Managed to pick up some nice fresh ones this past weekend putting me at 7 so far. Way too many miles in already, but staying out of most bedding as not to push deer around too much and stress them out.
Anyone else picking any up?
Pat thats good news given your location. Good luck with the turkeys!
I might get all my sheds together from this year for a picture today.... I always try to wait until turkey season because I don't want to quit looking yet! Best year for me, I think I found 60 or so total.
Went back to the property 4/6 with the lease owner and my gf for a second day of walking. As we entered the field the same way, I was telling my gf about the shed find being neat because it was so close to the field entrance, she was lagging a few yards behind me, and as I'm telling her this I'm pointing out on the ground roughly where it was....... and boom theres the other side driven into the ground!
I was in disbelief, how did I miss it?! I went back into my "as it lay" pictures and, no kidding, you can see the tines poking out of the snow, yet we missed it!! In retrospect I was probably not even thinking the other side could be there too because it woulda been laying on top like the other??
Turns out the buck must have shed around second week of Dec. right before the corn got picked because there was a tire track running perfectly over the shed. We began an archaeological dig for a minute to find the brow tine.... and then I occured to me- you dummy it probably got carried in the tire for a while, haha! Probably one of the most interesting shed finds I've had.
I walk all sorts of scenarios.... a lot of public, some "managed" ground, some prime winter food sources, and a lot of ground that simply has high buck densities wintering. I cover a ton of miles, nock on lots of doors, and have lots of Friends/ connections that don't shed hunt but have the land for productive walks.
This year I physically logged 147 miles from march 15th to May. I started walking in the beginning of February though (mostly weekends since daylight ended before work was over) and wasn't logging miles during that first month and a half at all since i had an old phone that would die quickly. So, conservatively I walked over 200 miles this year. Still around 3-4 miles per shed found. Point is, I walk a ton, so law of averages means I will find a few!
How'd you do this season?!
That is an awesome as it lay pic and even better shed!! I totally get what you're saying about walking for a lot for dinks.... I've had that discussion with some other shed hunting buddies quite often. Why do we put so much time and effort into it when we know the bulk of the finds will be dinks?? I guess it boils down to a number of reasons that don't necessarily hinge on the size of the shed found....
17 is solid. 62- WOW. Not many can say they've found 62 in any single season in ANY state let alone NY. Thats a bummer about that 6 side buck. Seems something bad always happens to the good ones, darn it. I have yet to break 70 for a NY shed so thats still a goal I want to crack. If you don't mind sharing I'd love to see some of your collection!
I have a taxidermist buddy out here who quit looking at 100 last season.... he coulda kept going - mind boggling to me he was able to find that many. But he has primo access/ spots, and seems to have a knack gaining it on new ground. I've literally sat on the phone with him, on hold, while he's knocked on doors, just to hear them say "yeah go ahead".... its baffling because I seem to get told "no" more and more each year. Even when I ask for repeat permission annually. A lot more people are getting into it I think - partly due to social media I believe. With that said theres plenty of sheds to go around, and I'm happy for anyone out there enjoying the same thing I love to do.
You're a walking machine. Helluva season. That set with the forks is wicked cool!! Good luck catching up with him or finding his sheds again!
Any luck filling your last NY tag, Pat?
