Doe's, Doe's,.. No bucks found yet.

BucksBullsandBroncs · Feb 16, 2009

Dang it has been a hard year for finding bucks to watch to see when they are sheding. I haven't seen a buck since January 10th. I've covered over 30 square miles. Up, down. Canyons, ridge tops.. havent seen a shed nor a buck yet. One good thing from it all... lots and lots of Doe's with healthy fawns, little to no winter kill.
I hike, no atv's or four wheel drive. Not even a horse. What in the world am I doing wrong. I glass and glass to no avail. One thing I have noticed is that all the southern slopes all the way to the tops of the mountains are clear of snow. Could it be that they are so scattered they are harder to find? Any suggestions? I've been everywhere I can go and think of. I've found sheds in these area's before.. no bucks this year so far.
BTW, I am in South Eastern Idaho.

whiteshadow · Feb 16, 2009

check in the oak brush... i found for some reasome these last few years that with the deep snow weve been getting that they have been dropping alot in the oak brush... could just be my own bad luck i guess finding them in the oak brush and very few out in the open hills.

feyerfighter · Feb 16, 2009

iv'e seen lots of bucks but not much luck with finding sheds. i only got skunked once last year. so far this year i have been skunked 7 of 9 times out. the deer around here are moving a lot due to the up and down weather and unusually wet winter. all of my usual spots aren't holding any deer this year though, iv'e had to go a lot lower to find them.

trlrtrsh · Feb 17, 2009

What part of southeast Idaho BBB? I live near the desert and I have been seeing a lot of bucks on the private ground. I had the depredation hunt and seen lots of bulls too. If you are close I will show you some of my spots since I will be working a lot this spring?

BucksBullsandBroncs · Feb 17, 2009

Sent you a PM.

greatbasin · Feb 17, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Feb-17-09 AT 12:01PM (MST)[p]Hey BB&B,
I have been seein the same thing in my areas...no bucks, until I went higher up and the last time out I saw 3 4X4's, all still packing both sides. Infact, two of them were fighting so those horns were on soild. Bucks are out there but the ratios are down and they're scattered with the easy winter. I'm only up to 6 whites so far.

CouesFanatic · Feb 17, 2009

What part of Southeast Idaho are you guys at? I'm here in Rexburg, I've noticed the same thing. They must be up high? Seems like as soon as the snow melts we get pounded again.

CouesFanatic · Feb 17, 2009

Hey dude, what part of southeast Idaho are you from? I'm pretty new to the shed world. Do you have any suggestions for me around here? I'm having a hard time finding muleys that arn't in a closed area till may. Thanks

trlrtrsh · Feb 17, 2009

Coes...are you going to school? Bbb...I am new to the whole pm thing! Do you have an email?

greatbasin · Feb 17, 2009

I'm actually over near Boise. I've been out a couple of times across S. central and the SW parts of the state.

CouesFanatic · Feb 17, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Feb-17-09 AT 06:38PM (MST)[p]Yep, i'm here for school, here in Iceburg, i mean Rexburg.

I sent you a pm as well. My email is: [email protected] btw

BucksBullsandBroncs · Feb 18, 2009

Email sent.

TFinalshot · Feb 18, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Feb-18-09 AT 09:57AM (MST)[p]
Doesnt Idaho have a "shed-hunting" reg, or early access to public deer winter range, to protect muledeer and elk from being ravaged by shed hunters?

If so, and people are not following the law and instead are collecting or gathering or disturbing shed antlers, arnt they breaking a state land use law, and is it up to the hunting community to self police and lead by example?

I'm not the internet police, and I'm not saying you guys are breaking the law. I'm asking a few questions about how shed hunting works in Idaho and if there are laws to regulate it. . . and if we are only making the problems worse or are we actually part of the solution. . . ?

CouesFanatic · Feb 18, 2009

Geez, here we go again. Yes, there are some areas that are closed. Some areas that is.

TFinalshot · Feb 18, 2009

can you point to another post on the subject. I've debated the issues more generally, but since you said, "here WE go again" i'm thinking that there's a post that relates directly to Idaho and the subject of my questions?

Thanks for the input. . .

Tony

BucksBullsandBroncs · Feb 18, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Feb-18-09 AT 10:41AM (MST)[p]There is no longer a shed season in Idaho. Some area's are closed off to MOTORIZED TRAVEL IN WINTER RAGE AREA'S, THEY ARE NOT CLOSED OFF TO FOOT TRAVEL. I have personally called in snowmachiners that were riding on WMA's illegally. I do my part to help the critters during the winter. Hel!, they even eat my hay. And that stuff is expensive. To me, if it helps them, let em eat it.

So were you calling me a ravaging shed hunter? I sure hope not. Like Coues said.. 'here we go again'.

I like to hike and see how the deer are doing during the winter and if I find some sheds, ya, I am going to pick them up.

I do not bother them at all. I go out of my way to avoid them and circle around if I see a herd. I glass through bino's to look for any that may be up ahead of me.

Do not lump all winter hikers and shed finders into one group. That's like lumping all people that hunt into one group. Completly unaccurate.

Oh, another point. I like to hunt Coyotes on the winter ranges to help keep yote numbers down and to keep more fawns from being killed. I've taken several out that were chasing/messing with Doe's and fawns this year. I figure they need all the help they can get.

greatbasin · Feb 18, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Feb-18-09 AT 10:48AM (MST)[p]Some of my areas have no closures and some have motorized closures. In the non motorized area it's been 2 years since I have seen anyone looking for sheds, but I'll tell you there is no shortage of people riding bikes, jogging, walking dogs, horseback etc. Maybe we need to keep people completely out of public land 5 months of the year...it just dosn't sound right to me.

TFinalshot · Feb 18, 2009

I see, so there are no "shed hunting" rules, but some places are open and some are not? That's a confusing systems. It also sounds like there are restriction on motorized access, but not hiking.

I was just trying to figure out the rules, and yes, in many places shed hunters are ravaging the mtns and or winter range in search of dropped antlers or in search of deer and elk with antlers that one hopes to collect. I'm not calling you a ravaging shed hunter. I find all kinds of sheds, but not till the grass is green. . .

BucksBullsandBroncs · Feb 18, 2009

It is a very confusing system. I'm not sure Fish and Game even understands all of it. IMO.
I was concerned over the lack of buck I had seen out hiking, but I have seen hundreds of doe's/fawns. Good numbers for them this year. I like to stay in shape during the long winters, and the funnest, best way I've found is hiking in the hills and enjoying the critters. On a side note, I spotted a Snowshoe Rabbit this last weekend. Pretty awesome to see one this far south.
From what I understand, all area's are open to foot or horse travel during the winter unless otherwise posted. The thing of it is.. no one can get a horse into these area's because of snow and mud until April/May. And by that time, the critters have moved back up into the high country.
I did come across some snow shoer's and their two dogs this last weekend. They stayed in the bottom of the canyon and had the dogs on leashes.
I do understand some folks get out of control come shed season.
I am still steaming over the snowmachiners that I saw riding on the WMA and climbing Haystack Mountain on there machines. Makes the blood boil. I called F&G, the Sheriffs, and BLM.. nothing ever came of it. After all, I did call on a Sunday. I heard they don't work weekends.
People like the one's I saw.. just makes you pissed how ignorant they can be.

trlrtrsh · Feb 18, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Feb-18-09 AT 02:58PM (MST)[p]There are three closures (to all human activity) in the Upper Snake River area of the state of Idaho:

1) Stinking springs area (including all surrounding areas and National Forests/BLM

2) Egan/Hamer initiative

3) TEX Creek WMA

All areas are found on the BLM (linked by IDFG) website.

I am sure in other regions there are some similiar closures. The point is: closed or not, winter is difficult on animals period. Humans are considered predators to wild game and if the area is CLOSED, then that means closed. If it is closed to only motorized be courteous and make sure you dont pressure animals. Ethical sportsman understand issues like this, unethical sportsman should be shot. An ethical sportsman is doing the right thing, even when no body is looking. It is YOUR, YOU, THE HUNTER, THE OUTDOORSMANS responsability to research this stuff. It is not your right to interpret the law for you or someone else. Follow the laws, enjoy your rights. Break the laws, it will catch up to you. I will not speak to IDFG ever, but I will obey their laws to keep my ethics.

Idahoshedhead · Feb 18, 2009

Greatbasin i live near boise and shed hunt in these parts to. What kind of luck have you had so far. Me and a buddy have picked 5 browns 19 whites so far. Nothin of very good size but its bone.