlers loose when they are crossing them. I also shed hunt similar areas of wide open fields and brush country here in Wyoming. Keep a good eye on them when a storm moves through as they will move to cover and often out of the area if there is little protection from the elements. I also agree that walking in a grid pattern is the best idea to cover lots of area. Make sure you bring allong your binos you can usually spot sheds in open areas easily.