utah shed hunting

theox · Apr 24, 2010

Anyone else sick of all the competition the last 2 years? seems hectic now. had a few of my little honey holes hammered before i could get in there.im definently no pro shed hunter but i used to be able to find un hit places to kick up a shed or two here and there.... im guessing the problem comes with so many out of work? so they are out looking for new territory? ive pretty much thrown in the towel. get sick of hiking all over only to find tons of foot prints and 4 wheeler tracks in every draw hill and ridge in the middle of nowhere.. anyway just need to vent a little.

what do you guys think,is there that many more people out in the hills the last two years? or is it the same guys as usaul but with more time on there hands and hittin the hills harder?

southslope82 · Apr 24, 2010

I have actually put alot of thought into this very subject. When I first started shed hunting there were places we would go that we would gather up alot of horn. We would occasionally run into other shed hunters very seldem though. Now these places are just absolutley hammered to hell. The only thing you will find in these places are brown horns cause everything is picked up every year a white horn is unknown there. I have changed alot to how I shed hunt and were I shed hunt too. It seems like anymore I just try to go places that probably won't have very high potential for getting into alot of horns, But there also is nobody else that will go in there really. It is sad to see but it literally is turning into a foot race anymore.
I also know people who have turned from hunting to shed hunting for many reasons, The General deer hunt is a joke anymore, Draw odds suck for LE or OIL Tags, It is over crowded, Now the hunt is shorter, and alot of other reasons I wont get into right now, so rather than these guys taking time off and hunting they have started taking a week off work and focusing strictly on sheds making a camping trip of it and everything and they say that they enjoy it more than hunting. They get just as excited picking up sheds as they do hunting and it is cheaper for the most part. The area that I live in has really grown over the past several years and I think that has a little to do with why it gets hammered so hard anymore. The Oil Field has ruined alot of it too what used to be nice grassy draws are now dirt roads going to a location. We could really sit here all day and go over the possibilities as to why it is more crowded.. I have also started to concentrate my efforts on finding the bucks and bulls before they even drop and have a list of areas I want to hit before everything is picked over to much. Before I wouldn't put much effort into scouting cause you could just go and count on picking up horns and not seeing others tracks. hahah Not anymore. I also try to go during the week as much as possible the weekends are a circus. I will always shed hunt as long as I live I love it just as much as anybody. I have taught myself just to get out and enjoy the excersize and the outdoors and time with friends and family and have fun no matter what and if you come across a shed thats just a bonus.

Ticks N Tines · Apr 25, 2010

I think Shed Hunting is just growing in popularity. You now have groups dedicated to finding sheds, you have movies being made about finding sheds, and you have ads posted everywhere by antler buyers. People are starting to figure out that Antlers are worth money, and everyone wants money. It's too bad for us guys that don't sell sheds and respect the animals. A lot of people will do whatever it takes to get those big elk/deer sheds worth the big $, and as a result you get harassment and stress on the winter range.
I also agree with the previous statment made. People are sick of hunting in Utah. I think people are starting to realize that when you shed hunt and real hunt, you get the same trophy. With all the talk of antlers and score, why bother with the meat when you can just go pick up the trophy on the ground and not have to draw any tag or anything. Utah Hunters are looking for alternatives to hunting. The hunting is hard when you don't draw a tag, and you will draw maybe 2-3 tags in a lifetime. Shed hunting is fun because you have a great chance at bringing home a trophy every year if you do your homework. You can take multiple trohpies a year and you can now mount them up just like a buck or bull you harvested.
I think it's a great sport, and I wish everyone could enjoy it and respect it as much as I do. It's getting popular and all we can do is hope that the people just starting out understand the importantance of winter range and how to respect it and it's wildlife.

tinehunter · Apr 25, 2010

I try to get a way from the roads as I can. Here in Idaho it's illegal to take your four wheeler off road or trail, don't know about Utah. I think your right about the people out of work looking for sheds, (that's what I am doing since I have been out of work since last may.) I love to shed hunt and I think it's first come first serve. Try some new territory. I also know here in Idaho the turkey hunters get out and find a few sheds.
Good luck
Tinehunter

whiteshadow · Apr 25, 2010

I think its a combination of both. I think we have alot more younger generations going. I personally have seen 5 kids from high school and posts on here of kids ditching class and going out and picking up some pretty good bone. When I went to highschool there where maybe 10 of us, now it think there maybe 10 that dont. I even saw a girl that was a senior have a horn she picked up with her boyfriend on the front dash of her car! (my little brother just graduated and informed me of this) i also think that there maybe some due to guys out of work. But then it makes you wonder how they are getting gas money to get there and why arent they out lookin for work haha. Mainly for me though i think this year i have seen lots of young highschool kids out while im at work. Or retired guys that are "just looking" at deer ( there is a longer story to that) its great we are getting younger generations involved but man when they pull up and i show them my 180 class buck and they pull out there 200+ really makes me wish attendance in class was enforced more strict.

whiteshadow · Apr 25, 2010

that story of the old man "just lookin" at deer. well here goes so my buddy had been watching this buck (heavy 190 class buck) and he was hanging on to his horns for a while so it created quiet the crowd of people watching. well previously in the day me and my other friend drove over to look at these elk that had come down in the fields that one had lost both sides. Well there was a man with his 2 little shitzu dogs layin in the back of his buick town car and he was watching them. We didnt pay much attention until the next day our other buddy informed us he picked up one side to the big buck ( he had 2 years of this buck prior to this so many lunch breaks and early pre work hikes took place) then he said he thought some old man picked up the other side. Well we see our buddy pulling out a set of 6 point elk he had picked up before and we stopped and asked what was up and he told us his story. He said he pulled up to hill saw the buck lost 1 side and was headed over the hill and jumped the fence and walked out the other side of the bush and no horn. so he let the buck pass by and saw this old man pull up. so they took off and my buddy got the horn and my buddy asked the old man do you have the other side. he said no, ill give you 20 dollars for your horn though. My buddy said ill give you 100 for yours then the man said ill give you 100 for yours. So when the man pulled up while my buddy was sharing this story with us and told us he was trading this old man his 6 point set for the 1 horn. i asked the old man for his story and he said about midnight the night before he had his flashlight next to his binos and was watching the deer when all of a sudden they scrambled and the buck had one side and he went out and picked it up. I asked what where you doing out so late (being in his 70's) he said i like to just look at the deer and elk. hahaha we called bs on it.

one_dryboot · Apr 25, 2010

I think most hunters enjoy shed hunting just to get out and see what they can find. Its not that hard to get away from the crowds, if your willing to hike. I went to a place last weekend and found 7 white elk sheds and 3 new. I packed about 5 miles in but we started picking up bone about the mile and a half mark. between the two of us we found 20+ sheds and didnt see another soal or footprint. We left a few on the hill cuz we couldnt carry them all.
Every year I keep my best sheds then sell off the old smaller stuff because it takes up room. This year I have made some good money doing this and I can buy a brand new bow with it. there are plenty of places to get out and find bone.
I think alot of guys walk past alot of bone because they think they have to hurry or someone will beat you to the good spot. If you slow down, use your bino's and train your eye's to pick out tines, burr's, and small parts of the antler you will find alot more even in hard hit areas.
Its a growing sport that family's and friends can do that is fun and exciting so it will get worse and worse as years go by.

southslope82 · Apr 25, 2010

Might I add. The fact we get on here and post pics and stuff really doesn't help either I personally don't post many pics on here for the simple reason it does advertise. I am not against posting pictures or anything on here I think it is a good thing to a point. There are alot of Locals and people that I know that would dang well recongize alot of things and I just choose not to post to much. I cuss every year that I go out hunting and see all these people out in spots I like to hunt but in the same hand I have gave info out to people on this very sight to help them with the same hunts. I don't give my areas out but it does have some affect I beleive. We are slitting our own throats There is a little local gas station that has a bulletin board inside were everyone puts pictures of hunting and fishing success that they have had. Don't get me wrong I like to look at the pics and see who has what but I choose not to put any of my pics up there cause it does advertise the area and the moutains near by. Things like this web site are a very bitter/sweet thing. I have learned alot and I hope helped others alot. I do love to see everyones pics and don't think that posting pics and stuff here should bother anybody.. Its not like Shed Hunting is a big seceret or anything. I guess it just depends on how ya look at it.

AntlerKing · Apr 29, 2010

I don't even shed hunt Northern Utah anymore, the guys up on the Cache run them around all winter and spring. By the time I get out I'll I find is boot tracks and their left over lunch wrappers. I don't know if it's the boys from USU that get out of class around 11am and spend the rest of Jan and Feb on the mountain. Or some of the local guys I know that sneak on private property to get away from the crowds, I'm sure the land owners would love to know they have visitors on their place from Feb-March (a few of these guys have been doing it for years, way before shed hunt got popular).
The only trip I take is my annual March trip to Arizona, that way I don't have to deal with the Wal*Mart crowds on the hill. I'm about ready to stop going over to Wyoming, 11 years of shed hunting over there has turned into a Mess of ATV's, I wish the BLM had more officers so they could put a stop to the greedy shed hunters. I guess that's what it's came down to, greedy, slothful shed hunters. I'm now thinking laws to regulate it might not be a bad thing. With that said, I know the slothful portion of shed hunters is still low, but it seems like I run into more Aholes then decent guys on the hill.

benbendetti · Apr 30, 2010

Yeah man I know how you feel, Im in western colorado in a small town. Good shed huntin. The past two years 4 or 5 of my friends started shed hunting because I would allways show em my finds, now they all do it and allways ask me where to go and where I find em. Keep That Sh*t a secret, Found that out the hard way. Had some wicked honey holes that I shared with a few of my friends, Now there takin there friends in there. So now Im in new spots and I wont even tell my dad where I go. I do really well in this area. Got 70+ deer 25 brownies, 5 elk so far this year. Good Luck buddy , When they ask where you found em, Say "In the Mountains by a tree"

idahoan · May 2, 2010

LAST EDITED ON May-02-10 AT 04:39PM (MST)[p]I have a hard time beleiving that people can't find work. Tine hunter, I'm not sure where your from but I know there are some farmers always willing to give a hardworker a job. I know that because my dad and my father inlaw are both farmers and both will hire if a hard worker. EVEN IF TIMES ARE TOUGH. Might not be the best money but, its some. I don't know you and I'm not pointing this toward you at all, but we cant blame everything on the economy, there are jobs out there we just need to look in a different field maybe until our field comes back? Sorry just what I have been thinking about. Anybody else feel the same?

KILLERBEE · May 2, 2010

OX- lets see, after your elk hunt you complained that there were no elk to be found, then after your turkey hunt you complained there were no turkeys around, now your complaining there are no sheds to find.

whats the deal? what do you need to do differently?

whambasted · May 2, 2010

what are farmers in your part paying? i know around here, the pay is based on illegal scales. for every hard working white guy there's 15 hard working wetbacks that all live together so they don't mind making 6 bucks an hour....

idahoan · May 3, 2010

Well it depends on how hard you work, but its better than $6 bucks an hour. 8 to 10. But even at $6 if you had been outta work for very long I'm pretty sure six is better than zilch. But then again I guess the way our government is set up Unemployment benefits look real good. Exspeacially after they have been extended. Whatever if thats how some want to do it I guess they can thats the system. I cant do much about it.

TheKnack · May 4, 2010

It has spilled across the border from the same pose shed hunters.....Think I will get together 40-50 guys and return the favor in a shock and awe retribution.