deershed

Wow,EVERYONE that went shed hunting this past season was a a winner!! This shed contest is a great excuse for everyone to share their finds with everyone.A BIG Thanks to Ruth for taking charge and having it run so smooth!! Are they dropping yet??

It's pretty green in my areas,maybe a few more while mushroom hunting.

OK todd...here you go. March 28th. I started off the day in an area I had a few singles thinking I could match up a couple,nothing.I then moved to an area I hadn't been in yet this year. It's only a small spot that usually only holds a handful of deer every year. Not finding alot of sign walking a small flat I spot an antler down the hill. Not 30yds away another one. I searched the hillside and an open field on top for awhile before going down and searching the creekbottom below. That's where I ran into the local deer that call this area home and a Sweet piebald.I a bunch of half decent pics of the piebald. I think this guy was the previous owner of the bigger shed I just found earlier here. After checking out the bottom longer then I'd have liked I started heading back up the hill for another quick look.Finally I decided to get out of this area and started out. I went to cross the creek using a deer trail headed towards the creek,at the bottom of the small bank I almost stepped on this next one. I think as the buck was jumping up the bank he dropped this one. Off to another area,this was where I found a nice 4pt. side and found the big 10pt. dead head. Another small area and things happened fast here.My first find here I did a double take,this one blended in good. About a 1/2 later walking the same little flat where I spotted a 5pt. side here earlier this year then the sweet 4pt. side just past it at the bottom of the hill.I find a double,2 sheds off 2 different deer.I never saw the second shed til after I took a couple pics of the first one. Here's the first one. In this next pic just left and short of the clump of green grass behind the leaf there's a white spot,that's the other shed. No more finds here so it was off to my last spot for the day.After I parked while getting out of the car I heard deer up over a small bank.I walked up to check it out and almost stepped on this old one. About an hour later walking a hill top the deer like to bed on I jumped a 8 pointer still carrying. About 10 mins later I spot my last find for the day. And all my finds for the day. April 2nd. Today was an after work shed hunt local,only walked a little over an hour and added 4 more to the pile. I have an old orchard that only has a few trees still in it that's more like a hayfield now that sits at the base of the mountain.I started off walking most of the orchard finding one. I then started searching the woods coming down off the mountain above the orchard.You wouldn't believe the acorns in this area. Here's some pics of the acorn crop. My next find was an old one,but a SWEET antler for this area. After my pics of that last shed I only went about 20yds. when I spotted another one. I then covered a good bit of ground in the surrounding area coming up empty and running out of time. Back in the orchard I had one more pass I figured I'd search on my way back out.About half way across the orchard and the jeep in sight I spot one last one. And all 4 for the day. April 5th. I took vacation today hoping I could really hit it hard.I hit it hard,but my finds for the day didn't show it. I started my day off where I got the one side off the sweet 10 and saw the 8 and spike still carrying a few weeks ago.I figured the other side to the 10 was dropped in a yard or someone else stumbled across it. I thought there was a small chance I'd find one off the spike and a good chance of finding the 8's sheds. Well,after about a half hour of looking I find one of the spikes sheds.I first saw this spike sparring with the 8 back on Feb. 7th now almost 2 months later I've got one of his sheds. I then gave this area another 1 1/2 hrs. coming up empty before moving to another area. This was the same area I was in a week ago last Sunday when I saw a buck still carrying. My first find here was an old one. A couple hundred yards away another old one. I then made my way to the hillside where I saw the buck still carrying my last trip in here.After a couple passes across the hillside I spot this. My first hanger of the season. The base on that last one was really white and clean,looked like it was just dropped.I then gave that hillside a good looking over with no more finds so I headed down the hill and up the opposite hillside. That's when I ran into this guy,they were about 200yds away. Knowing that buck was still carrying and I already searched the high percentage areas here I decided to head out to another spot. This next area I saw some decent buck here early then all the buck in this area disappeared.This is where I found the 4 dink sheds one after another my one trip.I never matched them up or found any other sheds here this year. After searching the area then taking my search further out I finally spotted my last shed find for the day,another old one. At the far end of this piece of woods I then found this dead head. Here's a couple pics of the spike from earlier in the year. And I think this was the buck that dropped the hanger,not 100% positive. Here's all 5 for the day. I've only got a few more sheds to post after these last ones.Things really slowed down here and green up is coming on strong. I'm not done yet though........

I'll update in a day or two.I've been real busy and not at finding sheds.

It's about over for me too,just can't let it go.

I never said anything about stopping. That won't happen ... I need to get out and find more before green-up takes over. Here's a few finds. March 17th. I went back to see if I could find the other half to the 10 and if the 8 and spike dropped yet. No luck finding the other side and the spike and 8 were still carrying both sides. And the 8 pointer,they weren't running together yesterday. After spending most the day in that area I left and hit a few other spots. In one of those spots I found this. And finally in one of my last spots,found my only antler.It looked like it was busted off just above the base. March 20th. Zach my older boy and I did an all day hunt yesterday,found 13 sheds,2 dead heads and a few turtles. I had to thank Zach for my first finds of the day.He found a dead 8 pointer to start the day.As we were checking it out I told Zach I think that looks like a shed pointing down the hill from us. Then told him it looks like a second shed to the right of it.A few steps down the hill and we can see it's a matched set. Here's the dead 8 pointer. About 40yds down the hill you can just make out some tines on both sides of the big tree. We no sooner started walking again after taking pics of the set when Zach yells he found one. After a few more passes across the hillside I spot one. It was a while before anything else was found.We were walking a more open hillside with scattered cedars when I spotted a piece of antler sticking out of some grass. It was Zach's turn next when he found a little Y shed. Next Zach found his second daed head,a 3pt. I was at the bottom of the hill and Zach was at the top so no ATL pic. Walking the woods again heading back out I spotted an old chewed shed. Almost out of this patch of woods I spot our last find for this area. In another spot we walked for about 2 hours before I spot our first find for this area,a little 3pt. side tines down. This next one the rodents didn't leave much behind. Zach was having a rough time so after finding this next one I never said a word and let Zach walk up on it. ;D After searching this area good and looking in the wrong direction for it's mate we decided to move on.We started heading out towards some grown up fields when I spotted the missing side on the edge of the field. Green-up is not far off. It was a long dry spell before I spotted tines at a distance.I let this one lay too and Zach walked by it about 5" away. ;D He was having a real bad day. In this first pic Zach walked down the hill from behind the shed just right of the stick to the right of the shed. All our finds for the day.The 2 sets to the left are the cut offs from the 2 dead heads. Don't miss my next update,I got some cool pics of a pretty piebald.

Sweet!! Hope he's not spoiled and realizes they all don't come that big...wait with the size of the sheds you've been posting maybe in your area most aren't far off. Any luck with anyone finding it's mate?

A couple more updates from my season so far this year. March 9th. I made a trip back in the area where I found my sets off my little big 10.Last year with all the snow we got the deer weren't in this area and I never found his set last year. I was hoping to search out in some other areas that connected to this area where I'd found his other antlers from earlier years.No luck on finding his sheds from last year,but I found some other oldies instead. My first find I'm still not sure if it was an oldie or just looked old from where it was laying.It was laying in a ditch on a hill that gets run off water when it rains or snow melt. After that first shed find I came across a little dead head.Later on my way out I ran into a guy cutting firewood and asked him about the little dead buck. Where I found it,it wasn't far from a treestand.After a little talking with this guy it turned out he hit a little buck from that treestand and that it was probably that same buck.He didn't want it,but it was still pretty cool. Before running into the wood cutter that lost the buck I found a little chewed antler some squirrel kindly left lay next to the base of a tree. After the chewed up squirrel shed is when I ran into the wood cutter.After talking with him about the dead buck I started off again and not 30 yds. away I almost stepped on another old one. And then to finish the day almost back to where I started my hike I spot my last find for the day,another old one. All 4 for the day. March 12th. Today picked right up where I left off my last hunt finding oldies.My first find a little old piece of chewed antler,no ATL for this one. My second find for the day wasn't much better. About an hour later I spotted white tines at about 40yds away.At first I thought I had another old one.While trying to get a good angle for a pic I noticed a second antler laying there too. I love finding matched sets laying together. It was a couple hours later before my next find,another old one. After hitting a couple different areas and coming up empty I finally found another fresh drop and my last for the day,another one spotted at a distance. All 6 for the day. March 13th. I was back in the area where I saw the 8pt. and spike sparring then ran into the 2 of them running with a Sweet 10 pointer. Here's the 10 point I saw a couple weeks back. About a 1/2 hour of looking here I spot this,the 10's left side. At the back side of this property where I thought I'd find the 10's other half I find an old one. There's a small creek running down through the center of this creekbottom.The creek is only a couple feet across,not big at all.I was following a deer trail to the creek to cross when I spotted this one feet from the waters edge. This shed was just dropped in the last couple days.Any sooner and all that rain we got the other day would have washed it away. This last shed was towards the front of the property.I wanted to check a small open area at the other end back by the 2 small blocks of woods where I'd just come from.On the way back there I find a dead head. After the dead head and next to the 2nd block of woods I hadn't searched yet I jump about a dozen deer.The 8 pointer is in the bunch carrying both sides and a bigger bodied buck that shed both sides,most likely the 10. After seeing these guys I decided to head out and let the area go another week. Almost out and across the creek from where I found that last shed I spot one last one for this area. See the mud on the base,this whole area was flooded bad after that last rain. When I moved from this spot I only moved down the creekbottom about a mile to hit a small spot. 10 mins. here I found my last shed for the day. And my finds for the day. I still have some more to update then I better find some fresh finds or I'm done. I'm planning to get some time in Sunday then again Tues.

That's what I'm talking about!! Most here can relate to the little ones with a big one now and then.That bigger one to the right is another SWEET one. Keep posting them...

These are all Maryland deer.I jump from one area to another all over the county(s),alot suburbia areas too. That's where alot of the dead deer finds come from.Too many roads criss crossing through my areas and the deer don't have a chance.

Congrats on another Sweet one!! No more big ones til you post a little one.

Keep at it,good things come to those that wait!! When you find that first shed it'll be the sweetest thing you'll ever find!! Good Luck!!

AWESOME!! :clap: Don't you find little ones?

SWEET!!

Congrats,that's AWESOME!!!!Score means nothing when it looks that SWEET!! mid 60's?? way to go team mate!!!

I did fall alittle behind. An update just for you Todd... It's been a rough year with the buck holding extra long this year seeing my latest buck still carrying Sunday.I was getting days in the 50's and 60's in mid feb. and then the deer started spreading out over a larger area when the warmer days hit spreading what sheds out that did drop. My next shed hunt was back on feb.25th. when I found one shed. The turtle shell I pulled from my collection that I'd already had. Feb. 27th. I made another trip finding a couple more. I headed further down the road to a farm I've had some good luck the last couple years.Last year a new group of hunters leased the property.They must have put alot of pressure on the local deer herd there. Found zero sheds and found very little sign of any deer using the property. I did find a little dead Y buck. I spent most the day on that farm and tried finding a couple new areas coming up empty before hitting the road.On the way home I stopped in one of my areas for a quick search. 10 mins. into my search I spotted an old one laying in a deer trail.At least my competition didn't hit it here yet this year. A little bit later I spotted white tines at a distance. After a few passes trying to find the other side I spot a little fresh 3pt. side. I After giving the rest of the immediate area a good look for the other side to the last two I started searching further out. That's when I jumped these 2 buck.I tried making the pic bigger,but it won't save for me when I'm finished with it.The spike's left antler goes straight out to the side. To make a long story short I covered that entire area good trying to match that 5pt. up for the next 2 hours.Frustrated and tired I started out to go home. That's when I jumped a small herd of deer with one buck in the group that dropped one side. You guessed it,the missing antler I just spent the last 2 hours looking for. All 3 for the day. March 1st. was my next shed hunt when my youngest boy Stacy went with me. Our first find for the day was a team effort.I spotted the shed and never said a word. Stacy then walked up and spotted it also. And this little one.Glad this was dropped where it was or this antler might not have been found. And both for the day. March 3rd My first find for the day was a little spike.It was in some open woods with alot of pines and alot of fallen trees and branches.I'd spotted the shed and took my first "atl" pic.As I stood to take another pic I then noticed it's other side laying there also. The shed laying dead center in pic was the first find.I never saw the side laying to the right until after I took the pic. In this pic the second shed is laying straihgt above the obvious shed under the twig off the branch. A little bit later I spotted this at a distance. And then one last little one to end the day. And all 3 for the day. March 5th. Today I went on a group shed hunt that a bunch of us do every year.This was the same group and hunt where my booner set came from a couple years back. My only finds for the hunt was an old one and a 8pt. dead head.Alot of buck were seen still carrying and only a handful of fresh sheds were found. First was the old shed. After covering some serious ground on the backside of the property and beyond,I was headed back in when I stumbled on this guy. After the shed hunt on the way home I stopped where I made my last trip finding the fresh 3pt side and the 5pt side. I was hoping to match either one up specially the 5pt side. About an hour at this place I stepped on this guy.It's the other side to the 3pt. side I found here my last trip. I never matched the 5pt side up that I saw still carrying his one side nor did I see either of the other 2 buck I saw still with both sides my last trip here. I did see a bigger bodied buck that dropped both sides.I'm thinking it was the one that was carrying one side my last trip. Here's both sheds from today with the 3pt's other side. March 7th. I went to a area I saw a nice 8 running around still carrying both sides a couple weeks ago.This is the first year I've ever been in this area. I think I found the set off the 8,not sure if it's the same one.I did see at least 2 other buck still carrying both sides maybe a third buck.Alot of buck are still carrying in my areas and I'll be working bad hours to get out looking soon. I'd already searched a couple other areas for the day coming up empty.On my way home I stopped to check things out in this area. About a 1/2 hour of looking here I spotted this. About an hour later after heading off and checking another area there I spotted this about 150yds away from my first find. And both for the day. Everytime I go shed hunting I pass this zebra out in a field with a couple donkeys.This is out in the country where you'd never expect to see something like this. I finally stopped on my way home today for some pics. I've still got a few more finds to update (30 some) and I'm not done looking yet,more later.

I think they look GREAT!! My only problem,I'd run out of hanging room.

Sweet finds!!

First there's plenty I still don't know,but I'll go by my own personal observations and experiences. I start my shedding season early Jan. more as a scouting trip and the fact I can't hold back anymore.My early trips I'm checking my areas out and looking for missed sheds from the year before.No matter how good you think you are there's always missed sheds. In alot of my areas there's competition from other shed hunters so getting out early and finding missed sheds and some early drops helps beat the competition.I've found my earliest fresh shed Jan 3rd.You'll hear of buck that already dropped in Dec. and hear of buck still carrying in late April. I've found the majority drop late Feb. into the first of March. When you start your shed season early you have to watch you don't pressure the deer and have them leave your area.In my early season locations it isn't a problem.I shed hunt alot of suburbia areas where there's alot of small patches of woods and deer are somewhat limited to where they can go.You can pressure the deer and never see them again,but most these deer are used to people and only go so far.I've found sheds laying in people's yards. If there's snow on the ground early season it's a great way to see exactly what the deer are doing.I scout the deer then just as I would if I was hunting the animal itself.I look for feeding areas or a good food source that the deer are using and where they are bedding. My first dozen trips early in the season I'm trying to get head counts and scouting more then anything. When I get a good idea what areas the deer are using and start to see more buck dropping I start making a plan of attack. I focus on areas I know there's competition first.I hit those areas early and as often as I can.If I can find the sheds before the competition it could discourage them or have them believing there's no sheds in that area.It works too. If I saw a monster earlier in a area or already found a nice shed I like to search that area.You hear the big ones that drop one side usually drop the other side not too far away and soon after too.I'm still not too sure of that one. I do think the odds of finding the other half are pretty good that if you do find it,it will be within 300yds. of the first half.On the other hand it could be a mile away. I also like to hit known hot spots from previous years early too.I found you'll find sheds in the same general area from year to year.I've also noticed some areas the buck will drop earlier then other areas from year to year. I have one buck that I've found 3 yrs. of matching sets off of.The first set was found completely away from the other sets.The last 2 sets all 4 antlers were found within 200yds. of each other and all were found early in the season. The key to finding sheds is looking in areas with lots of sheds.The majority of my sheds come from suburbia deer.There's hunting in some of my areas,but most is archery only and there's a fair amount of poaching going on. My suburbia deer areas stretch out into the country as well.There's many horse farms where no hunting is allowed and the deer grow big. It's hard to say how many different areas I have to look.Some are big 500 acre farms and others are small woodlots behind Walmarts. When I look for areas to shed hunt I look for areas as though I were hunting the deer itself. ]Late Winter early Spring most if not all the breeding is done.The main concern for deer at this time is survival(food and cover)not bred ding.I look for thickets and bedding areas and food sources.If I find the two close together I've found a hot spot. Last year one of my hot spots over the years showed very little promise in my early scouting trips.It was late Feb. and we had a foot of snow laying. I took a ride and found where the deer were crossing a country road.I backtracked the trails from the road to a thicket that had tracks and trails everywhere.I got permission off the farmer that owned the land and came back after the snow had melted.The farmer thought it was great that I might save him a tractor tire from a shed.I found over 2 dozen sheds on that farm last season.I found 4 sheds driving down the farm lane from the truck. While looking for places to shed hunt places where you saw the deer earlier in the Fall or during hunting season could be void of deer now.You have to hunt sheds where the deer are at during late Winter/Early Spring. OK,Once I've located a possible area to search for sheds I break it down further.I start off looking for fresh sign trying to locate where the deer are spending the majority of their time.I look for tracks or heavily used trails,if there's snow the tracks tell all.I check creek crossings for trails cut into the muddy banks. While searching for fresh sign I'm trying to locate the feeding and bedding areas. Bedding areas are usually the thickest cover or sheltered areas out of the weather.Thickets or brushy over grown fields as are south facing slopes or small hollows are all worth checking out.I've also found deer like to bed on points or flats on hillsides or benches where they can watch for danger.No different then bumping that deer on the top of the ridge and he jumps down over the other side.Any area that offers some protection from the elements is a good bet. One year I was in an area that had produced good for me over the years.In my earlier scouting I saw the buck were using this area once again.There was a deep snow that year and after the snow melted I hit this area.I searched this area a couple of times and couldn't find any sheds.I knew my competition didn't beat me to the sheds so I started thinking.There was one area across a creek I avoided each time due to crossing the creek.It was in the corner of a field on a south facing slope bordering a small ravine thick with mountain laurel. I no sooner started searching this area when I started finding sheds.I found 10 sheds all within 100yds. of each other with a couple of them being matching sets.During the deep snow the deer holed up in this small area and many dropped there. Normally I find deer avoid the open fields during heavy snow unless there's a good food source there.The deer in this case liked that corner of the field for the warm sun hitting it most the day.I've had hay fields that have produced well for me until there's a deep snow. One thing about snow.Depending when it snows or how much it could be your best friend or your worst enemy as a shed hunter.If the snow falls early and stays around before most the buck start dropping it could be a good thing.The deer for the most part will either hole up or use the same trails already cut into the snow.A great time to find sheds laying on top of the snow right in trails.If a crust of ice gathers on top of the snow it keeps the antlers from burying in the snow if the deer leave the trails.It also concentrates the sheds in a smaller area. If a deep snow comes after the deer start to drop the snows could bury sheds til after the snow melts and sheds could be scattered all over the place. Feeding areas are just that,where the deer are feeding.It could be a crop field to a oak flat or the shrubs in somebody's backyard.I've found my share of sheds in my suburbia areas laying in back yards. ]If you find a feeding area and the bedding areas,make sure to check the trails in between.I always check the trails for the obvious sheds then check the entire area between the two.The deer don't always stick to the trails,I've probably found more sheds off trails then on trails. One obvious food source that I like to avoid til late season is the corn fields.I'll search the area around the field and trails coming into it,but will wait to search the field itself til last.Searching corn fields are time consuming so I wait til I'm sure all the buck have dropped before searching them. When I search the field I take a couple rows on both sides of me and walk with the rows.Depending how thick the ground cover is in the field dictates how many rows I search on a pass.When I get to the end of the field I move over in the rows then make another pass til the whole field is searched.The corn stalks and leaves will give your eyesight a workout.You'll get more look a like sheds in a cut corn field then any where else. A couple of tips to keep in mind while searching. While looking for sheds look small and look close.No matter how open you think your area is,sheds will blend in great.I've found sheds 100yds. away,but most my finds are within 20yds. of me before I spot them.There's too many things that can hide a shed.Brush and leaves,a small depression in the landscape,the angle you look can hide them.Look for parts of the antler not the whole antler,some call it the 3" rule.Look for the curve of an antler,tines or the tips.Sometimes it's the off color of the antler that stands out.If you have an old antler take it out in the woods/fields and give it a toss.You'll be amazed how hard they are to spot. Old sheds from prior years that are faded are much easier to spot then fresh ones.If the sheds last from the previous year most likely it will have chews on it from the local rodents.I've found old sheds with out chews and fresh sheds with chews.It all depends on how many rodents in the area and just where they get dropped.They tend to last longer in the open compared to being dropped in the woods. Looking on over cast days or with a light rain make it easier to look and spot antlers.The antlers stand out better and the leaves lay down better exposing the antlers better.The same is true after a rain or snow melt. Anywhere a buck has to exert energy like jumping a fence, a log,or climbing a steep bank could cause a antler to drop.Antlers could be dropped at any time so any sudden or fast movement could be enough to drop an antler.I've found sheds where a buck tried going under a fence already too. One time I was driving down a country road and spotted a shed laying in the middle of the road.After a little more checking I found the other side laying on the bank.I then did a little search off the road and about 75yds.away. I found a dead deer.It was a dead buck that had just lost his antlers.The deer tried crossing the road and was hit by a car.The impact sent both his antlers flying. Sometimes I'll find both antlers off the same buck laying together other times they could be a mile apart.I think the bigger the antlers the better the chance they"ll be dropped closer together.In general I think when a bigger buck drops one side he can feel the difference of weight on his head when that one antler drops,the smaller buck it may not be so obvious. ]I've seen two wild deer drop antlers.The first it was only one antler and when it dropped he was gone in a flash.The second deer I got to watch for awhile after one antler dropped.It was a small 6 pointer late March early April.He was jumping some logs when the first antler went flying.I watched him run down though some open woods and he was shaking his head like he had a swarm of bees flying around his head.After the second antler went flying he quit shaking his head.That buck had to realize the one antler was gone and was trying to get rid of the second. You'll hear the bigger mature bucks usually drop first before the smaller younger buck do.As a general rule I think that is true with the elk upstate Pa.,but I've never seen that with the whitetails in my areas.I've seen small buck running around after shed dding one side then big 8 and 10 pointers the next day still carrying both sides. I think I find more sheds over all in wooded areas or brushy fields.I find alot along side crop fields just inside the woods.Staging areas where the deer hang out waiting on darkness before entering the fields. In all my areas I search,I search them a couple times each season.Not all the deer drop them at the same time.I may find a few sheds one day then go back 2 weeks later and find more.If I see deer still carrying while I'm looking or know there's mates still out there I keep looking.Late in the season towards the end I give all my areas a good grid pattern search.I break the area down in sections then make passes back and forth covering everything.Depending how thick the cover is dictates how wide my passes are.If I'm looking for a special antler earlier in the season I'll do the same. Sometimes no matter how many times or what direction you search your areas you won't find all the sheds.Back in 99 I found a monster shed that scored 108".When I saw that thing laying at first I thought it was a bush.I did a dozen or so grid pattern searches in the area.I expanded my search out in all possible directions that deer could have gone and never did find the mate to that shed. On days that I don't find sheds I always experience something new.I find my share of crippled or dead deer.One year I found a dead 8 pointer with some heavy cable attached to his rack and wrapped around his body.I find turtle shells and skulls off deer and other smaller animals.I've yet to find my first set of locked antlers. I see all kinds of wildlife and have learned so much more about the deer and the world they live in while shedding. So I'd say the best tip I could give you is to take a camera along,you'll want those "as they lay" shots of your finds. A good pair of binoculars will save some foot work on those want'a be sheds too.You'll do enough walking as it is. Did I forget to mention the walking part?Walk,walk and walk some more. Hope this helps,Good Luck!!

Team #4 (deershed) I have some more sheds to add to my count before I fall too far behind.My total should be at 51 after these are added in. Found Feb. 17th. 3 sheds,the set to the left is the matched set off the big single from last year. Found Feb. 19th. 3 sheds Found Feb. 25th. 1 shed Found Feb. 27th. 3 sheds Found March 1st. 2 sheds Found March 3rd. 3 sheds Found March 5th. 2 sheds,matched a set up.The third antler was already counted earlier. March 7th. 2 sheds March 9th. 4 sheds

Definately a pig!! Did you ever score it?Not that a score matters,Sweet find!! Congrats and Good Luck with him this year!!

So many things can determine the number of sheds found per matched set. If there's a heavy snow and it keeps deer concentrated your sets found will go up. Pressure or lack of on the buck during shedding.If the buck are pressured if might scatter them out over a bigger area lowering your odds of finding both sides. A good food sorce might keep them in a smaller area where lack of a good food sorce will have them traveling further spreading out the sheds. And my biggest problem other competition.If competition is picking up your missing sides there's no way your matched set count will go up. Myself I usually find 5 or 6 anlters per every set found.With that said I hit my areas over and over and as often as I can b/c of competition. Another problem that I have is my location.I shed hunt alot of surburbia areas and I believe alot of antlers get dropped out of reach of where I can go. So far this year I've got 34 sheds with 5 matched sets......

I made a few more trips since my last update.I did alot of walking so far this year for the sheds I've found.The buck seem to be dropping in pockets and then only a few at a time in those areas. My next trip was Feb.16th back in the same area where I found the big 10pt. set. I no sooner started my search for the day when I almost stepped on a matched set laying together. Walking into the sun it wasn't easy seeing these at first. After the set walking just inside some woods that bordered a cut corn field I spotted tines at a distance. It was an old one. Then a little while later in a different area I finished up the day finding a busted up dead head spike. All 3 for the day. Feb 18th. I found another 3 sheds starting the day off with a fresh 3pt. side. It was a couple hours later before I found anything else.Last year I found this bucks matched set.Not a monster set,but a sweet set just the same. I gave that area a good look trying to match that last one up and came up empty.I left that area and stopped at another area for a quick search before heading home. Here I found one for my last find of the day. And all 3 for the day plus that set from last year. Feb 20th I was back in the same area I was in where I found the big 3pt. side my last hunt.After 3 hours coming up empty on anything I moved to a different area.This new area I was in once in early Jan. seeing a few buck using this area. Today it was a couple buck still carrying and 4 small dead heads.I spent a couple hours here before moving again. I checked out a couple different areas coming up empty in all of them before finally finding an old chewed up antler.This was in the area where I watched the 8 and spike sparring. After the old find and most this area already covered I started heading out.That's when I walked up on 3 buck,two were the 8 and spike I saw sparring earlier and the third a sweet 10 pointer. This was the 8 that was sparring with the spike. And the spike with the 10. After running into the 3 buck I hurried out of that area to hit one last spot for the day.It was a open grassy field that would be easy to search and the deer used this field alot. It was 6:10 when I almost stepped on these before seeing them.A perfect way to end a long day after starting my hunt at 9 that morning. And all 3 sheds for the day. We got hit with about 6" of snow 2 days later and haven't been out since.The snow levels have been dropping good and warmer temps. and rain are in the forecast so maybe some more sheds soon.....

That right there is an AWESOME day!! Bet you felt like a little kid at Easter time....

All depends where it was dropped and your local rodent population.I've found some that were fresh and hit already and others that have laid for years. Usually if dropped out in the open they last longer vs. found in woods. How much trouble do you usually have with finding fresh chewed antlers?If you don't usually find fresh sheds chewed I'd say the rodents aren't too bad.If your finding fresh drops all the time with chews a squirrel hunt is in order for later this Fall.