Iowa shed hunter heading out west

[Antlerfreak]

I read the thread about the WI boys and I thaught Iowa shed hunting had gone crazy! you boys out west really take things to the extreme. Ive been picking up white tail sheds for about 12 years now. I usually pick up around 100 each year here in Iowa. this year I want to head out west with a good friend and try an pick up some elk sheds. Ive done aliitle searching around on the net and am coming up with alot of regs you guys have. Really I thaught I was going to be able to drive out there get a hotel and pack back in each day on some public ground and find some sheds. Its not sounding that easy after reading from some diff. sites. Im thinking CO. but am not sure where to begin. I dont want to just come out and ask for anyones shed spots but alittle info would be much appriciated. like what elevation should I be looking at for wintering grounds. Where can I get the regs stating what ground has seasons and what doesnt, maps of private vs public. even a general area on the east side of the range to start. Im not in this to pick up hundreds of sheds for $. I just truly love the sport and would love to go out there this year and pick up a half dozen to dozen sheds in 3-4 days. Also what are the chances of picking up some moose sheds along the way. are there better areas of the state than others for this. And what can one expect to find in a day. In Iowa of course ther are days Ive walked all day and came up empty and other days ive picked up 20. I guess in general if I walk Iowa all day I expect to pick up 4-8 sheds on average. And it all depends where your at of course. just wondering what to expect out west. I picture ther being meadows and vallys in places that hold hundreds of sheds, on the other hand all those places im sure are hit hard by locals, or am I going to find myself hiking miles upon miles to find a single shed. I not out to pick up hundreds of sheds for $. I just truly love the sport of shed hunting and cant think of much better than doing it out west in the mountains even if I dont find any it will still be enjoyable for me. Ive hunted Co. for elk and muleys twice out by Grand Junction with no luck and Idaho once. In idaho i managed to pick up two elk sheds but never got anything shot.
Sorry for the long post and I hope you guys take it easy on me for asking so many questions, I no if an out of stater got on a Iowa website asking these things about Iowa shed hunting they would prob get an ear full. But I have to start somewhere.

Thanks in advance

 

[hornkiller]

90% of the elk out here are watched like hawks on a feild mouse and there sheds are picked up within hours of them falling off plan on miles&miles for that one shed

 

[DakotaSage]

Antlerfreak,
My brother just moved to Iowa city, to go to school and he wants me to come and visit this summer. I am kind of in the same boat as you. I told him if I came out there I wanted to sneak out and do a little shed hunting. Like you, I am not wanting to pick up a ton of sheds, but it would be awesome to add a few white tail antlers to the pile. This would only be a one time trip, so the more info I can gather, the better my odds are at picking up a few. I will send you a PM, and we will have to work something out.
PM sent!!!

 

[completesportsman]

I only get out west in the fall to hunt, I have found several elk and muley sheds while hunting, most were found in MT and were around 6000' good luck.

 

[Squirrel]

You may not want to pick up hundreds of sheds but everyone else sure does!! Don't worry you won't have to leave too many on the mtn for lack of the ability to carry any more. Elk drop on their reverse (upward) migration pattern and snowpack and a weeks time of their dropping can make 5 miles difference on the mtn.
What this means is scouting will save tons of miles in fruitless hiking where you are literally miles from the nearest fresh shed. (but you may be dead nuts on where they dropped LAST year!)
I always figured if the deer shed hunting didn't preceed elk I would die of heart attack if you just jumped right into elk, get in shape or you're in deep s@#%.
I've been doing this for almost 15 yrs and have watched it go from a solitary peaceful sport to insanely competitive with screaming insults and flat tires at the trailheads.
Hence all the regulations and there will be more on the way- just read these forums and all the insults/hostility. Pm if you decide on Co and I can help you more without compromising my hotspots.