Shed hunting

[elkoholic]

How many of you get into shed hunting? What do you do with your sheds?

For me it's the time of year when my boots hit the mountains for the first time in a few months. Shed a few of those packed on pounds from winter hibernation. I can never get enough if elk, I get pumped when I find a "brownie" fresh elk shed. I have a nice collection of sheds, gona try to make a tree out of them when I get enough.

[ElkNut1]

Chewey, I hear ya! Shed hunting was never my real cup of tea but I have accidentally found a few & they're like jewels on the forest floor. (grin) I can see how a guy could get into it. We have a couple guys here in my hometown that are now putting videos together on shed hunting. I thought it unusual but hey you never know. I do know they've been training a dog to help out in their searching for sheds. Have you tried using a dog to help smell them out?

ElkNut1

[elkoholic]

I have not used a dog to help out, but I'm sure it would help. Like you said Paul, the are like gems on the forest floor. Anything to be out in elk country.

[ElkNut1]

Yep a dog might be worth looking into? Are you generally finding good sheds in your area or is it hit hard & fast by other hunters?

By the way how are the workouts doing these days? I remember talking a bit about that at one time with you.

ElkNut1

[zpd307]

the wife was teaching our wire haired griffon to smell for white tail sheds. it worked.....

[elkoholic]

Paul,
When our winters were tough I used to have a spot that I would go to every year and find really nice sheds, but since our drought hit it seems like the elk herd is scattered and makes it harder to find them. I just like hitting the mountains hard, anything I find on the forest floor is a gem! I have fond old locks, keys, saws all of which were from the loggers from back in the day.

Workouts are going as good as they can get with the back injury I sustained last hunting season. I don't know if you read my post about injuries while hunting. We had a super wet September while making it back to my truck in a downpour I slipped and folded my back over a rock. I suffered from a compression fracture and 3 herniated discs. But with all that said I am doing what I can, looking to get back to my "athletic" build. there for awhile I was competing in power lifting competitions. Being big is over rated!! hahaha.... 5'7" 210lbs is a bit much for the body to carry. doing a lot more cardio nowadays.

[Elkonthebrain]

I enjoy shed hunting. It's a good excuse to get into the woods. I've been working with my German wirehaired pointer to find them, it's a work in progress but she has found five so far.

[Lark Bunting]

When should we begin looking in CO?

[ElkNut1]

Chewy, so sorry to hear about your accident bud! I sure hope you recover 100%, you're too nice a guy to be kept down for too long! (grin) Keep us posted on your shed hunting!

Lark Bunting, I know here in Idaho shed hunting (elk) really picks up about now through March, better get moving times a wasting! (grin)

ElkNut1

[Lark Bunting]

Chewy, so sorry to hear about your accident bud! I sure hope you recover 100%, you're too nice a guy to be kept down for too long! (grin) Keep us posted on your shed hunting!

Lark Bunting, I know here in Idaho shed hunting (elk) really picks up about now through March, better get moving times a wasting! (grin)

ElkNut1

Okay.

However, it was 20ish degrees here today. Tomorrow is supposed to be a balmy 25. I may have to wait until next weekend to take me son. It will give us time to get more familiar with the area we are hunting deer this fall.

[ElkNut1]

Tom, great idea to include your son, it doesn't get much better than that! Good Luck!

ElkNut1

[Lark Bunting]

Tom, great idea to include your son, it doesn't get much better than that! Good Luck!

ElkNut1

He and I are in this thing together. I may never have gotten into hunting last year at the ripe old age of 40 had he not come to me saying he wanted to learn how to hunt.

[ElkNut1]

Tom, now that is cool, very cool! I say this because my son & I do all our hunts together whether it's Deer, Elk Antelope, etc. Life is great when we're together. I wish you & your son the best!

ElkNut1

[elkoholic]

That's awesome Tom. I take my son on short excursions, but he is still a bit too young (6) to hit the mountains as hard as I do during elk season. But last year he did find his first shed, the look on his face was priceless! He was able to witness his first turkey coming in and hitting the ground. He has been going with me since he was 2, gotta start them out young. Took his first archery medal last summer. Nothing like experiencing GODS country with your son or daughter.

[husky390]

I've only found half an elk shed but that was by accident when we were scouting for elk the week before our hunt. I'm going to try it this year and hopefully get my worthless GSP to find them for me. She's shown an interest in the one shed that I have. She's gun shy which sucks, for she is very birdy.

On another note, I've read that guy's back east do it to figure out what size bucks may be in the area. I'm assuming it wont work so well in some areas of CO since the elk have migrated? Would that be correct?

[elkoholic]

Husky390,
For the most part that is correct. Elk have there wintering grounds that they migrate to for the winter and that is where sheds will be found. Come hunting season herds can travel several miles to what we know as the summer ground for elk, this where we hunt them. The migration is nothing set in stone it al depends on how early, how bad the winter is. I have found sheds where I hunt the elk. That's why I say for the most part you are correct. But when you find a heavy horned shed, you know that a beast is out there, made it through the hunting season and another winter.

[ElkNut1]

Yes, here in these parts of Idaho elk & deer travel many miles to their wintering grounds, the wolves follow them too!(grin) Out this way most sheds are found near the Salmon Rivers.

ElKNut1

[ThinAir]

When should we begin looking in CO?

The earliest I have found one is March 27. I wait until April now.

[Lark Bunting]

When should we begin looking in CO?

The earliest I have found one is March 27. I wait until April now.

Thank you for the info "ThinAir" and welcome to Elknut Forum! I'm very new to this hunting thing and have never gone shed hunting but look forward to getting out.