Shed hunting is a fun activity to get you through the long off-season, but it can also provide you with some valuable intel for future hunts. Rather than just wander the woods aimlessly, use these outings to pull double duty and get ahead for next season.
While bucks drop their antlers at slightly different times based on region and a few other factors, most will do so between January and March. And for many areas, this often means a blanket of white on the ground when searching for sheds. Although this can make spotting antlers a little more challenging, snow can also make locating deer trails, beds, and other sign much easier — ultimately helping you identify areas that are highly trafficked by bucks. When it comes time to hang new stands for next season, this info can help you pinpoint potential ambush sites.
Being strategic about your shed hunting can also help you take inventory of bucks in the area and learn if last year’s targets survived the season. You might find antlers from bucks you never once saw from the stand or captured on a trail cam — but you’ll have a better understanding of the potential the land holds. If you consistently find sheds belonging to bucks you never see on the hoof, it could tell you it’s time to switch up your tactics.
Scouring hunting land this time of year can provide insight into what your herd is feeding on and direction on what to plant on your property too. If you see significant traffic to a particular plot or discover sheds around another food source, you’ll know what deer are relying on in the late season after other options have dried up. You can use this info to tailor your food plot strategy and spend the final days of next season in prime feeding areas.
When it’s time to hunt for sheds, these are some of the best places to look:
- Bedding areas: As bucks recoup from a long and taxing rut, they spend a significant amount of their time in thick bedding areas. So odds are good that they’ll drop an antler here. Spots that receive a lot of sunlight in particular can be excellent for finding sheds.
- Food sources: Even when bucks are laying low post-rut, they need to refuel as they recover. Late-season food plots, ag fields, and areas with lots of browse can get good buck traffic and hold a shed or two.
- Late season food sources that deer will begin to key in on at this time of the year include corn as well as beans and brassicas such as those found in Southern Greens, Honey Hole, and Red Zone.
- Travel routes: The travel routes deer take from bedding areas to feeding areas will get more traffic than other trails in the winter months. Scope out these paths for antlers dropped on the go.
- Fencelines, ditches and other spots where deer jumping could jar antlers loose: It doesn’t take a whole lot to knock a loose antler off a buck’s head. Often, the jarring of a jump over a fence, wide creek, or deep ditch can cause a shed to drop.