Utah Shed Hunt too early

IHuntNUtah · Apr 9, 2011

I went on a WMA today for the opener to look for some sheds and couldnt help but notice how badly this hurt the deer in the area i was in. I showed up at 630 and many people had been out for hours, the deer had obviously been pushed to the limit by the time I started. I personally watched a deer with a collar roll down a hillside side over side to the bottom of the hill. As i walked back to my vehicle I noticed 3 other deer at the bottom. all had made the roll down the hill. I found another spot where a deer had fallen from a cliff, not a tall one more like a rock, about 8 feet and had drawn blood and kept on going. My personal opinion is that the shed hunt opener on these wintering grounds should be pushed back a few weeks. I did have success on my shed hunt, found a few good ones and i had fun with my friends and enjoyed the scenery. If we wait a couple weeks most of the elk will have dropped also instead of just over half. the only downside i see to pushing it back is the dang shed poachers will get more than they have already. Just my opinion.

huntinfool1 · Apr 9, 2011

I agree. ive been watching quite a few bulls on a WMA for a month or so. I had a matching set that i found in the spotter laying under a tree. I was at the base of the mountain at first light this morning and i looked up the hill to see a flash light already up the hill by the same tree. i made the buttkicking hike anyways and was discouraged. someone had hiked the hill in the night and picked it up. i talked to a few guys on the hill that told me they had buddies on the hill all night with flashlights, they had picked up their horns and were already home by first light. theres something wrong with that...also, too much snow the elk and deer dont need to be pushed around in this weather.

love2hunt16 · Apr 9, 2011

I agree 100%. Too many people are trying to be the first person up the hill. It's a rat race to beat the next guy up. I understand we're all out to pick up some sheds but some people are EXTREME! The rules need to be a bit more structured. For example, the shed hunt in Jackson Hole, Wyoming doesn't open until 8 am or something on their opening day. I think these WMAs should have a set time on the opening day. They also need to open later and by later I mean, wait til the animals are out of the area. There are plenty of animals still using these wintering grounds, at this time of year, and now they've been pushed out. This could contribute greatly to more animals dying this year than there would have been had they just been left alone. I like the WMA's. They are good fun and there are great chances to find some sheds; however, what fun is it to start hiking at first light and finding nothing but boot prints EVERYWHERE because people have been up there for the 7 hours prior.

TINEBROTHER · Apr 9, 2011

I agree... I saw a bull up there that I am pretty sure wont make it... after I saw all the tracks and sign of game in the area I backed out... not worth a few antlers. fish and game no where to be found and wildlife being harassed. there were guys pushing the herd over the top... they will push until they drop. the Turkey hunts starts now too... so hard to control. most years are not like this and there usually isn't this much snow. just have to use your best judgment.

KeeP in touch... ANTLER ADDICTION THERAPY GROUP on FB.

hangfire · Apr 9, 2011

+1 love2hunt, the whole point on making the shed hunters wait is for the animals to move out, if there are still animals on the winter grounds then shed hunting should be pushed back.

hunter_orange13 · Apr 9, 2011

I was thinking the same thing today. I was pushing deer everywhere I went, and got sick of it and left. Found a 2 point shed. I think may 1st would be more appropiate. No snow (or less) and it was snowing today!

hornkiller · Apr 10, 2011

If you are out with a flash light trying to beat guys to shed IMO you are an idiot and give shed hunters a bad name!
But when you have the idiots such as the D.W.R. running the show they are bound to have bigger idiots follow.

HiMtnHntr · Apr 10, 2011

I don't know how you guys in Utah do it . . . Sounds like everybody and their brother, sister, mom, and grandma was on the hill . . . I've been at for many years and I've only ever seen a few people while hiking in those years I knew were specifically looking for sheds . . .

ntrl_brn_rebel · Apr 10, 2011

I went past this "Spot" at around 4 in the morning on my way to SLC and it looked like a Christmas tree, led lights running all over the place..........Snow, Cold, Wind, Dark, million people to pick up a few sheds, you guys can have it...........How many of you are out on Black Friday with Shopping Carts?????????

I guess I enjoy shed hunting for other reasons, to each there own.

love2hunt16 · Apr 10, 2011

Well said ntrl_brn_rebel.....

I enjoy shed hunting for so many other reasons. Utah's a freakin' mess now when it comes to shed hunting.

love2hunt16 · Apr 10, 2011

Shed hunting isn't near as much fun as it used to be in this state. The passion is gone....now it's just a sickening epidemic. Four wheeler tracks, horses, people swarming wintering grounds in January, and February when these animals RELY on these spots to survive. It's sickening in Utah. Absolutely sickening anymore. A lot of shed hunters in this state have taken the real fun and passion out of this past time.

whiteshadow · Apr 10, 2011

I agree to an extent. You start putting too strict of rules and you'll really give poachers rebelling people are going to go out regardless. I'm from an area with no date restriction, I took the venture 2hrs up north yesterday to see how this whole restriction thing would work, to be honest I thought it was a cluster *bleep. You have everyone who horn hunts take off the same day to the same area and crowd the area, almost over run the area, the animals have no draw to run to with out a hunter in it, so naturally they leave to "safe" areas off the wma. There was too much snow so we just kinda watched never even got out of the car, I didn't want to put the extra pressure on the wildlife. People were walking in 6 to 8 inches of snow, there is maybe 2 inches of snow here and no one I know is going, I hunt areas where I live with no date restriction and I see guys go out early, but the animals have some where to go, usually 1 draw away. We have quite a few shed hunters around here as well, but we all go out on our time when we have off, I rarely run into anyone, I see people on the wma but the animals are never really pressured like what I saw in the north, I prefer the no restriction, punish those harassing the wild life more severely I think it was a good idea the north had but like the whole wolf reintroduction not too thought through. Take the date off more guys will go out early, get burnt out animals won't have pressure from guys every 15 feet punish those going after the animals right after they drop or chasing them to drop

B_BOP_A_LU_LU · Apr 10, 2011

So tell me?

Were all of them Camoed clear up for opening day?

I've seen a few Shed Heads in Daniels & all of them have been 110% Camoed up!

I don't care if they're big or small!
If they throw lead I like em all!

Daxter · Apr 10, 2011

This whole thread makes me want to puke. Sounds like you actually watched some deer get run to death. Shed hunting in UT is out of control.

Dax

There is no such thing as a sure thing in trophy mule deer hunting.

IHuntNUtah · Apr 10, 2011

You are exactly right! I watched her get ran to death. And she wasnt the only one. It made me want to puke too! I hunt these same deer, so its hurting the herd I hunt and I hate it! Shed hunting in utah is out of control. If you dont get out in january and february on any public ground then you dont get any sheds. On the WMAs you dont get a shed unless you sneek up in the dark before it opens. People will do anything for a bone. Its sad that we are willing to risk their lives so we can pick up their bones!

YELUM · Apr 10, 2011

Ya, lets blame it on f&g and the regulations. Totally impossible for some tard to see that the deer are struggling and that a new snow storm has hit, and think, "for the better of the deer herd, I'm gonna stay home for a couple more weeks.
" Nope, gotta enlarge the pile.

Yelum

B_BOP_A_LU_LU · Apr 10, 2011

Flashlights Huh?

Wheelers Everywhere Huh?

Middle of the Night Huh?

I stopped hunting a particular mountain range due to the same kind of BS!

She's out hand boys just like I said several years ago was gonna happen!

Somebody a year or two ago mentioned a 500.00 ShedHead License?

How do you Guys figure that would affect the Big Picture?

Or would 500.00 be enough?

I don't care if they're big or small!
If they throw lead I like em all!

IHuntNUtah · Apr 10, 2011

I am not trying to blame the fish and game for anything. But I do think it should be brought to their attention what happened saturday. Deer did struggle. Elk were chased. And, they, the fish and game are the only ones that can do anything. I can stay off the mountain but most are going regardless. Maybe no restriction would be better, but I dont think its the best option for the animals. I think with no restriction people are going up and gonna chase them and it does impact the deer either way. I do think it would be best to wait til the majority of the animals have gone elsewhere and then open it up to the cluster. I personally dont care if I have to wait til July to go lookin.

whiteshadow · Apr 10, 2011

fish and game should be more strict on the ones chasing them and people should use common sense. when i hike and i see a deer or elk if i stop and turn around not to spook them. if i do on accident kick them up out of a draw i turn around and head else where. i think if you get caught chasing them and pursuing them you should be charged and hunting/fishing priviledges taken away for that year... i dunno just throwin ideas around

AndymanSavage · Apr 10, 2011

"I did have success on my shed hunt, found a few good ones and i had fun with my friends and enjoyed the scenery."

"I made the buttkicking hike anyways and was discouraged. "

"I was pushing deer everywhere I went, and got sick of it and left. Found a 2 point shed. "

DWR can't regulate common sense.....I looked out my window this week and knew what it took some guys hours of hiking to find out apparently....

Bobcat, I always wear my camo out hiking. Why? I paid a lot of money for it because of the materials it is made of and they offer the most comfort and utility while out in the hills. Ever hiked in a wet pair of jeans? (and I don't mean after pissing yourself the first time you saw the nomad buck). I do not care what color my clothes are while hiking/scouting, I just want to wear the best I have for what I am doing.....now far more disturbing is the dude that gets camo'd up to go to cabelas or wally world.....

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http://andymansavage.blogspot.com/

B_BOP_A_LU_LU · Apr 11, 2011

Easy My Man AndyMan!

I don't really care what you wear!

But when I say 110% Camo,I'm talkin War Paint too!

Do you put your Make-Up on Andy to sneak up on them Sheds?

"now far more disturbing is the dude that gets camo'd up to go to cabelas or wally world....."

LMAO Andy!

I wear Camo sometimes myself Andy,but War Paint just to go Shed Huntin,WTF?

I Guess if one TARD Shed Hunter see's another TARD Shed Hunter that means they are close to a 'Score' & don't want the other TARD to see them?

GEEZUS!

Why don't the DWR just start selling TARD/SHED Licenses since Wildlife is getting pushed/herassed all damn year?

Let's just Hunt em year a round & get it over with!

I don't care if they're big or small!
If they throw lead I like em all!

AndymanSavage · Apr 11, 2011

haha, war paint? You're right, they are probably using it to stalk in on the other shed heads to snatch that antler first.....as far as I'm concerned, you guys can have them all.

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http://andymansavage.blogspot.com/