I like to search for shed antlers within the late winter and early spring, nonetheless it may be a really irritating endeavor. When you add up all of the hours that I’ve spent on the lookout for sheds and evaluate it to the mere minutes I’ve spent truly discovering them, you’ll see an embarrassing landslide distinction in time spent. I don’t like to have a look at it this fashion as a result of it makes shed looking look like an arbitrary and pointless activity, as a result of these couple of minutes I spend every spring truly recognizing and selecting up an antler make all these hours spent looking out properly value it.
Within the final 5 – 6 years, I’ve actually began making a concentrated effort to search for sheds. I don’t simply spend one or two afternoons a yr any extra strolling a pair fence rows. I get out for weeks and make a concentrated effort at discovering them. Shed looking is like every other kind of looking, you’ve good years and you’ve got unhealthy years. The identical variety of miles walked or work put in may lead to ten antlers or perhaps simply two. However over the previous couple of years I’ve realized lots about shed looking and my success continues to enhance. I’ve realized it’s not nearly working tougher; it’s about being extra environment friendly!
Tricks to Discover Extra Sheds
Cowl Extra Floor: This may increasingly sound like an apparent assertion, however it could possibly’t be overstated in terms of shed looking. You’ll be able to’t simply count on to stroll a pair hundred yards a number of occasions a spring and count on to fill a backpack with antlers. It takes miles upon miles to extend your discover charge.
Attempt Digital Scouting: Digital scouting isn’t simply helpful for locating deer, it’s helpful for locating sheds too. With all of the completely different mapping providers now, we now have entry to latest satellite tv for pc imagery and crop layers. Use these at the side of prior historical past to know the place the present meals sources and customary bedding areas are.
Take Binoculars: I can’t stress this tip sufficient. I’ve saved my legs many steps by taking a pair of binoculars on my shed hunts. that tine you see sticking up above the leaves within the distance? It’s in all probability a stick and a pair of binoculars provide help to come to that conclusion faster. Additionally, they’re nice for glassing fields and open areas.
Gradual Down and Take a look at the Floor: Many of the sheds that I discover are inside a number of yards of my boots; very seldom do I spot one at an incredible distance. I do know we now have quite a lot of floor to cowl, however when you make an effort to decelerate and maintain your eyes on the bottom you received’t miss the simple ones.
Look Behind You: This can be a tip that I haven’t seen many locations, however I discover it helpful. After you’ve walked 50 or 60 yards, flip round and scan all the things you’ve walked previous. I’ve truly discovered a shed or two this fashion. We miss lots and turning round immediately provides you a brand new visible perspective of the realm you’ve already searched.
Prepare Your Eyes with Finds: This tip requires that you’ve got already discovered at the least one shed. When I’ve one in my hand, I’m consistently throwing it out in entrance of me and selecting it up once more. This trains your eyes to search for completely different antler options and places the shed in quite a lot of positions and hiding spots.
Revisit Areas Later within the Season: A variety of shed hunters miss out on this chance. When you hit a great spot in early or mid-February, you will miss some sheds that haven’t even been solid but. I wish to pay attention to areas the place I discover excessive concentrations of deer signal and no finds. I’ll revisit them in a number of weeks as soon as extra antlers have hit the bottom.
Shed looking is changing into extra of a talent than a passion to many of us, however that doesn’t imply it shouldn’t be loved. When you like to only get out and take a leisurely stroll within the woods, then by all means don’t fear about the following tips, but when your objective is to fill a backpack with shed antlers then I’d abide by them. The time is upon us, let’s get to looking out!
Will Bowen, Okayest Hunter Contributor
