joeaveragehunter Posted January 20, 2010 Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 I was wondering a few things about shed hunting. -On land that is clear cuts and big timber where is the best places to start looking? -In northern wisconsin, snow is a foot or more deep into late march or april. Should a person wait til it melts or gets to six inches deep? -On land with numerous deep ravines next to river, should I concentrate on west facing slopes or the flats on top? The only sheds found on this land in forty years has been a full skull six point, which looked like a late winter kill, and a few main beams with the tines eaten. This is not to say there are not decent bucks roaming, just that we haven't run across too many and I would like a little suggestion on where to start if I am specifically looking for sheds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted January 20, 2010 Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 south side facing slopes are good as the deer will bed there for warm from the sun. I concentrate on bedding areas, feeding areas and of course the trails lead to and from those areas. Since you are talking about big timber I guess deer can feed just about anywhere or do they feed in specific areas???? Another good spot is a fence, creek or other crossing....anywhere that causes a deer to jump. That shock will sometimes cause him to drop his antler. If the snow is that deep now can't you find the heavily used trails......I would mark those now and go back and search, maybe when there is a little less snow.... I have never had the joy or misery of searching for sheds in the snow....but I would think finding the trails would help you find the sheds. A deer can drop a shed ANYWHERE so the very best advice I can give is get some comfy boots and start walking, and walking and walking and when you think you have walked enough.......start over and walk more. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeaveragehunter Posted January 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 they pretty much feed anywhere during the summer and winter as there are no fields within a mile or three in any direction. Thanks for the help, I will start on the trails and then the south slopes and then the random walk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted January 20, 2010 Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 they pretty much feed anywhere during the summer and winter as there are no fields within a mile or three in any direction. Thanks for the help, I will start on the trails and then the south slopes and then the random walk. if those fields have food.....deer may just travel that far to eat. Deer will move to the food if they have to... A deer's home range will vary from season to season....Summer, Fall, Rut and winter.. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shedhunternick Posted January 20, 2010 Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 get out and do some scouting now, see where theyre feeding and bedding,trails, south facing slopes, etc, then go out and look in those spots once theyre in prime shedding season. Like already said, concentrate on food sources if you can find them and trails going to and from, they wont bed too far from them. walk SLOOOOOWWWW, you might even find a shed or two now if your lucky. ive found 2 so far this season. oh and where deer can get out of the wind look there too. good luck to ya and have fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted January 24, 2010 Report Share Posted January 24, 2010 south side facing slopes are good as the deer will bed there for warm from the sun. I concentrate on bedding areas, feeding areas and of course the trails lead to and from those areas. Since you are talking about big timber I guess deer can feed just about anywhere or do they feed in specific areas???? Another good spot is a fence, creek or other crossing....anywhere that causes a deer to jump. That shock will sometimes cause him to drop his antler. If the snow is that deep now can't you find the heavily used trails......I would mark those now and go back and search, maybe when there is a little less snow.... I have never had the joy or misery of searching for sheds in the snow....but I would think finding the trails would help you find the sheds. A deer can drop a shed ANYWHERE so the very best advice I can give is get some comfy boots and start walking, and walking and walking and when you think you have walked enough.......start over and walk more. Good luck! Yeppers .... Grid searching is what I do, because it is so dang thick here. Found 25 last year and 5 matching sets in the bunch. I put in a lot of hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stone Cold Posted January 24, 2010 Report Share Posted January 24, 2010 I also grid search and start at the south of my timber where the snow is less than the north side. I found my first shed yesterday and it was about 40 yards in the timber on the south side of the timber. South is always best to start with. Creek, fence, or any other crossing where they jump is good too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deershed Posted January 25, 2010 Report Share Posted January 25, 2010 In the big woods or any where for that matter follow the fresh sign. In the big woods if it's hilly look for high spots.Flats or ledges are always great,but even if it's flat you'll find high spots in that area. I have one area that has a series of small gullys or dips with a high spot or small ridges running on both sides.Some are only maye 10 to 20 yds higher then the ground around it.The deer love to run those small ridges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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