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Post by ozark on Jan 18, 2009 21:14:23 GMT -5
My wife and I have enjoyed many hours strolling through deer habitat looking for sheds. It is interesting and provides a good idea of the quality of bucks that survives the season. It doesn't take long for the rodents to start chewing on the antler. Once she found matching antleres within ten feet of eachother. They were from a large ten pointer. I once spotted one from a very small spike that was only two or two and one half inches long. Made an interesting key chain whatever they are called. It provides anothe excuse for exploring the woods. But it is like deer hunting you don't have success without putting in the time and effort. Ben
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Post by wilmsmeyer on Jan 20, 2009 11:22:55 GMT -5
Every one I've ever found was knawed on bad. All were found by accident. Everytime I've tried, I've struck out.
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Post by jims on Jan 20, 2009 11:39:43 GMT -5
I have found quite a few, almost never any rodent damage. One I know was there over a year by how hard it was bleached out and moss on it and still no rodent damage. Perhaps because there are so many mineral blocks out around here.
The only damage is one went through the combine when the wheat was taken off and when I burn my CRP sometimes they get scorched a bit. I have found two with bases a bit over 1 3/4 inch in diameter. Great bulk but not much length in the tines.
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Post by jims on Feb 8, 2009 20:22:48 GMT -5
I was at my farm for the first time in about 6 weeks. Saw 5 deer and plenty of sign. The snow has been deep and has hung around.
But to the point, when walking out I found a small four point shed. Too much snow to start actively looking but when do most of you in the Midwest quit seeing antlered deer? I saw one in late Feb last year with antlers, no use looking if they are still carrying.
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Post by ozark on Feb 8, 2009 20:58:33 GMT -5
When they drop their antlers is a great question. I think it is early for some deer and then maybe much later for others. Was on a golf course in Texas when three bucks ran across the course with antlers in June. Here I have seen some that drop as early as mid December and some as late as the first of March. I seen a painting once of a Mama and tiny fawn along with a handsome large racked buck together. I ask my brother what was wrong with the painting. He looked a long time and the said: You don't see llittle fawns with Antlered bucks. Ozark
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Post by Dave W on Feb 9, 2009 14:52:21 GMT -5
I was at my farm for the first time in about 6 weeks. Saw 5 deer and plenty of sign. The snow has been deep and has hung around. But to the point, when walking out I found a small four point shed. Too much snow to start actively looking but when do most of you in the Midwest quit seeing antlered deer? I saw one in late Feb last year with antlers, no use looking if they are still carrying. My buddy takes a drive over past the farm we hunt and he lives in a rural area, he has not seen a deer with a rack in 3 weeks. The new son in law of the property owner had a picture of buck that had dropped his horns at the end of Dec. during ML season on a trail cam. Guy went shed hunting twice last week with no luck, plenty of sign but no horns to be found. |
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Post by jeremylong on Mar 5, 2009 21:26:26 GMT -5
Ozark - thats been my experience too. I run the coon dogs year round and find them while stumbling around through the woods randomly from december on. I just seen 3 young bucks on monday morning with both sides, yet during late season in jan I know of two bucks that were shot that had dropped both sides
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