Let the Shed Hunting Begin

Shed hunting is easy, but you may walk a few miles before finding one. Don’t waste your time looking in the wrong spots. Something to keep in mind is, “If they're not there, you’re not going to find them.” Don’t be discouraged. If you're not having any luck, take a step back and reevaluate what you might be doing wrong. Here are some things to consider... 

 When are you looking? 

 The best time to look depends on where you live. Deer will drop their antlers anytime between December and April. As a general rule of thumb, you should start looking in mid-February to early March. If you’re unsure of when to start, set up trail cameras to check if the bucks are losing their antlers. You can also join hunting groups from your area on Facebook. You’ll quickly find out when the sheds start dropping.  

Did you make a plan? 

 Making a plan before you go out may sound like a waste of time, but it isn’t. It will actually save you time. The most important thing is to ask permission and know the property lines. When you have this information, you can narrow down where you will be searching. Look at aerial maps to target the best places to spend your time. Decide how long you have to look and how much ground you want to cover. Making a plan before you go will save you time in the long run. 

 Are you looking in the best areas? 

This goes along with planning. You don’t want to waste your time looking in areas that are unlikely to have sheds. Plan to walk the best areas. If you target high probability spots, you can cover more ground and have the most success without getting burnt out. Bedding and feeding areas are two of the best places to look. Think about where the deer are going to be spending the most time - eating and sleeping. The best trails to follow are the ones that lead into and out of these types of areas. Other common spots to find sheds are creeks, fences, or ditches. Antlers are more likely to fall off when they are bumped or jolted by the deer’s movement. Spend your time looking in areas that have the best chance of producing a shed. 

 Are you staying focused? 

Everyone is guilty of getting distracted while shed hunting. A scrape here, a rub there, and tracks over there. Try not to do that. Although these can be good indicators as to areas where you should be looking, that's not what you're looking for. Acknowledge these signs, but key your brain back into the task at hand. Looking for sheds.  

 Are you taking your time? 

 Make sure to take your time, but not too much time. More often than not, sheds are easy to see. No matter how hard you look for them, if they're not there, you're not going to find them. If you walk too fast, you're not going to see one off in the distance. On the other hand if you walk too slowly, you may be wasting your time looking for one that doesn't exist. Try to walk at a normal pace and most importantly, keep your eyes attentive. 

Following these simple steps is a good start for any shed hunter, experienced or not. Sometimes it takes miles and miles of walking before finding one but when you do, the exhilaration will keep you searching. If you came up short handed, don't be discouraged as the fresh air and exercise were still good things. Remember, any day spent in the woods is a good day. 

Written by: Katelyn Breunig – ReelCamo Girl Pro Staff #EarnYourWild