| |  Finding Deer Sheds/Antlers | |
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Contrary to what the name implies, still hunting is the act of walking through the woods, slowly looking for game. It is slow, effective, and very hard to learn to do correctly. Once mastered, still hunting can be one of the most productive hunting methods is the whitetail woods.
Finding or hunting for deer sheds can bring some much needed winter/spring exercise and reward you with some extra money (if you choose to sell the sheds) of some nice material for your next project for the cabin.
When to look for sheds
Late winter to early spring is the best time to search for sheds. Really it all depends on your location i.e. seasons. If you live in a cold area deer will tend to shed antlers earlier than deer in warmer areas. Healthy deer also keep antlers longer than unhealthy deer.
With such a large window to look for deer sheds it is easy to become discouraged, but once you get a pattern down for your area it is fairly consistent from year to year. A great way to look for sheds is to get out and hunt rabbits or any small game species that may be in season, just remember to cover a lot of ground.
Places to look for sheds
Begin your search for deer sheds in areas you know bucks have been seen; your hunting area is a great place to start. Also look at deer wintering yards and feeding areas, including trails leading from feeding areas to bedding areas.
Remember the Locations
Mark the areas where you find sheds on a map, chances are you will find sheds in the relative area on a yearly basis. Areas in which you find sheds are also prime areas for next seasons hunt, think of shed hunting as pre-season scouting.
Get out your map and hit the woods, finding sheds is a healthy pastime and a great way to learn more about the deer in your area.
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