Predictions???

[MichaelJ]

Well, the deer are soon to be dropping (some already have) and this forum aint anything like what it used to be. Do you guys believe the activity will pick up? Or will there still only be a select few who post their pictures? There's still tons of deer out there packing and there will always be some antler left on the ground... Some of my friends have already found quite a few sheds from last year and only 1 fresh one from this year, so you know that there's some nice bone still out there.

Here's another question... why do people seem so possesive about "Their" deer? not pointing fingers or anything but it seems that shed hunters and shed hunting season brings out the worst in the hunting community. What do you guys think?

Michael
"What I could do, I was doing, and that was simply putting my butt on the line for my country, the country that I loved, so that all the protestors and the academics and the liberal intelligentsia back home could enjoy the right to protest against people like me, the hated middleclass." --Gary R. Smith, US Special Forces

 

[Ungulate]

I agree my shed hunting spots are no secrets and if anyone wants some advice on where they are they are welcome to that information. There is plenty of bone out rotting away up in the hills so the more that get collected whether by me or others I dont really mind.

 

[ismith]

"Here's another question... why do people seem so possesive about "Their" deer?"
You answered your own question right here............

"not pointing fingers or anything but it seems that shed hunters and shed hunting season brings out the worst in the hunting community. What do you guys think?"

Deer antlers, no big deal. Ive taken plenty of friends shed hunting for deer antlers, and im not too tight liped about where I find them. I wont talk about where I find my elk shed though because you are absolutely right about shed hunting bringing out the worst in people. I dont want people going into my spots busting the elk outa there early trying to beat me there. I put alot of time and effort into finding new places to shed hunt. If people wanna get into shed hunting they will just have to do the same. As far as advice on how or where to look in general, ask away!
ismith

 

[dleonard3]

I wonder how many people headed out this last weekend in northern Utah to see if they could find and mark all of the sheds that dropped on Feb 1st? It is perfectly legal to go for a hike during the "CLOSED" shed season, and it is perfectly legal to kick sheds into a bush and mark these sheds with a GPS. If fact, it is also perfectly legal to kick these sheds into your backpack and take them home with you. Just don't "PICK THEM UP". We can only go by the exact wording by the DWR, right? I'll bet that with all of the extra law enforcement officers out there patrolling and trying to catch these newly designated criminal shed hunters, the deer and elk are being stressed out more than usual - by the officers. Even if there are fewer people out there now, can you imagine what it will be like on May 1st? Don't bother going out on May 1st, the sheds are sure to be gone already.

 

[MuleyCrazed]

So in Utah they have a regulated shed season? That is crazy! In Idaho there is no law regulating when you can shed hunt. As I'm typing this I think it might be a good idea. Is the law to keep people from disturbing the deer or what? I can understand that I guess. I just thought it was interesting. It might be a good idea in Idaho too...

MuleyCrazed
Idaho

 

[dleonard3]

It's not a good law anywhere. The problem is too many shed hunters going out and "gridding" an area with ATV's and motorcycles and tearing up the ground and harrassing the wildlife. The brainless Division of Wildlife Resources has decided that instead of enforcing the existing laws against harrassing the wildlife, they would make a new law that doesn't do anything to solve this problem. I can still go hiking, I can still bring a backpack and a GPS, I can still pick up shed antlers. But according to the law, I am not allowed to "GATHER" shed antlers between Feb 1st and April 31st. That clearly means that I have to keep the sheds I pick up seperated because "GATHERING" them would be a violation of the law. I can still ride an ATV all over the place, I can drive my jeep, I can even fly a parachute plane. The Fish and Game officers can drive their trucks, ride their ATV's and fly their helicopters, but I am not allowed to "GATHER" shed antlers. I'm sure that once they see how ineffectual this new law is, they will be changing it to not allow any outdoor activities by humans in any area where wildlife may or may not be present. Then, we will all be so much better off and the wildlife can live in peace. HA!!!!!!!

Write me up officer, I'm planning on fighting this in court. All I have to do is burn up more of the DWR and Court time than the value of the imposed fines. I have lots of arguements, and I've been known to talk real slow in court. I also have the right to appeal the judges decision and get a new trial. That could easily double the cost to the court. Isn't our legal system great?

I've never been a criminal, but now I've been labeled one because of this stupid law.

 

[KWard]

Ismith I like your thinking

 

[MichaelJ]

dleonard3,
Sorry man no sympathy here. Ya the law is BS in my opinion but if you knew the law and got caught, then you gotta pay up. Not saying you shouldn't fight it either, I probably would aswell, but like me and "Kward" know, if you're gonna break the law then you gotta pay the price right?

I was just asking you're guys' opinions on the shed hunting this year and if you think this forum will pick up like it has in years past or you think it'll stay quiet?

I did manage to talk to a biologist this winter here in Wenatchee and asked him if he thought that the shed hunters and atv's were a factor in last years winter kills, he said that it deffinately contributed but there's lots other factors that impact the deer far greater than a shedhunter does.

Michael
"What I could do, I was doing, and that was simply putting my butt on the line for my country, the country that I loved, so that all the protestors and the academics and the liberal intelligentsia back home could enjoy the right to protest against people like me, the hated middleclass." --Gary R. Smith, US Special Forces

 

[dleonard3]

I haven't been caught yet, because I haven't been out yet. In fact, I live in southern Utah so this law doesn't effect me yet. But I know for a fact that this law will be broadened to include the entire state and all other human activities in the near future. When they realize that in its current form, this law doesn't accomplish anything except making the law abiding shed hunters stash and mark the sheds for a couple months, then thousands of them will rush out and tear the heck out of the shedding grounds on May 1st. More competition is a good thing, huh?

GREAT PLAN GUYS.

 

[Lowedog]

"Well, the deer are soon to be dropping (some already have) and this forum aint anything like what it used to be. Do you guys believe the activity will pick up? Or will there still only be a select few who post their pictures? There's still tons of deer out there packing and there will always be some antler left on the ground... Some of my friends have already found quite a few sheds from last year and only 1 fresh one from this year, so you know that there's some nice bone still out there.


Here's another question... why do people seem so possesive about "Their" deer? not pointing fingers or anything but it seems that shed hunters and shed hunting season brings out the worst in the hunting community. What do you guys think?"








It's only the first week of February. That should tell you something right there. The shed board used to not have much activity till a little later. Give em a chance to drop and for some snow to melt and you will see more going on here.

I what ways do you think that shed hunting brings out the worst in the hunting community?



-Lowedog

 

[MichaelJ]

Lowedog,
Hows it going man? Long time no talk, thanks again for scoring those sheds I picked up last year!

I believe that it can and does bring out the worst in some hunters. I'm going to pick and choose my words carefully here...
But it can be hard to discuss shed hunting with others when you know that a lot of times the truth isn't being told 100% and that in turn makes you not want to be truthful back. As for shed hunting around the valley here, ya there's a couple spots I'll go check out, but for the most part I'm heading out of town to do my walking... Just have a bad taste in my mouth from last years experience, and besides, why sacrifice friendship and comraderie for antlers? Doesn't make sense to me.

Michael
"What I could do, I was doing, and that was simply putting my butt on the line for my country, the country that I loved, so that all the protestors and the academics and the liberal intelligentsia back home could enjoy the right to protest against people like me, the hated middleclass." --Gary R. Smith, US Special Forces

 

[Lowedog]

I see what you mean now. I thought maybe you had witnessed some unsavory actions or something.

Those were some nice sheds you found last year! Hope you find some more. I'm waiting for some snow to melt and some bone to drop. Probably next month I'll start going out a bit. I'm going to pretend that the good ol days are right now and just wait on em like I used to.

-Lowedog

 

[Bornforhorns]

RE: Hmmm?

LAST EDITED ON Feb-07-07 AT 05:51PM (MST)[p]I don't know guys... I can't speak for other regions that may have varying snow conditions, right down to the acerage of winter range,(Washington)but I do have some knowledge about deer. Chasing them around when they should be storing energy is not a difficult equation, were not talking rocket science...end result: no effect, harmful, good for them, I think I know the answer but since I'm a teacher I can't tell you the answer.

Guilty myself, even this year as a matter a fact. I do have the sense that when I walk up on them to back off...but is there an effect on them...you bet. But as long as it's legal and it does take getting off the couch to do it...it will be competitive...we can't help it were men.

Solution: I don't know...I don't think a March 1st date would be out of the question.

Just my .02 cents

 

[WAmuleyHunter]

RE: Hmmm?

im keeping my mouth shut on this. but i am waiting for the snow to melt, adn the deer to move up and out before i go. Im sure all i will find is boot prints.

Did catch a tresspasser with a handful of horns on private property. I love unethical people.

Good luck guys.

 

[dleonard3]

RE: Hmmm?

It never used to be considered unethical to pick up shed antlers, and I don't think it ever should be either.

Trespassing on private property is illegal, riding ATV's off or on a road is illegal, chasing wintering wildlife is illegal.

Now that northern Utah has a law on the books that says you can't pick up sheds between Feb. 1st and Apr. 31st, I guess breaking the law should be considered unethical too. Between shed hunting and long range shooting, I can't do anything anymore. At least not "ethically".

 

[WAmuleyHunter]

RE: Hmmm?

sorry, illegal, and unethical. An ethical person wouldnt illegal tresspass on posted private land to shed hunt which is legal.

 

[dleonard3]

RE: Hmmm?

Then we're in complete agreement here. Shed hunting is NOT unethical. Trespassing is illegal AND therefore unethical.

Riding ATV's is neither illegal nor unethical. Riding them off the roads is illegal AND therefore unethical.

Breaking the law (doing something illegal) is always to be considered unethical. You can add a few legal activities to your personal unethical list if you want to, but never assume that your code of ethics applies to anybody else. Everyone decides for themselves.

Ha, Ha, Ha, I used the term "unethical" or "ethics" 7 times in this post. Let's see if you can beat that.

 

[BCBOY]

RE: Hmmm?

My 2 cents on the matter:
It's only Feb. This forum has never been much of an active place before mid March.
I also believe there were a bunch of hard-core shed nuts that kept this forum active in the past. I believe the internet and the world of MM was all new to us and we wanted to share our passion. I personally believe that may have been to our detriment as it has fueled the passion in a lot of other shed hunters thus giving competition where there used to be none. Tight lips seem to be the trend. There is nothing wrong with that. Just delays the horn-porn until after most of us are done for the season.

 

[Huntnfever]

depends on where in idaho, over on the desert south of island park and up in unit 69 east of idaho falls they have that law you cant go out there and get any sheds until may 1, its more of a to protect the wildlife, and not harrassing the animals on their winter range. Unless it has changed in the last couple of years anyways