It's still a little early to look for sheds, but I noticed a few bucks already missing their antlers. Found this first one yesterday. I usually don't set foot in their daytime bedding areas until later in the winter. But this shed was dropped out in a feeding area.

If you have any luck, feel free to post pics of your finds.

I can't wait to start. I will be using my time out in the woods to search for antlers and set up ground blinds (in advance) - setting up stuff in a bushcraft sort of way. Gonna be a great year for outdoors work.

Good plan Stinger. The year 'round efforts can really pay off come hunting season!

no sheds yet...just some dead deer .... been out twice so far .....working on some new stand locations for next season, once these are done, then I'll start covering some miles ...

Jeff wasn't it you that found an early elk antler in a Northern Indiana bog a few years back?

yes... I still have it....found it while looking for morels .... the base was sticking out of the peat under a Sycamore... I thought it was a big morel ...lol... I was told by the local museum it is at least 200-300 years old, maybe older...the only way to tell for sure would be carbon dating...and that aint cheap ..

haven`t started looking yet,too many on cam with both sides, but i did find one right under a rail cam the other day while swapping cards..lol

Now that the flood waters have receded, I found the other side of the 8-point from above. Less than 100 yards from where the left side was laying. Already had been chewed on.

Trail cams are still showing that very few bucks have shed so far.

now have 9 ...largest a 56"er with a 10 3/4" g2

[QUOTE]Originally posted by sticksender:
[QB]

Trail cams are still showing that very few bucks have

How long will you run your trail cams?

John we usually take them down in April after all shedding is done. Then put 'em back up in July when racks are starting to get formed up. We move them around at different times of the year, from scrapes to feeding areas to trails and etc.

I found this one on Saturday. I had a lot of photos of this deer last year.

Nice big mass at the bases on that one.

I know one guy that has over 30 and another with 27...neither work and have a lot of time to look.... I think they go into places they shouldnt...

I am the the single most terrible shed finder on the planet.

I'm waiting on one particular buck to shed before I start looking in the good bedding areas. He's been seen with a half rack for several days running. I know where he beds, but don't dare get near the area until he drops that other side!

I just checked trail cams today and some of my biggest deer are still carrying both sides. While I found a few pictures of a couple bucks who are already budding new fuzzy antler bumps.

saw a giant ten pointer on sunday, still carrying both sides

Me too. I am convinced my bucks know how to bury their sheds...

Coyotes sometimes carry them off. We've gotten trail cam evidence of that in the past. They drop them again, but may be in unexpected places.

Bean, I bet I'd give you a run for your money on being "worlds worst shed finder"...even the blind hog finds an acorn philosophy doesn't apply to me!

I'm right there with you...

One year I looked and looked for sheds and finally found one...by stepping on it.

sounds like I need to rent out this fella to some of you guys!!

He is about 75lbs now

Found a couple smaller ones. No more bucks showing up on the trail cams with antlers.

So now it's a race to find them before the squirrels do their dirty work

Found a few more sheds including a matched set. Also came across this dead head. Appears to have been laying there more than a year...probably died in fall of 2015.

Always amazing that squirrels will chew up sheds with hours or days of dropping, but they won't touch antlers that are on a skull. That spot is loaded with tree rats but not a mark on these antlers.

Not usually out this time of year but stumbled on this one:

That one looks pretty fresh John.

The ones I'm finding in the woods now are starting to look like this.

The dang tree rats love 'em!

Found 2 today, but this one was best... the other small and chewed up.

Nice shed.

Stumble into any 'shrooms while you were out there?

No, but we were searching mostly high, dry, hard ground yesterday.