Shed hunting
Massachusetts
Contributors to this thread:
Just curious for the guys that shed hunt where are you finding them? Mostly in feeding areas, south side of hills, or bedding areas? I hunt mostly larger pieces of land and it’s like a needle in a haystack finding a shed and looking to narrow the search down.
I ve had my best luck on south facing areas with food. Also years when we have some snow to locate them. They seem to be dropping early this year I usually don’t start until mid February
Almost all my sheds are found in feeding areas . And this time of year feeding areas become bedding areas . So it’s feeding and bedding
Spike if you wanna find a shed come with me. I never find em. Someone comes with me they leave with 3 hahaha
Always always look right where they fell off. If you look there you 'll always find em. Truth
Lmao lunker thanks for the tip bud
In my neck of the woods, the A spots are S or SE facing hill sides, ideally with feed thought if it's been really chilly thermal cover too.
A lot of guys I know love areas they cross stone walls or go down short steep hills, they feel the speed or hopping may "nock" them off. Those areas seem best if they are travel to / around food and in the areas I noted above.
I’m just gonna hire SevOne to come find my sheds. He’s found a couple in his day.
Learning where bucks like to hang out is an awesome side benefit of shed hunting. I found 2 matched sets last year and that really taught some good lessons. The best part of shed hunting is you can do it where hunting is not allowed.
Noob that's true.
Sev keyed me in on the SE facing slopes MAPA. Dude has what looks like a fridge box over flowing with them, many big enough people would swear he drives to Iowa every winter... Nope, good old MA.
I will give it a good try in a few weeks but man in 200-1000 acres with like 5-6 bucks it is truly a task.
Come to eastern mass and go in people’s backyards. They like it.
Spike, come to my neck of the woods. We just find them on our hikes.
Spike sev finds his in the exact areas you speak of….he’s one of us. Lol.
Sev spends an insane amount of time and covers hundreds of miles searching for them so i read. I think he is in the middle of zones 5/6 . Its big country, but not quite as big country as further west, i would think. Spike aren't you further west?
DD - a normal shed hunt for sev is 10-15 miles. I've seen his gps layout of days longer than that. He definitely earns his antlers - be they attached to deer or not!
There’s insanity…. Then there’s sev.
I have decent luck finding sheds. Id say i find the most sheds in bedding areas. For me I learned to slow down the pace and look very carefully instead of trying to go a farther distance. Not saying anyone is wrong, that's just my style, to each their own. I used to try and push to get the distance but I find just as many if not more by really scanning and slowing down. I also carry binos to look at things in the distance that look like antlers. It can save steps. And I still find antlers I missed the year before once in a while.
Bwhnt - do you use binos? I've found bino's and sun at my back helps. I can stand there and really investigate an area, move 10-15yds and repeat. I'm not sure it's really helpful, as most sheds I've found I didnt use the binos... But it's helped for some.
Yes and I prefer looking after a rain when it's still cloudy or during a light rain.
I put in some boot work today. No sheds but the new plan is in full swing. Also finding a few new rubs. One was right at my entry that I just passed and it wasn't there sat ! Go figure that !
Deerdawg I hunt zones 2,4s, 6, and 7. What is Sev up to? Not a peep out of him.
A few have shed but this guys still holding as of the 1st
Found that riding the rails today
Found that riding the rails today
Yes Will i have read his descriptions of his methods and madness. He is at the top, for sure. His work ethic and resolve are impressive. I would hate to be hunted by him.
Spike, hunted in 5+ 6 , grew up there. My guess is that the herd gets spread out by the time you move west to zone 2 and get up into the higher elevations.
Yes Will i have read his descriptions of his methods and madness. He is at the top, for sure. His work ethic and resolve are impressive. I would hate to be hunted by him.
Spike, hunted in 5+ 6 , grew up there. My guess is that the herd gets spread out by the time you move west to zone 2 and get up into the higher elevations.
Oh there spread out in 5 dawg haha. Trust me lol
For sure Ma Pa, Hunted a little in Warrick, Royalston and N. Orange but mostly Petersham and New Salem. With the zone 5 & 6 border splitting our area we mainly hunted south of 2A and 32. At the time the concentrations of deer were all around the Quabbin. Terrain was rolling hills, not to big, with swamps , beaver dams or ponds nestled at bottom. As you move north , northwest the elevation increased and hills got bigger towards the Mohawk Trail. Lot bigger Hills and land areas than anywhere down here. Bigger forest, fewer but Bigger deer.
Was there an article on sev shed tactics ?
Deerdawg - I bet we know each other, unless you are really young. I grew up in Petersham and cut my teeth hunting there, the NE side of New Salem, and parts of Barre, Oakham, Hubbardston and a smidge in Athol. Still hunt out there some, though the past few years life has limited it - other than turkeys, cant miss sunrises in Petersham chasing gobblers, certainly one of my favorite things to do in life. I'm still out there often visiting family / friends.
Sending into get this scored
Sending into get this scored
Noob - those are harder to find than the matching sides of a 180" 10pt typical! well done!
Maybe in Iowa will hahahah. I sit on and get impailed by more of those during turkey season than that amount of turkeys I usually see hahahahah
I saw a small 6 point holding today as well.
2 Bucks 1-20-23 still holding Antlers.
Wrentham/Franklin, mostly private property with no Ag fields at all. Mostly dense forest with a few rolling hills bordering the highway. Bucks don't stay here too long. I believe they are just passing through looking for food. The property does keep a fair amount of doe/ fawns every year.
These guys are holding still
I figured out why the rut sucked……
lmfao First the frogs and now the deer!!
No no. No late breeding. This is a rack buck and a young forkey. The forkey is obviously confused about who and when he’s suppose to mount. However, big man isn’t exactly telling him no….
Maybe he is getting a ride ? Could be tired
I’m gonna use buck scent next year instead of doe
I found the matching set of a medium size 8-point Saturday morning and this morning I had to let 4-bucks (all with head gear) cross the driveway where I work. Go figure! lol.
That's super fun, and cool though Fran. Just seeing the dang things is awesome!
Put some miles in today! Pulled some cameras and Jumped a buck with headgear. Cameras confirm bucks are still holding on. My most successful times have been March
Anyone seeing anything?? Still getting pick of my two bone heads hanging out together
Victory!!! I just figured this thing out last year. 2 matched sets last year, 1 matched set so far this year
Victory!!! I just figured this thing out last year. 2 matched sets last year, 1 matched set so far this year
Gee whiz MaPa. That is quite peculiar and potentially humorous. I hope no one gets offended. You know how sensitive the subject can be. For goodness sake , if you say anything it's almost a death sentence.
People will sometimes assign imagined meaning such as hatred or other intentions to comments made . Can't be too carefull , you could be labeled a domestic terrorist like a parent at a school meeting.
Thats a real nice set noob!
We found a decent 8 point today from last year
I found a matching set this year from a deer I watched this past summer and accidentally jumped him during the season. And yes I have moved a stand to visit with him next fall.
Check your spelling. I think it's gunner. Jeeze Louise
Hahahaha . I didn't know how to spell krozzbow.
Joke. Not funny. Awe shells bells
Spellings one of his few not so good virtues … I think that deer needs another 2 years… tell me where he is good sir. I’ll keep an eye on him.
Hello friend . Sure, I'll tell you . Why not? I found those behind a Walmart on rt 32A in Petersham . As a matter of fact, they are a unique one up there in hillbilly country . Every year for 2 weeks ( Rut time) they offer free butchering service, but you need an in. Honk 3 times at the back door (garden center) and flash your lights . When they come out, make a wise crack about their ugly sister or some such thing. Flip them off with both hands, or twice with one hand. Drop that deer and tell them to hurry the hell up. They love that. Then, drop a gear and disappear. Come back in an hour and start honking again.
Go scout it soon ! Be sure to bang on the back door and in a voice like a heavy metal rock star, scream" out obscenities" and flash the camera. That way they will know you're in the club.
Deadhead found with whole skeleton intact. I wonder if some deer die with a foul smell that keeps critters from chowing on it .
Doubtful gun…. However I wonder how big he will be next year
Gung, I can't believe you divulged the secret code to Ma-Pa. You're very generous.
BD...He seems like a worthy one. I hope he keeps our secret.
Found 2 today. Ones a Jumbo! I had a hunch the 2nd Deer I harvested this yr was not deer I saw several times over the summer. I did not have this deer on Camera. Walked a large portion of the open field as it has been the primary food source all yr. I also found what might be the largest collection of rubs I have ever seen.
Rob I have a tree that looks just like that….field edge no more than 25 yards from the road …
Don’t worry not the same one….pretty Wild this was in a 30ft wide hedgerow absolutely torn to hell in there
That's a beauty 8's congrats
There are some spots where deer go to die. I’ve found 2 the last 2 years and they were near food, high up, and overlooking human access. I’m guess those are favorite beds and they feel safe.
That is truly remarkable.
The spot last year I found a matching set, and a carcass that had already shed its antlers so it most likely didn’t die in hunting season. Maybe it was the same deer, I never thought of that till now. I went back to that spot this year and found a matching set 80 yards away.
The spot last year I found a matching set, and a carcass that had already shed its antlers so it most likely didn’t die in hunting season. Maybe it was the same deer, I never thought of that till now. I went back to that spot this year and found a matching set 80 yards away.
Today I found a second set in the same place as the first. I am sure I saw these two bucks last year in velvet within a hundred feet of their drops.
Same genes. Little inbreeding going on down there by the salt
Same mother and father but a year apart.
We don't allow that other thing that happens in the hills.
Another one found riding the rails
Another one found riding the rails
Wow that’s an awesome one! I’ve gotten my butt kicked last 2 days shed hunting. Lots of hiking through woods and my ribs aren’t fully healed so I get exhausted fast.
Another day out coming up empty. I got cocky after finding 2 nice ones earlier. The spots I’m checking should be good- I suspect there’s other humans picking them up before me.
Fairly positive it’s a match. Saw the deer on the hoof when it was broke off in late December.
Good one 8s. Did you find the broken side close to the shed? Seems like he went around quite a while with a broke side before dropping
Makes one wonder what did the breaking . Great find 8's ! It tells a story and launches the imagination, even more than a complete set.
I can't seem to shed that other name. Grrrrr.
Still have one holding in CT yesterday.
Savage right there, animalistic!
The date was 6/21 last year. Go figure.
Hmm. Either 3 months early or 9 months late…
Truthfully. Just playful fun
Is that why they call it "the wild thing" ?
It's just practice . Like some of you guys that shoot in the off season.
Practice makes for a good time.
Practice makes problems. No, I mean practice makes perfect.
I practice every opportunity I get.
How else do you get to Carnegie Hall?
Does this count as a shed? Looks like a nice sized doe that I found this morning.
To bad you didn't finds her in October.
She's a skinny one, but if she identifies with being a Buck, you just need to conjure up a score, slap a tag on "HIM" and call the Boone and Crockett club . Congrats, it could be a state record.
Pi. You just got back here !!! Do you want to go to timeout again ??!!!
Yes. I'm comfortable with punishment.
It's a vapid forum without interesting posts, ain't it ?
Found this whopper while mountain biking yesterday. Was laying right in the trail where I stopped to clear some downed tree branches.
Ungie, that's literally the toughest kind to find - awesome!!!
Dang ungie. You better keep an eye out for him next year
If the other side matched it was an 11 pointer
Dog did her job well today
One a couple weeks back I found. Only spent about an hour looking this year and found this monster. Lol
Death. I think that is from one of genetically enhanced rabbits.
Guys, I scored big. I found an elk that probably died earlier in the winter and was probably eaten within the past month by a bear. Bear scat was near the kill site. The jaw was ripped off. Skull was ripped in half. It was loaded with maggots and flies, but I was bound and determined to dispatch the rotting head from the body. Man did it stink. But the bugs did a great job of getting every bit of muscle removed. Once I cut the skin on one side it peeled right off. Couple more days of drying then peroxide time. Already ordered the wall bracket. The odds of a bull elk deadhead..... can't even imagine. One eaten by a bear and me not becoming a victim of circumstance..... even lower... haha. One hell of a day.
Holy cow! That’s quite a find! Cleanup job looks great too.
Pete that’s frigen awesome!!! Hope you had the 357 loading that head up!! Lol
Pete that’s frigen awesome!!! Hope you had the 357 loading that head up!! Lol
Went to a different place today. I found this...
Yup, moose. Not a bad score.
Pete’s been slacking on the pics lately then he pops outta nowhere with these two!
Haha.... figured you guys would get sick of my random non hunting photos.
Not a chance Peter. It’s heaven out there. And if someone don’t wanna see they don’t have to click! I’ll make a “Peter’s 2023 adventures” thread if I have to!
what the heck... we got out a couple times on the raft before the melt. Beautiful day.
Pete by melt do you mean the mountain run off? And all that water coming down and over flowing the rivers and streams near town?
Yes. It shuts down fishing for about a month. Floating can get dangerous, not just because of flow, but the murkiness of the water. You can't see obstructions. It's quite the sight. Just mother nature doing it's thing. Filling the river back up and dumping nutrients into the system.
Dth... it compliments my first muley taken with a rifle (200 yards).
Leave it to SevOne to find a giant….hopefully he’ll come bless the forum with a picture!
MAPA - you talking about sev's latest "crush". I swear, at this point, when I hear people say "MA cant grow big deer" or whatever, I just laugh. Just Sev's finds the past 8~ years, even the "smaller" of the "big" deer he finds... They would be deer of a lifetime for most of us hunting in MA, and his "big" deer are BIG anywhere. Heck, I shared a few pic's with a buddy who owns 1200 acres in KS, and even HE thought Sev's deer were big.
His latest one is crazy.
Will it’s absolutely nuts….we chatted for a bit this morning