Basics of Shed Hunting?

[sneeky]

I plan on taking my kids shed hunting soon and was curious about everyone's basic methods. Do you look on certain slopes, terrain, vegetation, bushes, near trails or what? Is there a best search pattern and if you find one do you usually find the match? Any basic info for a first timer would be great.
Thanks
Todd

 

[NvrEnuf]

Finding the sheds is easy. Finding the place that has sheds to pick up is really the hard part. Usually finding a good vantage point and glassing will help save on shoe leather. Other than that just hit the areas that the deer hang out in during the shed season.

What State are you in? I would try to get some starting points from locals so that you won't end up wasting your time. You also want to make sure your boys have a good time and want to go back. Finding some sheds should help make them excited. I'm not sure how old they are but maybe you could even plant a few sheds for them to find in advance?

Glad to hear you're taking the kids with ya. Let us know where you're at and maybe you can get some more specific info from someone in a private e-mail or something?

Good luck,

NvrEnuf

 

[sneeky]

Thanks, I'm in Northern Utah and I think I have a decent area. I deer and elk hunt the area and I know they winter in there. Other people probably know about the area so there might be some competition though.
Todd

 

[shedmania]

todd,
one tip you may have heard of but in case you have not is to walk along fence lines. when the deer and elk jump sometimes the landing jars their antlers enough to knock them off. if there is a fence you know they cross, i would definitely walk along it.

 

[BuckSnort]

Here's an article I wrote a while back. It may be of some help to you.

http://www.monstermuleys.com/cgi-bin/stories/site90.pl?page=tip-shedhunting&tem=tips1

 

[GW4BOW]

Thanks for the first timer tips... I find that I am itching to get out on my first shed hunting adventure... but I am storing up valueable honey-do's for this summer and fall. I have three boys and I've been thinking about rotating them on my back and going for a hike.

Like those before me, that have gone shed hunting... I envy you. You have been able to get into the hills for encounters with mule deer or elk, even if it was to collect a part of them (Shed). I watch them all winter and look forward to finding my first shed. I hope to make it soon.

Thanks again for all the advise from the seasoned shed collectors.

GW

 

[huntercameron]

Hey nice to see you on GW4BOW . You need to go find some front sheds . I sent you a pm here . Hope to hear from you .

Cameron

 

[deerbedead]

GW4BOW, sounds like you have a great plan. I have 5 kids, and the older 4 like to hunt sheds with me. I started out with them on my shoulders hiking through the sage. I normally spot the antler and then wander towards it until the kid spots it. There is nothing funner than being there with your kids when they find their first sheds. I took my 3 year old boy out today and we found a matched set of 3 points. He was proud as a peacock that he found them.
My oldest daughter started out that way, and last week she and I went to Arizona to hunt elk sheds. She is almost 9 now and she has picked up quite a few deer sheds, but never an elk shed. We had split up in a sage flat and she started yelling that she had found a big one. It was a 7 point hard white off a bull that was around 340" It was neat to spend time with her, and to be there when she found her first elk shed.
It's not too tough to fill a suburban with kids if I say let's go shed huntin!
Good luck!