Finding The First Sheds of the Year

Cabin fever starts to set in this time of year and nothing seems to cure it better than shed hunting. I would say approximately 20-30% of bucks in the Pike/Calhoun area have dropped at least one side with a few that have already shed both antlers. But don’t rush, if your limited to small acreages of shed hunting, the worst thing you can do is go in to early and disturb a buck feeding pattern and bump him onto neighboring property.

It’s best to stay out of the main bedding areas during this time. Looking around the field edges and waterways near a hot food source is your best bet. Since it’s the early stages of shed season with a low number of bucks that have dropped, the more ground you cover the more likely you’ll find more sheds.

Focusing on food sources is key to finding the first sheds of the season. This is a great time to glass, especially if there is snow on the ground. Deer stick out and tend to herd up this time of year. It’s not hard to tell driving around what the deer are hitting on. Grain crops like cut corn or soybeans seem to the preferred source at this time of year.

With no snow forecasted in the near future, it may be best just to wait just a little later. The last thing you want to do is run a good buck off your farm and have him shed his antlers where don’t have access.

Whitetail Guide
Zach Jumps

Last Updated: January 20th, 2017