Shed Hunting

MT_55

Active Member
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SO I've seen a fair amount of chatter regarding "leaving the deer alone" and not "stressing them out" by shed hunting. Personally I don't see an issue with walking through a woods looking for antlers. I don't "chase" deer around and when I do see them they don't typically run away like a bat out of hell. I leave them alone and keep moving.

When you guys use the term "chase" or "stress out" are you referring to guys chasing them with ATVs and/or snowmobiles? Like are guys actually chasing these deer around hoping to see an antler fall off? I'm just a little confused with all of this. Can someone clear up this issue I'm having? Thanks.
 
Well, I'll start by saying in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming we are experiencing record snowfall this year. Most muledeer around some of the well known winter ranges in these areas hold deer in the sage hills and flats and are pretty skidish when people start walking the open places these deer call home this time of year. Some areas of utahs winter range is located in very close proximity to highly traveled roads, so any added unnecessary presence can get people and animals hurt/killed on the highways at a higher rate than a normal winter. In all reality if you are from this area you can understand why the restriction has been added.



Sit tall in the saddle, hold your head up high, keep your eyes fixed to where the trail meets the sky...
 
Twice I've seen guys literally chase a buck to try to get him to drop. In both cases the buck had shed one side and I suppose they wanted the match so they chased the buck in hope that the other side would fall.

I don't know how common this is but it seems like our drive to get the biggest sheds can lead to this type of behavior.

Years ago I would find dozens of antlers during the Oct deer hunt because no one was interested in them and hence didn't go out in the spring to look for them.
 
The bucks go into winter in bad shape after the rut and struggle through the entire winter. When they have to move around in snow, eat around snow, sleep in snow, snow, snow, snow any added stress can be detrimental. Bucks being "chased" might not necessarily mean physically chasing deer but be eluding to being bumped around multiple times by multiple people.
 
Here in SW Wy, we have deer already dying from the winter. And we still have 2 months of winter left. You'd be walking in 2-3' of snow on the winter range. I took a drive up there today to scope things out. It ain't good here in Wy.

Maybe in some more southerly climates it wouldn't bother them, but here we just need to leave them alone for the rest of the winter.
 
Would someone tell me how we can legislate the predators. Do the preds push the animals more than human activity?
 
Really haven't seen any snow mobiles in the winter range. They go up top where all the snow really is. Most shed hunters go right to where the deer are. Other folks who are just out for a walk don't necessarily head right into the backyard of the deer. I have seen shed hunters out driving, see a herd of deer and then they just happen to go for a walk right through the middle of them.

I don't understand the fascination with a shed antler. Yes, they are cool to find, but I don't understand the obsession. I have hear people bragging about their "shed" hunting abilities. I don't quite understand it myself.

Rich
 

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