Sheds Already??

HayJack

Member
Messages
12
I've heard from a couple different people that they've seen some one-antlered bucks.. anybody else seen deer that have already dropped this year??
 
Been out snowshoeing in local area and I did see a one-antlered buck already. Way too early to shed hunt here though.

2f350s: Hunt hard, hunt ethically.
 
I have a buddy who has trail pics of fresh Shedded buck on Dec 13th. It was not broke he had bloody circles on his head
 
Seen a small forky with only one antler on Monday.

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"
 
They might be dead before they shed if this snow and cold continues.

Hopefully, hunters won't chase them around.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-05-17 AT 04:13PM (MST)[p]Don't stress the deer by worrying about antlers this year!
Damn tough conditions all around!
Zeke
 
A good friend of mine owns a ranch and has 27 whitetail sheds already. Every single one of them has come from a haystack. He said he's never seen the deer hit the stacks so hard.....the conditions are awful for them right now!
 
I have a friend in Idaho who has eight mule deer sheds already. Some really good ones too. This is the earliest he has seen so many shed. Whitetails are loosing some here in MT.
 
As others have mentioned, I really hope people exercise caution and good sense and DO NOT stress the animals out trying to get an antler! They need all the help they can get this year!
 
There is no shortage of idiots ready and willing to run around the winter range trying to dig up an antler. Sounds like some guys are already doing it. Loving these animals to death.
 
Not a deer this year but in the past I have seen a buck while pheasant hunting on the opener which is the first weekend in November with one horn,then we pushed the field hunting and found the antler.
 
Not sure what it means, but I picked up a brown on Dec. 19th. The earliest by far!. Usually the first of Feb is when the ritual begins. Oh, and I've been shed Hunting over 40 years. Hmmm might be global warming.
 
All you antler pickers out there get on the bandwagon and make it season like Wyoming....then we won't have so many jackwagons up here for our season opener...
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-06-17 AT 08:15AM (MST)[p]On a recent drive in WY, saw hundreds of deer, plenty of bucks... Didn't see a single one that had dropped yet...

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24
 
>To early probably broke off from
>fighting


Really? I picked one up in central Utah last week. Brown with bloody bases
 
I saw a 2 point missing one side last weekend. could not believe it.
Chances of finding the very very few that have dropped are slim to none. dont chase them please! Just observe from a distance and wait. If you see someone else going after them report them for harassment.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-06-17 AT 04:46PM (MST)[p]>I saw a 2 point missing
>one side last weekend. could
>not believe it.
>Chances of finding the very very
>few that have dropped are
>slim to none. dont chase
>them please! Just observe from
>a distance and wait.
>If you see someone else
>going after them report them
>for harassment.


Looking for sheds doesn't mean they are harassing deer. Don't be that guy who's turning people in because he' doesn't agree with what's happening, even if it's legal
 
Pushing deer around while looking for a shed in 3' of snow and single digit temps the first week of January is harassment whether its legal or not. Guys just need to use they're heads and stay the hell away from the deer. And if I see it happening, I Will be "that guy" calling it in.
 
>Pushing deer around while looking for
>a shed in 3' of
>snow and single digit temps
>the first week of January
>is harassment whether its legal
>or not. Guys just need
>to use they're heads and
>stay the hell away from
>the deer. And if I
>see it happening, I Will
>be "that guy" calling it
>in.


Guess I'll be that guy "harassing" them then...
 
>Guess I'll be that guy "harassing"
>them then...

Are you saying that you would willingly push deer through the snow just to get their antlers? Hoping he'll drop the antler while you're pushing them?
 
>>Pushing deer around while looking for
>>a shed in 3' of
>>snow and single digit temps
>>the first week of January
>>is harassment whether its legal
>>or not. Guys just need
>>to use they're heads and
>>stay the hell away from
>>the deer. And if I
>>see it happening, I Will
>>be "that guy" calling it
>>in.
>
>
>Guess I'll be that guy "harassing"
>them then...

I'll keep an eye out for you.
 
I think it's funny how this topic comes up every year at this time. Just like hunters,I think that the vast majority of shed hunters do it in an ethical way. I also think that shed hunters get a bad reputation because of a few bad apples. Not all deer and elk winter in three feet of snow and single digit temps. I also believe that shed hunters can pick sheds early in the shed season ethically without "pushing" or "harassing" wildlife. We all know that there are idiots out in the hills doing dumb things, but i think the picture that is painted about shed hunters is very often the exception and not the rule.
 
People are crazy. We?re coming up on the 9th major storm of the winter, and it's only the first week of January. They?re calling for 8 feet of snow in places in California. Idaho had temps in the -20?s this week, Wyoming had places with temperatures hitting below -30, and had wind chills below -40. Montanans are starting to talk that this winter may be worse than the winter of 10-11. The last 5-6 days, it's been colder down in parts of the lower 48 than it has been in Deadhorse Alaska. The state of Idaho has started emergency winter feeding in parts of the state because of these damn harsh winter conditions. All that, and guys come on here acting proud of the sheds they are finding. I CAN'T believe what a dipshit will do for an antler.
 
>>Guess I'll be that guy "harassing"
>>them then...
>
>Are you saying that you would
>willingly push deer through the
>snow just to get their
>antlers? Hoping he'll drop the
>antler while you're pushing them?
>


Nope. Not even close to what I'm saying. I'm saying I'll start hiking around looking for sheds within the next 3 weeks. Apparently that's "harassing". I call it hiking. But whatever
 
>>>Pushing deer around while looking for
>>>a shed in 3' of
>>>snow and single digit temps
>>>the first week of January
>>>is harassment whether its legal
>>>or not. Guys just need
>>>to use they're heads and
>>>stay the hell away from
>>>the deer. And if I
>>>see it happening, I Will
>>>be "that guy" calling it
>>>in.
>>
>>
>>Guess I'll be that guy "harassing"
>>them then...
>
> I'll keep an eye out
>for you.

You'll be looking for a long time, cuz I promise you won't find me. If you do, you'll be trespassing. And then we will have a much bigger issue than "harassing" the deer
 
>>>>Pushing deer around while looking for
>>>>a shed in 3' of
>>>>snow and single digit temps
>>>>the first week of January
>>>>is harassment whether its legal
>>>>or not. Guys just need
>>>>to use they're heads and
>>>>stay the hell away from
>>>>the deer. And if I
>>>>see it happening, I Will
>>>>be "that guy" calling it
>>>>in.
>>>
>>>
>>>Guess I'll be that guy "harassing"
>>>them then...
>>
>> I'll keep an eye out
>>for you.
>


>You'll be looking for a long
>time, cuz I promise you
>won't find me. If you
>do, you'll be trespassing. And
>then we will have a
>much bigger issue than "harassing"
>the deer

Oh...ok. I guess I better not mess with the likes of you then.
 
>People are crazy. We?re coming up
>on the 9th major storm
>of the winter, and it's
>only the first week of
>January. They?re calling for 8
>feet of snow in places
>in California. Idaho had temps
>in the -20?s this week,
>Wyoming had places with temperatures
>hitting below -30, and had
>wind chills below -40. Montanans
>are starting to talk that
>this winter may be worse
>than the winter of 10-11.
>The last 5-6 days, it's
>been colder down in parts
>of the lower 48 than
>it has been in Deadhorse
>Alaska. The state of Idaho
>has started emergency winter feeding
>in parts of the state
>because of these damn harsh
>winter conditions. All that, and
>guys come on here acting
>proud of the sheds they
>are finding. I CAN'T believe
>what a dipshit will do
>for an antler.

+1 This is absolutely ridiculous I can't believe what I'm reading! Give the deer a break that they so badly need!!!!!!!!!
 
>I like how deerkiller claims it's
>private property he owns the
>wild animals living on it.
>


Jeremy, I never said I owned the animals living on it. Lighten up.
 
It's all good man. I know how the battle goes down there. If you don't pick them up within a day or 2 of them shedding you don't get any! I'm just glad I don't live in that mess.
 
Generalities are bad, just don't use them. If you see a guy with a shed in January don't automatically assume he was harassing the deer. Here in NM, there isn't a wintering area for deer that has more than an inch or two of snow on the ground. And if there is it won't last more than a few days.

That being said, there are still Archery deer hunts going on here in NM as well as AZ. Any problem with that?

Just want you all to realize that not all deer in January are fighting 3' of snow and that just because somebody finds a shed doesn't mean they are harassing the deer.

I encourage you all to think subjectively about this. I typically use this time of year to catch up on work so you won't find me looking until at least March, I just hate hearing this same argument year after year.

Hunt Hard. Shoot Straight. Kill Clean. Apologize to No One.
 
>Generalities are bad, just don't use
>them. If you see a
>guy with a shed in
>January don't automatically assume he
>was harassing the deer. Here
>in NM, there isn't a
>wintering area for deer that
>has more than an inch
>or two of snow on
>the ground. And if there
>is it won't last more
>than a few days.
>
>That being said, there are still
>Archery deer hunts going on
>here in NM as well
>as AZ. Any problem with
>that?
>
>Just want you all to realize
>that not all deer in
>January are fighting 3' of
>snow and that just because
>somebody finds a shed doesn't
>mean they are harassing the
>deer.
>
>I encourage you all to think
>subjectively about this. I typically
>use this time of year
>to catch up on work
>so you won't find me
>looking until at least March,
>I just hate hearing this
>same argument year after year.
>
>
>Hunt Hard. Shoot Straight. Kill Clean.
>Apologize to No One.


+1
 
>Generalities are bad, just don't use
>them. If you see a
>guy with a shed in
>January don't automatically assume he
>was harassing the deer. Here
>in NM, there isn't a
>wintering area for deer that
>has more than an inch
>or two of snow on
>the ground. And if there
>is it won't last more
>than a few days.
>
>That being said, there are still
>Archery deer hunts going on
>here in NM as well
>as AZ. Any problem with
>that?
>
>Just want you all to realize
>that not all deer in
>January are fighting 3' of
>snow and that just because
>somebody finds a shed doesn't
>mean they are harassing the
>deer.
>
>I encourage you all to think
>subjectively about this. I typically
>use this time of year
>to catch up on work
>so you won't find me
>looking until at least March,
>I just hate hearing this
>same argument year after year.
>
>
>Hunt Hard. Shoot Straight. Kill Clean.
>Apologize to No One.

+1

The deer and elk closer to the border aren't on life support like everybody thinks. As a matter of fact we're hunting elk right now which I guess people might consider "harassing" them.
 
Thinking about getting Me A Faster Sled & A Lariat!











[font color="blue"]It Was them Damn Lake Trout that took them Elk
out!:D[/font]
 
Bess put some Dual thrush tubes on that bad boy sled to at least give the bucks a running chance.
 
>Bess put some Dual thrush tubes
>on that bad boy sled
>to at least give the
>bucks a running chance.

They Get That Warning with My Old Truck!:D













[font color="blue"]It Was them Damn Lake Trout that took them Elk
out!:D[/font]
 
Elk Assassin: Sure you weren't already practicin' on a doe? You need a stronger lariat... ;-)
93711petdeer1.jpg
 
Hey Pete!

That Used to be a PISSCUTTER Buck!:D











[font color="blue"]It Was them Damn Lake Trout that took them Elk
out!:D[/font]
 
You people need to get out more... I'm with elkass I need a faster sled and a lariat for where there just aren't enough fences to git r done.

Hell we are still chasing them with helicopters here for miles and miles through heavy snow and as of two days ago -35 temps...

Compared to that what effect is a fat slow horn hunter post holing through three feet of snow? Of course the helicopter would probably land and write the post holer a ticket for harassing the wildlife, before taking off and chasing a few more hundred a few more miles... makes perfect sense!


31726065036_79bf4240ea_t.jpg

My current situation precludes me from caring about your opinion but go ahead and give voice to it anyway...
 
I think you took this the wrong way, or at least I hope that is the case. I have no problem with people picking up sheds if they can do it without chasing and harassing them. I like to shed hunt as much as the next guy, it has become a serious hobby of mine. But it is not worth killing the deer to pick them up a week or two earlier.

Let me try to clarify my last post. If you can not access the antler without chasing the deer then you should wait until you can. If you are waiting but see somebody else go up and chase of the heard then turn them in for it. I am not saying turn in anyone hiking or carrying an antler.

Different areas have different circumstances, but where I live the snow has been deep and we have had some very cold days, the deer are not moving very far, they are trying to conserve energy and outlast the winter. So there is little chance of gathering an antler without chasing the deer.

Harassing wildlife in winter months is not Legal in any state that I am aware of!
 
Playing devils advocate here. I am pretty certain that you have assumed bumping a deer is harassment, in which one should be penalized for doing so. This is why I am saying that generalities are bad. If bumping a deer is harassment then where does the line get drawn? If a guy shouldn't be out hiking for sheds in February because he might run into a group of deer, should he be able to take his kids to the same winter range that is in his backyard to go sledding? Or should that be banned from that too because there are deer that live in the area? I know I am making a giant leap here but that is what happens over time when we start removing privileges from everyone because of the actions of a few bad apples. This is the exact tactic of those who want your guns. It is my opinion that the only place this would lead us is to complete closure of wintering grounds. Then what about the lion hunters and coyote callers? They are locked out because we wanted to protect the deer from a few unethical shed hunters.

If you really want to protect deer in their winter range, go kill some coyotes and chase some lions. You will save more deer that way than keeping shed hunters home in February. I appreciate the discussion, I think it's a healthy one to have.

Hunt Hard. Shoot Straight. Kill Clean. Apologize to No One.
 
I don't think anyone is bashing on shed hunting in general. If guys just use they're heads and not stress the deer by pushing them in bad conditions for the sake of picking up one horn, then I have no issue with it. Problem is, horn hunting has gained so much popularity and turned into such a competitive sport that guys are pushing ethical boundaries. deerkiller will surely disagree, being the chest pounder type that needs to get the first horn but just a little common sense goes a long way in helping the deer survive what's shaping up to be a tough winter.
 
>Playing devils advocate here. I am
>pretty certain that you have
>assumed bumping a deer is
>harassment, in which one should
>be penalized for doing so.
>This is why I am
>saying that generalities are bad.
>If bumping a deer is
>harassment then where does the
>line get drawn? If a
>guy shouldn't be out hiking
>for sheds in February because
>he might run into a
>group of deer, should he
>be able to take his
>kids to the same winter
>range that is in his
>backyard to go sledding? Or
>should that be banned from
>that too because there are
>deer that live in the
>area? I know I am
>making a giant leap here
>but that is what happens
>over time when we start
>removing privileges from everyone because
>of the actions of a
>few bad apples. This is
>the exact tactic of those
>who want your guns. It
>is my opinion that the
>only place this would lead
>us is to complete closure
>of wintering grounds. Then what
>about the lion hunters and
>coyote callers? They are locked
>out because we wanted to
>protect the deer from a
>few unethical shed hunters.
>
>If you really want to protect
>deer in their winter range,
>go kill some coyotes and
>chase some lions. You will
>save more deer that way
>than keeping shed hunters home
>in February. I appreciate the
>discussion, I think it's a
>healthy one to have.
>
>Hunt Hard. Shoot Straight. Kill Clean.
>Apologize to No One.

So at what point in your opinion is it harassment? To me if you are purposely pushing deer in bad conditions then yeah it is harassment. If we can not govern ourselves the State will do it for us! Like Wyoming has done. I do not want that but it will happen if we can not use some common sense and be ethical in our choices.
 
You nailed it, purposely is the key word. If you are purposely pushing deer it is harassment in my opinion as well. I think we are saying the same thing, we both want people to be responsible. I just think that the majority of the folks out there are responsible, even in January or February.

I just hate that people assume a shed that is found in the winter was done so irresponsibly.

Sounds like you have the best interest of the deer and our sport in mind so we are absolutely on the same team, even if we have slightly different opinions.

Hunt Hard. Shoot Straight. Kill Clean. Apologize to No One.
 

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