Shed thread 2018

Bub · #1 12-30-2017, 10:32 PM

I figured I will give this a start exactly a year after the last year's thread was started (I am a few hours late, actually).

I have not been out enough to find anything and the last whitetail I saw was about two weeks ago. He was carrying full. Wish I met him during the season.

I saw some mulies today and they were all dressed as well.

So who is going to be the first one to post a pic?

Bub · #2 01-01-2018, 10:43 PM

So no one had found a shed yet. Really? I will try to get out this week for the first look. I would think after this cold stretch there has got to be one or two that have fallen off.

Freerider · #3 01-01-2018, 11:32 PM

Seen a group of three Muley bucks yesterday Northern AB all still packing

BorealBucks · #4 01-01-2018, 11:40 PM

few years ago by two hills it was march and mullies were still with full racks

Diverdan66 · #5 01-01-2018, 11:51 PM

Seems pretty early, but it’s starting to cross my mind. I pulled a few cameras today and everyone is still packing. I’m going to put the boots to the ground early March. Good luck guys! Can’t wait to see what gets posted.

alacringa · #6 01-02-2018, 12:13 AM

We found a matching pair about 30 feet apart on Dec. 2 while Grouse hunting. Seemed incredibly early to have been shed, but they're in great condition. No chewing by rodents at all.

Bub · #7 01-02-2018, 12:25 AM

^ that’s good to know that everyone is still packing on camera, though I don’t know where you are.

Generally, mulies are the last ones to drop before elk. Well, not really because they start right about now (not many at all in my experience) and they continue all the way to spring. Whitetails, however, should have already started and will be dropping it fairly quickly from now on. Same goes for moose and they should be naked very soon if not already. No general rule though, just my experience.

Last year i have not found much at all and it was my worst year since I started. Hopefully this one will be better.

Dale S · #8 01-04-2018, 06:56 AM

Found this in November.

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bonedogg · #9 01-04-2018, 07:05 AM

Not many pronghorn sheaths found on this site, great find!

deercamp · #10 01-04-2018, 07:06 AM

Still super early, the odd one will be dropped mostly due to being in bad condition. On the 12 cameras I have on baleyards for the winter only one buck dropped and that’s due to him having only 3 legs after what I’m assuming a bad shot this November. My best deer last year a 185 class buck held till April 17th. Leave the deer be and let them recover from this cold snap before chasin them around for no reason when there antlers are still firmly attached .

HuntingAlberta · #11 01-04-2018, 09:34 AM

Yea, i'm hoping to find the match but i'll be waiting until May before he drops that one most likely. I'm sure his head hurt for a long time, but better off then the alternative.

Bub · #12 01-04-2018, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deercamp

Leave the deer be and let them recover from this cold snap before chasin them around for no reason when there antlers are still firmly attached .

Why would one chase the deer in the off season? It's not like you have to chase one and grab him by the antlers in order to get them off. Just go a for a walk, enjoy the day, give space to wildlife if encountered and see what is going for yourself.

On the other note, I saw at a great distance today what appeared to be a giant moose lying dead by the railroad. Pretty unfortunate if that's the case. Way too far to say for sure though even with a x10 binoculars. There is no way to get any closer to take a better look as that is the only place the spot is visible from. So I might walk the bush to get to that spot to check things out instead. Unless they actually clean them off somehow and it will be gone by the weekend. Does anyone know if they actually remove the dead wildlife that is lying off the rails? It's pretty far from any dwellings with tracks and bush being the only access.

deercamp · #13 01-04-2018, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bub

Why would one chase the deer in the off season? It's not like you have to chase one and grab him by the antlers in order to get them off. Just go a for a walk, enjoy the day, give space to wildlife if encountered and see what is going for yourself.

On the other note, I saw at a great distance today what appeared to be a giant moose lying dead by the railroad. Pretty unfortunate if that's the case. Way too far to say for sure though even with a x10 binoculars. There is no way to get any closer to take a better look as that is the only place the spot is visible from. So I might walk the bush to get to that spot to check things out instead. Unless they actually clean them off somehow and it will be gone by the weekend. Does anyone know if they actually remove the dead wildlife that is lying off the rails? It's pretty far from any dwellings with tracks and bush being the only access.

by walking into the trees in the winter you are chasing them, many herds are stressed hard in winter feeding areas and pushing them out of bedding areas puts unneeded stress. Wait until all the antlers are dropped and walks will be more rewarded . my 2 cents anyways.

boonie · #14 01-04-2018, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deercamp

by walking into the trees in the winter you are chasing them, many herds are stressed hard in winter feeding areas and pushing them out of bedding areas puts unneeded stress. Wait until all the antlers are dropped and walks will be more rewarded . my 2 cents anyways.

x2
I just keep watching the feeding areas for now. Start walking bedding areas about end of March.

RZR · #15 01-06-2018, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale S

Found this in November.

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I’ve got a couple of those kicking around somewhere, found them about 10 yrs. ago.

Soab · #16 02-04-2018, 08:11 PM

Found a set 15 feet apart and a single down south here.

boonie · #17 02-05-2018, 09:31 PM

Good job guys!!! I just return from a week holiday to find my area under over a foot of new snow. Any that had dropped are now buried. This is the latest I've gone without finding a deer antler ever. Have found a small moose paddle though.

buckbrush · #18 02-06-2018, 09:05 AM

The ‘as found’ pics get my blood going. Not much can beat walking up to a big matched set.

Hopefully I can add some soon.

threeforthree · #19 03-17-2018, 11:30 PM

fishnguy · #20 03-19-2018, 10:39 PM

I did not want to create a new thread for my question and this one seemed like the most appropriate one to post it in.

I have permission to walk these several adjacent fields (all different owners) to look for sheds. These few fields usually have a very high number of mule deer visiting them, probably one of the highest I have ever seen. There are some big bucks and a of couple giants among those visitors as well. They have always been there for the previous couple of years year-round (not much or hardly any snow in those couple of winters). This year, with a deep snow cover, the fields are empty, with hardly any deer tracks. A couple or a few fields have bales on them. I am not exactly an expert, but the bales are definitely different cuts since they are different in colour (none of them are straw though). One field has them stacked in one corner of the property, about 40 bales if not more, and elk has been coming to chew on them dozens at a time pretty much daily, a couple of times I saw definitely over a hundred elk. That same elk chew on bales on the other fields that were left where they were in the fall, spread out all over the place. The mule deer that is always around, on the other hand, are gone. So my question is where did they go? Since December, I have seen three deer there, all females; hardly any tracks or droppings. I was really looking forward to picking a few sheds there and was confident that those bales would be winners for that, especially with all the snow, but it seems I was wrong. Anyone has any thoughts on it? I would greatly appreciate any insights.

The moose · #21 03-20-2018, 07:26 AM

Depending where you are but, In fields I have seen deer year after year during the winter were empty this year. Too much snow and not enough shelter from the elements. Instead all the deer are in a river bottom feeding on willow and sheltering out of the elements. Find the shelter and you likely find your deer,when the snow is deep and the winter harsh they wont expend the energy to travel to feed. Other thing here is the elk heard easily could have pushed them off the fields and into a different location. Happens all the time in my hunting area.

Pasc43 · #22 01-09-2018, 12:51 PM

Dead head I found this year!

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H380 · #23 01-09-2018, 02:53 PM

Found on road side

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buckbrush · #24 01-09-2018, 03:09 PM

H380, let's see a different picture of that brow tine.

Sooner · #25 01-09-2018, 04:11 PM

About a week and a half ago we were returning from Wetaskiwin via Beaumont. There was a WT buck trotting in a field behind the Ellerslie Walmart with only one antler still on his head.

Haven't been sledding crown land due to lack of snow so haven't found any sheds yet.

northbuck · #26 01-19-2018, 05:41 PM

Yesterday ended up being a pretty good afternoon. It was a beautiful day outside and after lunch, I decided to go to one of my regular deer hunting spots to check some coyote snares I had put out at the request of the landowner. Once there, I proceeded to unload the calf sled and start the 1mile trek in and out on the cutline that bisects his property (landowner allows me access to hunt and trap his property but foot access only...and I'm more than happy to oblige). I only had 6 snares set on random trails as the owner didn't want any bait put out (he was concerned about his dog wandering...)
I wasn't expecting much success but was pleasantly surprised to find 4 coyotes in the 6 snares I had set. The walk out with the full calf sled was a satisfying feeling.
After getting everything loaded into the truck, it was time to head home. But because he had requested me to do so, I stopped by at the landowner's house with the intention of quickly informing him of the catch but...as so often happens...he convinced to stay a bit longer for a visit. After a few coffees, some good conversation with said landowner and his wife, and him extending my hunting/trapping privileges for next year...I finally hit the road home towards late afternoon.
What had already been a good day was made even better as I headed westward with a nice sunset in front of me...
Zw8bN6il.jpg

A few hundred yards before entering into my driveway, I happened to glance out into the field where deer had been feeding...and the dark profile of an antler stood out against the white snowy background.
72E7phtl.jpg

YoCxbInl.jpg
I recognized this buck, as he has been feeding in my yard since December and he is the only buck that has shed out of 12 bucks that are regularly in my yard...he dropped both sides approximately a week ago.
azOa2YVl.jpg
I got some great mid day pics of this buck up close and personal from one of my groundblinds in mid-November but I can't seem to find those particular pics in my "too many" pics and folders...
But I did find this after-season game camera pic of him...
oydoQLfl.jpg[/attach]
I also have this buck's sheds from last year (found in Feb 2017} and other than a 4 inch kicker he grew on his left G2 this year...he is virtually the same size as last year.

northbuck · #27 01-19-2018, 06:05 PM

Hmmm...I haven't posted pics for a while...
That didn't work like I wanted.
I'll try something different with above pics...

Zw8bN6is.jpg

72E7phts.jpg

YoCxbIns.jpg

azOa2YVs.jpg

oydoQLfs.jpg

KyleSS · #28 01-22-2018, 02:27 PM

mtnhunter; your shed looks like it came off this guy

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mtnhunter · #29 01-22-2018, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyleSS

mtnhunter; your shed looks like it came off this guy

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I think you're right! That's exactly like the shed I found!

MLayden · #30 01-22-2018, 04:43 PM

Went out today. Was about 4 years too late on this one.

Saw two bull moose carrying both sides still.

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